Press Release

Scheduled to come online in March of 2010, the effort involves a set of Mazda vehicles specially converted to electric drive using EnerDel batteries and drivetrain components from longtime EnerDel customer Think Global that will be offered to the public through a car-sharing service akin to America's Zipcar. The compact 5-door Mazda Demios (sold outside Japan as the Mazda2) will be based at a Family Mart convenience store equipped with solar panels, high-speed recharging stations and a stationary battery array used to move energy to and from the electric grid.

The unique combination of on-site battery storage with rapid charging allows the use of direct current throughout the system, sharply reducing the amount of time needed to charge a vehicle. It also allows users to recharge without drawing power from the grid, a significant advantage at peak load times. The project will use a 24-kilowatt-hour battery pack initially designed for the Think City EV to demonstrate that automotive systems can be used in stationary applications without major modification.

Once the batteries are cycled through their useful vehicular lifespan, the project will showcase their valuable afterlife in stationary grid applications, where operating parameters are much less taxing. A viable battery aftermarket would significantly lower costs for both automotive and utility buyers.

"This is the second big opportunity we have had to work with our partners >>