20 nations to join hands in promoting electric vehicles

By Ryosuke Terunuma / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

November 11, 2021

GLASGOW — Japan and about 20 other economies at the U.N. climate talks in Glasgow have compiled an action plan to promote electric and other types of vehicles that do not emit carbon dioxide, sources have said.

About 20 participants in the COP26 talks, including Britain, Germany and the United States, will promote investments to encourage companies to set up charging stations for electric vehicles, the sources said Wednesday.

These economies have also agreed to consider the establishment of unified standards for such vehicles’ operational performance, to allow manufacturers to compete over development and sales on a level playing field. The action plan further includes the creation of standards for evaluating batteries for EVs so they can more easily be bought and sold secondhand.

It also stipulates that the participants will cooperate in bolstering supply chains.

Electric vehicles can operate for a shorter period of time on one charge than their gasoline-powered counterparts can on a full tank. It also takes at least 30 minutes to charge a battery.

As rare materials are vital for enhancing the functionality of batteries, the action plan focuses on establishing a system to ensure stable procurement of these materials from China, Africa and elsewhere.

About 20 countries at COP26, including Britain and Sweden, have committed to ensuring that all newly sold vehicles will be zero-emission by 2040.

Japan, Germany and the United States have shied away from this framework, but will extend cooperation with an eye on the expanding market for electric vehicles.