A
new policy from Japanese transport and industry ministries will mandate car
companies to increase their fuel-efficiency in order to catch up with overseas
competition. Manufacturers will have to sell more low-emission vehicles while also
decreasing the number of gas-fueled cars sold. The policy is a standard that
companies must reach by 2030: electric cars/plug-in hybrids as 20 to 30 percent
of all market sales (about 1 million cars). For reference, only 0.5% of sales
were electric in 2017.
The
international competitors named in the article are Europe and China, which have
both made efforts to increase zero-emissions vehicles. Based on the wording of
the piece, it sounds like Europe and China’s policies are focused on incentivizing
consumers to buy fuel-efficient cars, as opposed to Japan’s which prods the manufacturers
to increase supply. In America, I know that there are policies that entice
consumers to buy electric cars too. One example is a bumper sticker that allows
electric cars to drive in the carpool lane even with a solo driver. More and
more electric charge ports are cropping up in parking lots at universities,
malls, and public parking structures, etc.
Japanese
auto manufacturers pushed back against the mandate, saying it was too strict.
The Japanese government did not relent, but promised to review the policy later
on to see its effects. The piece also states that “A 30% improvement in fuel
efficiency is a tall order for automakers already on track to achieve a nearly
25% gain in about a decade” (Tsuji). After reading this sentence, I wasn’t sure
if it means that automakers are going to have to make an additional 30% improvement
on top of the 25% they are already likely to achieve, or if it means they only
have to make a 5% improvement. In either case, the increased pressure has led
to some collaboration between car companies Toyota and Mazda and Japanese parts
supplier Denso. The three are working together to develop essential electric
car technology that I assume will be made available, as Subaru, Suzuki, Hino
Motors, and six other car companies are on board with the venture.
This
article made me think about the upcoming G20 Summit in Osaka. The G20 countries
are leaders from 19 countries plus the European Union. Together, they comprise
more than 80% of the world’s GDP. Renewable energy and climate change will surely
be discussed at the Summit. In a similar way to Tokyo becoming a global
standard city and Japan increasing its disability access, is Japan gearing up
to be in the spotlight by cracking down on electric cars?
No comments:
Post a Comment