Fujita Corp., a mid-sized general construction firm in Tokyo, announced on October 3, 2010 that they have established a road pavement technology that captures and decomposes volatile organic compounds (VOC) in emission gases from cars. They have developed the new technology jointly with Taiheiyo Cement Corp. and Fujita Road Construction Co., making use of a joint research achievement with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST).

Fujita and these firms previously developed a road pavement technology that cleans nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the emission gases from cars in 1999. NOx are oxidized under sunlight (ultraviolet rays) by the photocatalyst coating on the sophisticated pavement and are converted to neutral calcium nitrate, which is captured by the pavement surface. Nitrate and calcium ions are washed away as harmless compounds by rainwater.

The new road pavement technology, named “Photoroad Technology Clean Ox (Oxidant),” is more advanced than conventional road pavement technology, featuring the new VOC cleaning function in addition to the NOx cleaning capacity, which has been improved by 50%. VOC are captured and decomposed by an adsorbent present in the coating agent sprayed on the pavement surface. This new technology for cleaning VOC on roadsides is the first such technology developed in Japan. According to estimates based on laboratory experiments, about 20% of VOC emitted by cars can be cleaned, and the NOx emitted by 12,000 cars can be treated in a single traffic lane each day.

Fujita is aiming to propose that central and local governments, large-scale factories and distribution centers use the new pavement technology for roads in urban areas and exterior roads in private facilities.

The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry and Tokyo’s biggest taxi operator, Nihon Kotsu, is conducting an Electric Vehicle (EV) taxi pilot project with Better Place. The project involves a Battery Switch Station where the EV taxis can easily replace their low battery with a fully charged one in 60 seconds.

In Tokyo, taxis account for about 20% of the city’s carbon dioxide emissions from traffic. The EV taxi pilot project will help to test out the battery swapping system and if successful, will help to cut emissions substantially when applied throughout the city and to other vehicle types.

Here’s a short video on the launch of the pilot project and the EV taxis:

By Bhavani Prakash

What will it take to jump start the transport industry towards cleaner technologies? With heightening concerns over global warming and air pollution, the time seems ripe for the electric vehicle (EV) industry to take off, given the right policy framework and consumer acceptance.

Zeco Systems, a Singapore born and bred clean technology company, is paving the way for a quiet revolution in the way we move around. The firm launched a global rollout of its EV charging solutions last week on Feb 11 called ‘Greenlots’.

Greenlots Point is a charging station which enables EV users to simply plug in and charge their vehicles via a simple authentication process.

by Japan for Sustainability

ITOCHU Corp., a major Japanese trading company, and its partner companies announced on November 27, 2009, that together with Tsukuba City, they will launch a joint demonstration of a low-carbon transportation system using clean energy in March 2010.

This is the first such project in Japan to use a smart grid, and is a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary approach to demonstrate a low-carbon transport system, which involves Japan’s unique infrastructure, such as convenience stores and gas stations, and relies on a combination of electric vehicles (EVs), quick electric chargers, grid storage (battery energy storage system for stationary applications), photovoltaic power generators and a car-sharing model.

For research on the secondary use of EV batteries, the project is expected to utilize data on charge/discharge, and abrasion and deterioration of in-vehicle batteries and grid storage by remote surveillance and data acquisition with ICT. Furthermore, by recording the status of EV battery use and establishing the system for performance evaluation and product assurance, the initiative aims to promote the market for the secondary use of EV batteries and to reduce battery prices.

Source credit: Japan for Sustainability

Jeepneys are mini-buses or jeeps commonly found in the Philippines and is a popular means of public transport. In 2007, the Green Renewable Independent Power Producer (GRIPP) introduced Electric Jeepneys, which are powered by electricity from biogas power stations. The biogas is produced in biodigester power plants, which collects biodegradable waste from the wet markets, food establishments and households. This sustainable public transportation not only cuts down carbon emissions, reduces pollution but also turns waste into energy.