Electrifying and improving the quality ofvehicle and services in rural areas andits acceptability
Yusuke, KANDA
National Institute of Technology, Kure College
yusuke-k@kanda-labo.net

Kanda-Lab, National Institute of Technology, Kure College

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Background• Introduction of Electric Buses in Japan• General Buses• Mid/Small size buses(often with autonomous driving system)• “Green-Slow Mobility”• Nationwide progress in introduction, especially fromFY2023• with financial support/subsidy for infrastructuredevelopment and introducing automated driving, bymany ministers.
• On the other hand, replacement of conventional(engine) buses is not progressing

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Background• Replacement of conventional (engine) buses is not progressing• Tokyo: introduced 73 Fuel-Cell buses since 2018.
• Hiroshima Urban area
• 8 bus company exist: 5 company introduced different types of EV buses• Local Government prepared large budget to buy EV buses.
▼Hiroshima Dentetsu/
Hiroshima Bus=> EV Japan▼Hiroshima Kotsu=> BYD▼Hiroshima Dentetsu/
Hiroshima Bus=> BYD

Kanda-Lab, National Institute of Technology, Kure College▼Bihoku Kotsu=> BYD3EV bus route/Operation pattern• Downtown area loop line
• Suburban residential area
• City Loop (Hiroshima City) • Seno skyrail bus• Yokoshiba-Hikari (Chiba)• Sightseeing attraction• Shobara, Nat’l Park

• Rural city loop (MiyoshiCity)• Autonomous city loop
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Discussion on EV buses in the Hiroshima area
• The “Co-creation and collaboration platform”• Bus companies in Hiroshima City have established a platform forcooperative operation of bus services in 2024.
• The purpose of the platform is to improve the efficient operation andservice of buses and to introduce new technologies.
• The platform exchanges information on issues arising from the operationof EV buses and on the characteristics of various bus vehicles.

• Several EV bus operational problems have been pointed out;
• Many types of vehicles have different standards for charging connectors, andthey are not compatible with each other.
• Insufficient discussion of what to do in the event that the power supply runsout.
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Why is the introduction of EV buses not progressing?
• Many of Bus company pointed out;
• High cost of introduction of charging facilities• Low remaining value of the vehicle• Unknown durability of vehicles• Risk of breakdowns and lack of power• Few EV bus vehicles are produced in Japan• Japanese bus companies have great confidence in Japanese bus
manufacturers• Taxation system for diesel vehicles• Part of fuel tax is returned to bus associations

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The non-monetary value of EV buses• Some Japanese bus companies
recognize the non-monetary valueof EV buses• EV buses can renew people's
impression of buses• Expand the users of buses that havebeen difficult to target in the past
• High value-added• Attract the talented staff andoperators.

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Conclusion• Bus operators believe that the introduction of EV buses in Japan is arisky proposition at this time.
• In particular, they are concerned about the cost of installing charging
facilities, the uncertainty of future breakdowns and maintenance costs,
and the low residual value of the vehicles.
• On the other hand, if these risks are borne by the government, busoperators will find the non-monetary value attractive and will encourage
adoption.
• Therefore, it is necessary in the future not only to provide financial
support for the purchase costs of the vehicles, but also to solve theproblems that the bus companies are currently facing in theirmanagement and organization by jointly introducing EV buses.
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