電気自動車 技術革新促すエコカー競争

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 7, 2010)
Innovation key to winning eco-car race
電気自動車　技術革新促すエコカー競争（12月6日付・読売社説）

Competition among makers of electric vehicles, which do not discharge carbon dioxide, is heating up.
　走行中に二酸化炭素（ＣＯ２）を出さない電気自動車（ＥＶ）の競争に火ぶたが切られた。

Many problems have to be overcome before these vehicles can become more popular, but the landscape of the automobile manufacturing industry will hinge on the outcome of the carmakers' battle for domination.
　本格的な普及にはまだ課題も多いが、競争の結果次第で、業界の勢力図が激変する可能性がある。

Nissan Motor Co. recently announced it will start delivery of its Leaf five-seater electric vehicle in Japan and the United States this month. Sales in Europe are scheduled for early next year.
　日産自動車が５人乗りＥＶの「リーフ」を発表した。日米で近く販売し、欧州でも売り出す。

Powered by lithium ion batteries, the Leaf can travel about 200 kilometers per charge. The zero-emission vehicle is priced at about 3.76 million yen, but buyers will pay less than 3 million yen once government subsidies are factored in.
　リーフはリチウムイオン電池を搭載し、１回の充電で約２００キロ・メートル走行できる。価格は約３７６万円で、政府の補助金を利用すると３００万円を下回る計算だ。

Toyota Motor Corp. got a jump on the market for energy-efficient eco-cars in 1997, when it began selling its Prius gas-electric hybrid vehicle. Honda Motor Co. soon followed suit, and these two auto giants now hold the lion's share of the hybrid car market.
　燃費が良いエコカーの商戦では、トヨタ自動車が１９９７年、ガソリンエンジンと電気モーターで走るハイブリッド車（ＨＶ）のプリウスを発売して先行した。ホンダもすぐに追随し、２社が市場を牽引(けんいん)してきた形だ。

Latecomer Nissan hopes its Leaf will grab a slice of the eco-car market.
　大きく出遅れた日産は、リーフで巻き返す狙いだろう。

Battle for supremacy

Nissan is the second domestic carmaker to mass-produce electric vehicles, after Mitsubishi Motors Corp. started marketing its i-MiEV in summer last year.
　国内メーカーのＥＶの量産化はアイ・ミーブを昨夏発売した三菱自動車に続いて２社目だ。

Venture businesses in the United States and China have been lining up to join the electric vehicle fray. General Motors Co., which has recovered from bankruptcy, plans to put its Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle on the market.
　世界では、米国や中国のベンチャー企業が次々とＥＶ市場に参入している。経営破綻から復活したゼネラル・モーターズ（ＧＭ）もシボレー・ボルトを発売する。

The global auto industry has entered a period of major upheaval as early participants and latecomers scrap it out to become king of the car market.
　エコカーの先行組と、後発のＥＶ勢が覇権を争う業界の大変革期を迎えたと言えよう。

Toyota and Honda have decided to launch electric vehicles in 2012. A major German maker also is scheduled to join the electric car market, heralding a new era for the vehicles.
　トヨタとホンダも対抗上、２０１２年にＥＶを売り出す方針を決めた。独企業も投入予定で、ＥＶ新時代を予感させる。

Tighter domestic controls on exhaust gas emissions in U.S. and European markets have prompted many carmakers to accelerate development of electric vehicles--the poster boys for eco-friendly cars.
　欧米では排ガス規制が強化されることから、各社が温暖化対策の“優等生”とされるＥＶの開発を急いでいる。

But electric vehicles still face many potholes on the road to mainstream use. They cost considerably more than hybrids--many of which now cost less than 2 million yen--and can only travel relatively short distances per charge. Few charging facilities are available at present, a major inconvenience for users.
　しかし、ＥＶには課題も山積する。２００万円弱まで値下がりしてきたＨＶに比べて割高で、１回の充電で走行できる距離が短いことだ。充電設備もまだ少なく、ユーザーには不便だ。

Still room for improvement

Making lithium ion batteries more waterproof should be among improvements made to ensure electric vehicles can run safely under severe weather conditions.
　リチウム電池の防水対策や、どんな厳しい気象条件でも走行できる安全対策も求められよう。

Hybrid vehicles likely will stay front and center among eco-cars for the time being. It remains to be seen whether electric vehicles will eventually take over this role. Carmakers need to make technological innovations to improve electric vehicle performance.
　エコカーの主役は当面、ＨＶとみられるが、いずれＥＶに移行するのかどうか。各社は性能を向上させる技術革新を競う必要がある。

Furthermore, installing more charging facilities across the nation is an urgent task. Government assistance will be indispensable for this.
充電設備の拡充も急務で、政府の支援も欠かせない。

Demand for electric vehicles will grow if they become more convenient to drive. This will make it possible for carmakers to cut electric vehicle prices, thereby giving momentum to their spread.
　様々な課題を克服して利便性を高めれば需要が伸びる。メーカーも値下げが可能になり、普及に弾みがつくだろう。

The crux of the competition among electric vehicles actually boils down to lithium ion batteries. Panasonic Corp. and Sony Corp., which are competing with South Korean makers, face a crucial moment in this regard.
　ＥＶはリチウム電池の競争でもある。韓国企業と争うパナソニックやソニーなども正念場だ。

We hope Japanese companies will flex their muscles and take the lead in this new market.
日本企業が競争力を発揮し、新市場を主導することが期待される。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 6, 2010)
（2010年12月6日01時08分 読売新聞）