Automotive

Japan’s EV Ecosystem 2.0: Beyond Charging Station

Japan’s EV story is messy, but in a good way. They led the hybrid revolution with the Prius and Honda Insight, then hit a speed bump with full battery electrics. The Leaf was groundbreaking, sure. But after that, Japan hesitated. Other countries sprinted ahead. Japan played it safe. Now things are changing. Welcome to Japan’s EV Ecosystem 2.0. Not just cars. Not just chargers. This is policy, R&D, infrastructure, and automaker strategy all wired together. Cars talk to grids. Batteries get second lives. The government is not just offering subsidies; it is setting the stage for a full system that can last. It is an ecosystem because everything connects. Solid-state battery pilots are not a side project. Vehicle-to-Grid experiments are not a gimmick. Infrastructure is not about dots on a…