Shizen Energy and Mitoyo City launch EV bus demonstration on community bus route
- First EV bus introduced on a community bus route in Shikoku -
Mitoyo City, Kagawa Prefecture, and Shizen Energy Inc. (Shizen Energy) launched an EV bus demonstration on a community bus route in Mitoyo City on March 6, 2024. On the same day, a ceremony was held at the Mitoyo City Hall prior to the start of the EV bus service.
The introduction of the EV bus on the Mitoyo City community bus route is the first EV bus to be introduced on a community bus route in the Shikoku region*1.
Photo: at Mitutoyo City Hall to mark the start of the demonstration
Background and Overview of the Demonstration Project
On June 30, 2023, Mitoyo City and Shizen Energy concluded an agreement on the decarbonization project through electrification of Mitoyo City’s community buses and began preparations for the demonstration experiment*2. In November 2023, the two parties signed an agreement to collaborate for the realization of a decarbonized society*3, which aims to build a sustainable future by promoting the Green Transformation (GX) and reducing environmental pollution, and this EV bus demonstration for the Mitoyo City community is part of this agreement.
In this demonstration operation, an EV bus vehicle will be introduced on the Takase-Nio Line of the Mitoyo City Community Bus for approximately one month from March 6, 2024, to collect data on the actual route while confirming that the existing level of service on the route can be maintained. Then, based on the operational data and results, the possibility of GX in Mitutoyo City will be explored, including expansion to other lines, use of renewable energy, and introduction of storage batteries.
To establish a subscription service for electrification of public transit bus routes
The transportation sector in Japan has the second largest volume of annual CO₂ emissions after the energy and industrial sectors. Shizen Energy is supporting the transition to green transportation by electrifying public transit buses and commercial vehicles to realize a decarbonized society. In January 2024, through an investment in commercial vehicle electrification startup eMotion Fleet Inc.*4, which provides a series of one-stop solutions from the proposal of multi-brand commercial EVs to EV operation and management, Shizen Energy aims to develop a unique EV introduction support service that combines electric mobility with renewable energy in the industrial sector, including transportation infrastructure.
Based on the knowledge gained from this demonstration, Shizen Energy will establish a business model for a comprehensive subscription package service that provides an energy management system, an AI-based fleet management system (operation plan optimization), and EV bus equipment leasing, all in one package, to meet the future conversion of large bus route operators to EVs in preparation for the electrification of public transportation bus routes.
Overview of the Demonstration Operation
Operation route | Mitoyo City Community Bus Takase-Nio Line (4 round trips between Ohama and Mitutoyo City Hall per day) |
Vehicle | Manufacturer：EV Motors Japan Co., Ltd. Model : EV Community Bus (F8 series4-Mini Bus) 6.99m Capacity: 29 persons (17 seated, 11 standing, 1 driver) |
Duration | Approximately one month from March 6, 2024 |
*1 Based on our own research using publicly available information at the time the demonstration began
*2 Mitoyo City and Shizen Energy sign agreement on community bus decarbonization using EV buses（Press release Decmber 1, 2023）
*3 Shizen Energy signs collaboration agreement with Mitoyo City to create a decarbonized society（Press release November 30, 2023）
*4 Shizen Energy invests in EV solutions startup eMotion Fleet（Press release January 9, 2024）
【About Shizen Energy Inc.】
Founded in June, 2011. With the company purpose of “We take action for the blue planet,” the company’s business includes development, financing, and asset management of renewable energy power plants using solar power, wind power, small-scale hydroelectric power, and biomass. Since 2016, the company has also been focusing on its international operations, expanding its development and power generation projects in areas such as Southeast Asia and Brazil. In 2019, the company also entered the energy tech business, offering micro-grid and VPP construction, smart charging and discharging services for EVs, and other services through its self-developed EMS (energy management system). Shizen Energy Group has been involved in more than 1 GW of renewable energy generation internationally.
・Headquarters: Fukuoka Ohori Bldg. 1-1-6 Arato, Chuo Ward, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka
・Representative Directors: Ken Isono, Kenji Kawado, Masaya Hasegawa
・URL: https://www.shizenenergy.net/en/
