2014

[First microcompact mobility in the prefecture for start of demonstration project]

NTN Corporation (hereafter, NTN) delivered a two-seater EV (microcompact mobility) equipped with its proprietary “In-wheel Motor System” on September 11 to Iwata City in Shizuoka Prefecture on September 11, marking the beginning of a demonstration project.

A delivery ceremony was held at the Iwata City Hall on the same day, where the key of the microcompact mobility was delivered by NTN to Iwata City Mayor Watanabe. Mayor Watanabe expressed his acknowledgement by stating “Following on from the 2011 converted EV social demonstration, the local government and companies will work together to develop the future of the automotive industry and encourage technical development amongst companies located in the city.”

Iwata City is aiming to create a new business style in preparation of the shift to next-generation automobiles, promote technical development at local companies and raise the region's production potential. As part of these initiatives, an application for certification of the vehicle^* equipped with NTN's In-wheel Motor System was submitted to the Chubu District Transport Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism by both Iwata City and Shizuoka Prefecture. As a result, this became the first vehicle to be certified as a microcompact mobility within Shizuoka Prefecture. The certified vehicle will not only be used as an official city vehicle, but is also planned to be made available for member companies of the IWATA Chamber of Commerce & Industry as part of a demonstration project run in Iwata City over the next two years until September 2016.

A microcompact mobility is a vehicle that is smaller than a light vehicle and can seat one to two people as a convenient form of transportation. The vehicle is expected to be in use as a new mode of transport in line with the decline in population and an aging society. NTN delivered five units of Japan's first microcompact mobilities equipped with In-wheel Motors to Ise City in Mie Prefecture in October 2013 to embark on a demonstration project.

Delivering this vehicle to Iwata City for use in various situations will help to demonstrate and verify the performance of the In-wheel Motor Sytem.

* The vehicle was manufactured by Tajima Corporation which is involved in the development of EV in Iwata City.

In-wheel Motor System and the Two-seater Microcompact Mobility

Vehicle Specifications

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