Eco Factor: Solar power for electric cars to be tested in a Japanese town.
A Japanese town near Tokyo will serve as a test bed for a variety of electric cars that will be recharged using solar energy. Tsukuba City has partnered with several manufacturers including Mazda, Think Global, EnerDel and Japanese conglomerate Itochu among others, to test cars that will rely on solar electricity to recharge batteries, using rapid-charged stations at local FamilyMart stores.
Solar panels attached to stationary grid-storage units will have rapid-charging stations for all-electric cars. The storage units will be recharged using renewable solar energy and will almost supply renewable electricity to the cars. Drivers will have smart cards that will be used for billing, tracking charges and wear, and for granting access to the cars and charging stations.
Via: CNet
