Japan’s do-it-yourself electric car
One of the first things I noticed when saw Tokyo for the first time was the lack of small cars. Sure tiny “K-cars” limited to 660cc engines exist, but they are for housewives in remote suburbs and the countryside.
Recently however, the Japanese government has started to promote single-seat electric car such as the Toyota COMS (see right) by easing the licensing and manufacturing regulations of minicars (Yomiuri News / 2012-07-10: Ultracompact vehicles to hit Japan’s roads this year) driven by growing demand especially the elderly.
I particularly like this do-it-yourself electric car in that it would evade almost all the onerous Japanese road taxes, licensing, and regulations that make car ownership a pain in Japan.
Japan-based Firm Unveils Built-it-yourself EV
Nikkei — Tech-On! / July 12, 2012
Modi Corp, a Japan-based company that prototypes vehicles, announced that it has developed a built-it-yourself micro electric vehicle (EV). The EV, “Pius,” is a single-seater and can be registered as a class-1 motorized bicycle in Japan. …more…
Even though Modi Corp. means to market this micro electric car in the spring of 2013 as an, “educational tool for learning the basic functions and structure of an EV,” it has all the key components such as proper steering and tuned suspension, running lights, lightweight body to let me hot-rod the hell out of it. Although no price has been released yet, if it was sold at 50-70% less than the lowest current price of a new K-car (500,000 yen / $6,300 USD), I would be game to buy the kit and then triple its batteries and speed.
_________
Also check out the previous electric car reports on the 3Yen including:
• Toy-like electric vehicle unveiled (3Yen / 2010-12-04)
• Dorky is, what dorky does. (3Yen / 2011-06-16)
• Toyota’s iUnit is proclaimed the coolest
(3Yen / 2005-11-17) ↓
..
- 
July 12th, 2012 at 2:21 pm
Use just a bicycle rather than 50cc ultra-minicar, sheesh. Likewise that “special category” electric kit car would be faster with pedals.
July 12th, 2012 at 9:42 pm
That shit would make an awesome track day kit car…
electric rally cross here i come…
July 13th, 2012 at 2:14 am
So, let’s review. In Japan it is now possible to drive forever alone to everyone’s favorite forever alone karaoke joint. Then one can get back into the F.A.C. (Forever Alone Car) and drive over to The University of Electro-Communications where one can enjoy humping Japan’s New Communication w/ Yourself Invention. That same university also offers Japan’s net-enabled teledildonic cyber-kissing machine which is like a paper cup with a spinning straw inside that, supposedly, mimics a kiss via the internet.Mmmmkaaayyy…
And then for more foreplay, one can go to Keio University and tongue it out with Japan’s Forever Alone Kissing Poster. Since the excitement level must now be sky high, one may want to go to the restroom and become totally absorbed into Japan’s Play-With-Yourself Toilet Game. And don’t forget to head on over to Takashimaya Department Store in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district for your Dream date for Valentine’s Day in robo-Japan! Gosh, what an exciting place to be!
Nope.
July 13th, 2012 at 8:29 am
At the right price, Modi’s “Pius” car would be an awesome electric kit car. It’s easy to spend $1,000-3,000 on an advanced controller system and since Modi’s car is an educational tool, I would assume that its controller system would be easy to adjust/modify.
When/if I move to my rice ranch, I plan to have several project cars—I already have my eye on neighbor’s dead 3-wheel Mazda from the 1950s.
July 13th, 2012 at 11:55 am
Ok, I see we have the same (shitty) taste in vehicles…
I felt in love with this bugger few weeks ago:
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/7858/dif07yh5.jpg
Ain’t that the cutest semi truck ever ? (150cc engine…)
Or this…
http://www.instablogsimages.com/images/2010/09/01/piaggio-ape-moca-camper_5SbTm_3868.jpg
The ultimate bugout vehicle for survival in Japan…
July 13th, 2012 at 4:29 pm
AMEN! I looove the wonky look of that Piaggio Ape-moca camper.
I already own a Piaggio 500 “MP3″ in the US. Sadly the quality/durability of Piaggio’s CVT and engine is so fragile that I most likely will sell it and look for a low-profile, light-weight, dirt-road-able, side car option for my old reliable BMW F800GS.
(Piaggio is the parent company that is best known for Vespa motorscooters.)
July 13th, 2012 at 7:06 pm
The Piaggio Ape can be a real beast!
But then again, the Japanese ain’t too shabby either.
July 16th, 2012 at 11:40 pm
I finding useful stuff like this post’s EV info.
However, better than building a DIY electric vehicle a more affordable approach would be to buy an existing hybrid (or only electric) vehicle and then add an additional Lithium battery pack(s) to it. These additional battery pack(s) could increase the car’s range (or to reduce gasoline consumption on a hybrid). It can be done in $2000-3500 price range depending on the battery capacity. More information can be found in Electric Auto Association website at http://www.eaa-phev.org/wiki/Hymotion
July 22nd, 2012 at 4:08 am
Maniwa is a car handmade of wood crafters, for a Japanese company Sada – Kenbi. It should be noted, Maniwa can be driven like a normal car and can drive up to speeds of 80 km/hour. This sports car wood had only one seat in front, but can fit two passengers on a wooden bench behind him. Maniwa pegged with a tag of $ 40,000.
More via Maniwa Is Wooden Supercar From Japan | Carsrun.com.
July 22nd, 2012 at 9:17 am
That “Maniwa” looks better than the Japan Electric Vehicle Club’s electric Dorkmobile, that they called, “L’hommage a la Jamais Contente (”The Never Satisfied”). It was an 8.2 foot (2.5m), wooden electric car at the Automotive Next Industry Fair in Tokyo.
..
Refer to my previous post Dorky is, what dorky does (3Yen / 6/16/2011 )