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# Car-Sharing of Electric Vehicles

# ~Blending of Environmental Technology and Systems~

In 2009, Japanese automakers began mass production and marketing of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles on a full scale. On the other hand, electric vehicles, etc. are still expensive now, making it difficult for individuals to purchase them easily. Because of this, there are an increasing number of cases in recent years where electric cars are provided as vehicles for car-sharing that costs less than owning vehicles and is often used for shopping and pickup, as one of ways to spread electric vehicles, etc.

In the “project to promote the introduction of next-generation vehicles, etc.” implemented between January 2009 and July 2009, the Ministry of the Environment lent out and operated electric vehicles to a total of 102 divisions of 37 local governments, etc. for the demonstrative use of electric vehicles as official cars. The Kanagawa prefectural government, which is positive about the spread of electric vehicles, has been undertaking the “EV sharing model project” since September 2009 in a tie-up with two car rental companies. Under the project, the prefectural government rents electric vehicles from the two firms for use on business purposes on weekdays, and general users rent and use them on weekends. These forward-thinking efforts are spreading to many other municipalities, including Minoo City of Osaka Prefecture and Arakawa Ward of Tokyo. Private-sector businesses are also launching various initiatives using electric vehicles. For example, a condominium management company is offering a system under which condominium residents can jointly use electric vehicles.

Turning eyes to other countries, Paris, where the bicycle rental system, “velib,” launched in 2007, has taken firm root as a means of transportation, is planning to start its automobile version, “autolib,” in September 2011. Specifically, Paris will set up arrival and departure stations with battery charge facilities at 1,400 locations, including 700 locations within the Paris city in a large-scale project of operating as many as 4,000 electric vehicles. To make the system easy to use for many citizens, electric vehicles can be returned to stations different from those where they are rented, and rental fees will be set at around 4-5 euros (about ¥490-610).

If car-sharing schemes using electric vehicles spread, it can be expected to produce significant effects in easing traffic jams and reducing exhaust gas and carbon dioxide emissions. Further, while lithium ion batteries are still expensive with the absence of volume efficiency yet, if their prices decline due to the marketing and wider penetration of electric vehicles going forward, municipalities and companies that introduce car-sharing schemes using electric vehicles are likely to increase further and the new concept of values in favor of utilizing the function of vehicles instead of owning them can be expected to take root.

Kanagawa Prefecture "EV sharing model business"

Photo: Kanagawa Prefecture

## 3 Contributions of Environmental NPOs to Building a Sustainable Society

With the declining birthrate and the aging of the population, concentration of population in urban areas and changing lifestyles, etc., various issues including nursing care and welfare of the elderly and disabled, town development and revitalization, are coming to the fore. These issues have so far been addressed by the public sector, citizen volunteers and charitable nonprofit organizations (NPOs). In recent years, however, more and more attention are focusing on NPOs trying to solve such issues while balancing revenues received from business operations and services they provide. Environmental conservation NPOs are no exception in terms of this trend. In order to realize a low-carbon and sustainable society, it is necessary to revitalize the community through the utilization and conservation of untapped energy resources and natural resources. To that end, environmental social enterprises (including NPOs) are expected to play a greater role to bring about social change in the community.

Various efforts are required to promote activities by such environmental social enterprises. For example, supports are needed so that NPOs can acquire know-how on management, accounting and fund raising and build cooperative relations with relevant actors in the community, including small and medium-sized businesses, municipalities and financial institutions.