Japanese high tech firm to set up electric vehicle manufacturing facility
View(s):As a major step towards launching a large scale Sri Lankan Electric Vehicle industry (EV), a Tokyo based high-tech research and development start-up is planning to set up an EV manufacturing facility, Ministry of Industry and Commerce sources said.
The Tokyo start-up will also be setting up international standard EV charging systems known as ‘micro-grid’ stations across the country, as part of their hi-tech transfer to the island nation.
A top Japanese investment team comprising key executives of Tokyo’s Future Science Research Inc (FSRI) visited Sri Lanka recently to carry out the project’s initial groundwork.
The proposed EV manufacturing operation is to take off by producing Sri Lanka’s first ever smart ‘EV tuk-tuks’, a top official of the ministry said.
Chairman of Tokyo based Future Science Research Inc (FSRI) Akihito Matsumura who led the Japanese delegation noted that his company is planning to introduce cutting edge technology.
He has pointed out that the Japan –Sri Lanka joint venture will focus on the local and international EV market by manufacturing the country’s first ever eco-green EV three-wheeler and motor-bike production facility.
He added that this factory will also be the company’s first ever joint venture producing EVs anywhere in the world outside Japan.
The Japanese company will also set up a cutting edge research and development (R&D) unit here in Sri Lanka, Mr. Matsumura said emphasizing that this R&D can work on setting up electricity micro-grids in the country to power EVs and other location based electricity requirements, away from the load of the main grid.
More importantly the proposed eco-green EV manufacturing facility will enhance Sri Lanka’s automotive industry profile, Mr. Matsumura has said.
The environmental energy business start-up is involved in the introduction of various pro-green hi-tech innovations such as high performance nano-tech, molten metal forging, and high dimensional separation, he pointed out.
It is also producing EV batteries for small class EVs. For example, the company is supplying to Thailand’s FOMM electric car which is considered as Japan’s first EV project outside of Japan.
The Thai-made FOMM is the world’s smallest electric four-seat car, and its innovation level is at such high levels that the car even floats in flood-waters and will not sink. That’s the level of our company’s new tech, he revealed.