Japan now has more electric car charge points than petrol stations.
A recent survey counted more than 40,000 charging stops nationwide compared to fewer than 35,000 petrol filling stations.
The government has been granting subsidies on purchases of electric, hybrid and other low-emission vehicles. This has contributed to creating a network of public and private power points.
Other countries have lagged behind in building up the infrastructure needed for electric cars to take off. Although they are becoming more affordable, people are reluctant to purchase them out of fear they will not be able to find a convenient spot for recharging.
Japan boasts 6,469 quick chargers while Europe can count 3,028 and the US a mere 1,686. When coupled with lower-level charger stops, Japan’s power points add up to more than 40,000.
Some of these are privately owned and designed for single family personal use. But with the Airbnb and Uber spirit of the times, these may be opened up for sharing.
Technology is catching up and new apps to use GPS for finding nearby public stations are helping to allay fears over being stranded with a flat battery.
