Thursday 30 August 2012

Coin-operated electric car charger hits Japanese streets

Normally you’d need spare change for a can of drink or a chocolate bar – but now in Japan, drivers could soon be scrabbling in their pockets to charge their electric cars.

Vending firm Fuji Electric says it has created the industry's first coin-operated fast charger for electric vehicles.

Many existing electric car chargers around the world require users to have some sort of membership to a scheme, while some in Germany are beginning to charge users through their home electricity bills.

The awkwardly titled FRCM00CK will accept coins for the value of ¥10, ¥50, ¥100 and ¥500 and Fuji Electric Retail Systems says its service does not require a log-in membership.

The product page for the charger states the firm has a goal of releasing 60 of the models in the fiscal year of 2012.