SMAS is promoting the development of a mobility platform centered on electric vehicles (EVs) in order to realize a sustainable society.
e-PARK Yokohama held at Kikuna Driving School.
Participants can test drive and compare six cars, including both domestic and international EVs as well as gasoline-powered vehicles.
In addition to EV test rides, e-PARK features seminars and booths to provide information to companies and municipalities considering the introduction of EVs.
At the Kikuna Driving School in Yokohama’s Kohoku Ward, a thrilling test-ride event was held for electric vehicles (EVs) and gasoline-powered cars. Organized by Sumitomo Mitsui Auto Service (SMAS), the event, called “e-PARK Yokohama,” attracted about 50 participants from local businesses and municipal offices. Each attendee had the chance to test drive six vehicles—five EVs and one gasoline-powered vehicle—experiencing the difference in acceleration and the quiet, smooth ride of the EVs. Since summer of 2023, SMAS has hosted similar e-PARK events in Chiba, Osaka, Nagoya, Okayama, Toyama, Fukuoka, Tokyo, Sapporo, Tochigi, and other cities. Looking ahead, they plan to expand the program across the nation in fiscal 2025. SMAS’s big goal? To become a “Mobility Platformer for Sustainable Society.” With a focus on providing comprehensive mobility services that cater to all needs related to the movement of people and goods, SMAS is also championing the widespread adoption of EVs.
In Japan, EV adoption remains low, with the penetration rate still under 2% as of 2024, putting the country behind the pacesetters globally. Yet, EVs not only have less environmental impact during operation compared to gasoline-powered vehicles, but they also have another key advantage: they can serve as “moving storage batteries” in times of emergency, such as during power outages caused by earthquakes that disrupt infrastructure. “Given these benefits, we believe EVs should be adopted more widely, especially as official vehicles for local governments. SMAS’s great strength lies in offering a comprehensive ‘one-stop EV service’ for their introduction,” says Mr. Junichi Togami, General Manager of the Sales Promotion Department at the Sales Strategy Division.
One example is the Mobility Passport. Many municipalities still manage records of official vehicle usage through paper-based daily driving reports. The Mobility Passport, an MaaS (Mobility as a Service) application, digitizes this process. Users can input their daily driving reports via smartphones or tablets. In addition, the system can detect and record residual alcohol in the breath, using a sensor to help prevent driving under the influence of alcohol.
Above all, fleet managers can easily view the operational status of municipal official vehicles at a glance. Mr. Togami explains: “It also allows you to identify underutilized vehicles, enabling shared use similar to a car-sharing service.” Knowing which vehicles are available makes it easier to “reserve” them when needed. For example, Muko City in Kyoto Prefecture, which adopted SMAS’s Mobility Passport, was able to reduce its fleet of 40 official vehicles by 6 and transition 20 to EVs through centralized management. By 2030, the city plans to convert 40 official vehicles to EVs, excluding fire trucks, ambulances, and other vehicles that are challenging to electrify.
One consideration with new EVs is that the greenhouse gas emissions during manufacturing are higher compared to gasoline-powered vehicles. However, when looking at the full life cycle, CO2 and other emissions won’t be reduced unless the vehicle is driven a sufficient distance to offset the higher emissions from manufacturing. Currently, more than 70% of used EVs in Japan are exported, leading to the outflow of various rare metals used in the manufacture of EVs.
“So, SMAS launched a project in 2018 to encourage local governments to reuse used EVs,” explains Mr. Mitsuhisa Yokoyama, General Manager of the Advanced Mobility Promotion Office. Toyama City has taken the lead in using reused EVs. The advantage of this approach is that, compared to new EVs, they have lower CO2 emissions and are more affordable, making them easier to introduce as official vehicles.
Although battery deterioration is a challenge with reused EVs, Mr. Yokoyama explains that “there is no issue with charging performance if they are used for official duties that don’t require long-distance travel and are limited to short distances within the community.” By reusing EVs after their initial lease term has ended, an ecosystem can be created that maximizes the use of EVs and promotes their sustainable circulation.
Mr. Yokoyama emphasizes, “An increasing number of small local municipalities in rural areas no longer have gas stations. But there is always electricity, and if you have the necessary facilities, you can recharge at home.” Looking to the future, efforts are underway to build an EV-centered auto leasing ecosystem.
In Japan, EVs have yet to become mainstream—most people have never ridden in or driven one. That’s why events like e-PARK, where visitors can test-drive multiple EV models and get a hands-on feel for their usability and charging process, are bound to attract widespread interest. Given that natural disasters such as earthquakes and torrential rain can strike anywhere in Japan, I was reminded once again of the value that EVs could offer in supporting evacuation efforts—something that may become increasingly important for municipalities.
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