Demand for commercial EVs boosted by decarbonization trend

Electric vehicles are attracting more and more attention, especially in the

eld of commercial deliveries. e growing global trend toward decarbonization and increased interest from various industries has inspired some car makers to revive EVs that have passed out of production and develop plans for new models. Competition in the Japanese market has become erce, with Chinese companies also entering the fray.

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. is set to relaunch its Minicab MiEV light commercial EV on Nov. 24. e vehicle was originally marketed in December 2011, but sales were sluggish due to a lack of charging facilities and poor name recognition. e company halted production of the model in March last year a er only notching around 10,000 sales.

However, Mitsubishi decided to resume sales a er receiving a surge of inquiries about the vehicle from logistics companies in light of the government’s announced aim of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Observers say companies can demonstrate their commitment to decarbonization by using EVs.

e MiEV can travel a maximum of 133 kilometers on a single charge. Apart from a larger cargo area, the newest iteration of the vehicle is unchanged from the previously marketed model. “Today, people are thinking di erently about the environment, and we’re keen to promptly deliver our EVs to companies that want them,” a Mitsubishi representative said.

Sensing a commercial opportunity, automakers are keen to focus on EV development. Suzuki Motor Corp. and Daihatsu Motor Co. — two of the largest minicar manufacturers in Japan — are working with Toyota Motor Corp. to introduce commercial EV minivans in scal 2023.

Honda Motor Co. plans to launch 30 di erent EV models by 2030, including a light, commercial EV priced in the ¥1 million range in the rst half of 2024.

e government, which plans to boost EV development by providing nancial support to help decarbonize the automotive sector, hopes EVs will account for 20-30% of all new small commercial vehicle sales by 2030.

e market is expected to continue growing. According to estimates by Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc. for the Tokyo metropolitan government, more than half of all commercial vehicles

in Japan will be EVs by 2050.

Chinese companies are gaining ground in the commercial EV market. A Chinese rm is set to make EVs for Sagawa Express Co., which has teamed up with a domestic start-up to develop EVs for delivery usage.

is month, SBS Holdings, Inc. began using 1-ton class EV trucks produced by a Chinese manufacturer for its logistics business.

ere are, however, a number of technological issues that need addressing before EVs di use more widely.

“e initial cost of introducing EVs is high, but they’re likely to gain more ground as a measure to reduce delivery costs,” said Shinya Omori, president of SC-ABeam Automotive Consulting. “e development of replaceable batteries for long-distance transportation is also awaited.” (Oct. 25)

The Yomiuri Shimbun Mitsubishi Motors Corp.’s Minicab MiEV is seen in Minato Ward, Tokyo.