Renault-Nissan Alliance announced the results of the demonstration project for EV charging infrastructure in condominium buildings launched by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (Nissan) and Daikyo Incorporated (Daikyo). The pilot project demonstrated; 1) consensus building for condominium association boards, 2) necessity of installation work and 3) infrastructure utilization. The two companies reached an agreement in August, 2010 to work together towards the realization of a low-carbon, recycling-based society.
In this project, Nissan, Daikyo and Daikyo Astage Incorporated, a condominium management company in Daikyo group, invited interested condominium association boards with management commissioned to Daikyo Astage (280 condominiums in Yokohama City) to participate in the program. After careful consideration, two condominium association boards were selected. Then an assessment was made for these two condominiums. As a result, one condominium association board approved the resolution that a parking slot be used for EV charging through the installation of a charging infrastructure. This was installed at request and expense of residents of the selected condominium. Through this set-up, residents are now using Nissan LEAF electric vehicles provided by Nissan for the demonstration of EV usage in condominium buildings.
Daikyo group and Nissan will disclose the results of this project at a meeting of the Kanagawa Study Group for Development of Basic Charging Infrastructure to promote wide-spread adoption of EV.
Specific results are as follows:
1. Selection Process
|
Early Aug., 2010 |
Distribution of brochures to chairpersons of condominium association boards of 280 properties in Yokohama City under the management of Daikyo Astage. |
|
Mid-Aug., 2010 |
End of application period. 45 association boards have submitted their application. |
|
Sept. 1, 2010 |
Notification of the results of the first selection to the chairpersons of selected association boards. |
|
Early Sept., 2010 ~ |
Conducted assessment |
|
End of Sept., 2010 |
Daikyo group and Nissan held a meeting for the final selection. |
|
Oct. 1, 2010 |
Notification of results of final selection to two selected association boards. |
|
Oct., 2010 ~ |
Consultation with association boards. |
|
Dec., 2010 |
Resolution is passed at an association board's general meeting. |
|
End of Dec., 2010 |
Installation of charging infrastructure. |
|
Early ~ Mid-Jan., 2011 |
Conducted safety tests for charging. |
|
Late Jan., 2011 ~ |
Started demonstration using Nissan LEAF electric vehicles. |
|
As of Mar. 10, 2011 |
Demonstration in progress. |
2. Selection Details
- Condominium and Installation Outlines
Location: Aoba Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Number of rooms: 33
Number of parking slots: 21
Parking system: Mechanical parking (elevator type)
Vacant parking slots: 2
Years since construction: 11 years
Charging infrastructure: Installed in one parking slot among two vacant slots
- Process of reaching a resolution among residents
Main points discussed by the condominium association board
1) EV diffusion rate
2) How to operate a parking slot with charging infrastructure
3) How to share electricity bill
4) Installation cost
5) Safety measures
6) Others (How to address the concerns of association board and residents)
- EV Utilization Test
Residents are made to replace their gasoline vehicles with EV, and
1) Examine charging operations in mechanical parking garage
2) Examine operational procedures for charging
3) Evaluate EV's convenience and merchantability
Through this demonstration, safety in charging will be ensured and we want to provide charging infrastructure in condominiums, as well as new mobility life with convenience that only EV can offer.
3. Decisive factors for installing charging infrastructure
1) Residents are highly conscious of responding to the changing times.
2) The condominium management company is fully prepared to support considerations of residents.
3) The condominium management company presents an installation plan to which residents agree.
Aiming to be the world leader in zero-emission vehicles, Nissan is working on an early realization of a low-carbon society and with its Alliance partner, Renault, Nissan has formed partnerships with more than 90 governments, cities and other organizations around the world. Nissan is also taking a comprehensive approach including improvement of charging service, infrastructure deployment, second-life use of lithium-ion batteries and the promotion of the use of recycled materials. This demonstration project was conducted because Nissan intends to deliver EVs to every customer. Utilizing schemes for charging infrastructure installation obtained through this project, Nissan will further investigate problems and solutions in using EV and charging facilities in condominiums.
To promote environmentally-friendly condominiums, improve convenience for residents in condominiums and promote wide-spread use of EV, Daikyo group has already introduced its policy to install charging infrastructure in about ten percent of all parking slots in condominiums of its Lions Mansion Series, among which the group will start or has started construction works since April, 2010. Through the demonstration project, the group will further accelerate installation of charging infrastructure in condominiums including existing ones for contributing to an early realization of a low-carbon society.