2011

Scene from the converted EV delivery ceremony

A delivery ceremony was held at the Iwata City Hall in Shizuoka Prefecture today, marking the handover of modified electric vehicles (converted EV*) equipped with EV system products developed by NTN Corporation (hereafter,NTN).

The keys to two converted EVs were handed to Iwata City Mayor Watanabe and Deputy Mayor Suzuki during the ceremony, with Mayor Watanabe expressing his gratitude with “We intend to take good care of these two converted EVs, developed by NTN's brilliant young engineers and Tajima Motor Corporation. While the vehicles will be used for official duties for Iwata City, they will also take a prominent role in a variety of events, including as the lead vehicle during marathon races”.

NTN delivered the two converted EVs to Iwata City today, marking the beginning of a social demonstration test. The test is the first of its type in the world utilizing an “In-wheel Motor System” for converted EVs on public roads.

Two converted EVs will be part of the demonstration test; one equipped with the “In-wheel Motor System” and the other with the “Onboard Drive System”. The world's lightest motor unit with integrated reducer has been mounted into the wheel (in-wheel) for one EV, and mounted to the vehicle frame (onboard) for the other. Both vehicles are equipped with an appropriate system (including an inverter) to control the motor driving force, to ensure that the vehicle can be driven reliably, with safety as the top priority.

The test vehicles will be used as official Iwata City vehicles** over the next year to allow data related to improving the electrical efficiency of converted EVs on public roads to be collected and analyzed. The demonstration test will focus on vehicle studies (for certain uses such as delivery and sales) required by the market, and studies on EV specifications to suit Iwata City and charging infrastructure, for next-generation EVs that are able to control the left and right wheels independently,

In addition to products designed specifically for EVs such as the “In-wheel Motor System for Electric Commuters”, “Steering System for Steer-by-Wire” and “One Motor Type EV Drive System”, NTN has installed rapid chargers for EVs on the company premises and is conducting these demonstration tests as part of activities to increase the general uptake of next-generation EVs.

* Converted EV refers to a modified EV with a motor replacing the ordinary internal combustion engine and batteries mounted onboard.

** The official vehicle provided for use by Iwata City for this demonstration test was manufactured by Tajima Motor Corporation Co., Ltd, a company based in Iwata City that is involved in the development of EVs.