Electric cars unlikely to hit Japan roads till 2020: reports

Japanese automakers may be turning to electric vehicles in the quest for zero emission but it is unlikely that such cars will hit the roads in the next ten years, say reports.  

Battery-powered electric vehicles are considered an eco-friendly option by Japanese motorists because they do not emit greenhouse gases while driving, but are unlikely to go mainstream until late 2020s or 2030s, a Japanese research firm Fuji Keizai Co has said.  

Reports also claim that the cars cannot be driven as long as gasoline-powered vehicles do, a disadvantage that could limit the use of electric vehicles to short trips.  

While Mitsubishi Motors Corp and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd will start delivering their electric cars — i-MiEV and Plug-in Stella respectively — next month, Nissan Motor Co plans to launch its own model next year.  

The i-MiEV can travel 160 kilometers on a single charge, only a third of what a gasoline vehicle can run per pump. In addition, lack of battery-charging stations makes it inconvenient to use electric vehicles.  

Mitsubishi president Osamu Masuko said his company will cooperate with supermarkets and convenience stores to increase the number of battery chargers.  Another big problem is high costs involved. The i-MiEV retails for 4,599,000 yen, or 2,990,000 yen after state subsidies are used.