Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Mitsubishi have agreed to provide financial assistance to installers of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (PHVs, PHEVs, and EVs) in Japan.
The latest development comes after the agreement between the four companies on 29 July to jointly promote the building of a user-friendly network of charging infrastructures.
Applications for financial assistance from installers of charging stations will be accepted starting immediately.
EVs are expected to play a vital role in driving the energy policy for the future generations, and can be made widely adopted only by making charging infrastructure extensively available as quickly as possible.
The four auto companies are encouraging use of EVs, with the aim of assisting installers with costs that are not covered by government subsidies.
Funds will be provided to those installers who satisfy certain conditions, such as destination charging spots at commercial facilities and lodging facilities, along with en-route charging stations at service areas and toll-road parking areas, convenience stores on regular roads and service stations.
By the first quarter of 2014, the four companies also plan to set up an organisation that will establish and manage a membership-based charging service.
Aimed at assisting EV users and supporting the charging infrastructure to further develop and expand it in Japan, the management organisation will collect membership fees and usage charges from EV users.