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150 Mitsubishi MiEV’s to be exact. (http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/business/20081231TDY08306.htm)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2009_Mitsubishi_iMIEV.jpgYomiuri Shimbun – Dec. 31, 2008

Mitsubishi MiEV Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) – Approximately 100 miles all-electric range (AER) with the ability to fast charge if needed.

Easily the best BEV CleanMPG has ever driven. -- Ed.

Major convenience store chain operator Lawson Inc. plans to replace 150, or about 10 percent, of its commercial vehicles with electric vehicles in the summer of 2009.

Lawson also is considering installing car battery chargers at some of its parking lots by the end of 2009 on a trial basis.

Charging equipment is important to assist the spread of electric cars. If Lawson--which has about 8,000 outlets around the country--equips all of its outlets with charging stations, it likely will help spread the use of electric cars.

According to Lawson, the replacement electric vehicle it will use will be the iMiEV, a Mitsubishi Motors Corp.-made electric car that will be marketed to the public in the summer of 2009. While the current plan only includes the replacement of 150 of Lawson's commercial vehicles, the firm will replace all 1,500 of the company's commercial vehicles with electric cars in the future.

By taking this environmentally friendly measure, the company hopes to improve its corporate image, while also cutting fuel costs… http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/business/20081231TDY08306.htm

Thanks for the find Andrew!

Great a Japanese auto manufacturer sold a Japanese convenience store chain 150 cars.

I wish some American companies would invest in EVs.

How about city meter readers checking electric meters with electric cars.

USPS mail carriers delivering the mail in EV's.

How about all electric utility companies giving cash incentives to their employees to buy EVs and their customers too for that matter.

Pizza delivery companies giving incentives to buy EV to their drivers to reduce their high carbon (Sasquatch sized) foot print and being subsidized by the EV manufacturer.

Taxi companies could reduce pollution and fuel expenses while acclimatizing their fares to a better way to travel with electric vehicles.

Federal, State, County and City government offices with sedan fleet vehicles could all use EVs.

Rental car companies could rent then sell their EV stock to the public.

All of these places could have charging stations available to the public set up like ATM machines to help with the new infrastructure.

Parking garages in downtown areas and at airports could have park and charge spaces.

You could put them everywhere but gas stations for now. Until the BP's and Exxons of the world decide to go solar and EV.

So until then, I'll do my happy dance for the 150 Japanese cars going to the Japanese. At least the carbon impact of shipping them overseas by freighter was reduced (unless they were made in the US, Canada or Mexico etc.) - Dale

Yet another great alternative we will never see in the U.S.

Thank You, Big .0003 / Oil industry!

Great a Japanese auto manufacturer sold a Japanese convenience store chain 150 cars.

I wish some American companies would invest in EVs.

- Dale

It certainly was a disappointing year for the US EV.

I think the important part of the announcement is the establishment of the charge points. There are more convenience stores than gasoline stations. To put Japan in context, in the late 90s-early 2000s, there were almost no public charge points set up. So this announcement with others such as, public office fast recharge centers(Kanagawa Pref) , coin parking (Park24), fast recharge at highway parking areas, even at gasoline stations and at Parking lots at Tokyo railway station show the gradual buildup in needed infrastructure. Japan Post and Narita Airport will also begin testing EVs.

The MIEV has a fast charge port aswell as the household charge port. The addition of the ability to fast charge using the 50kW, 3-phase 200V public charge points. Fast recharge with no increase in degradation levels compared to household charging is the improvement that will significantly change perceptions.

Good Luck
Andrew