No.161 Installation of Electric Vehicle Rapid Charging Stations through Public-Private Partnership Projects

On June 11, a rapid charger unveiling event was held at the City Hall First Parking Lot, where I conducted a demonstration of charging a municipal vehicle (Prius PHEV) and explained it to the audience and the press.
The first unit will be installed in April of Reiwa 7 at the Friend Hirao parking lot in the city, and 5 units are already in operation. The remaining 3 units are also scheduled to be installed within fiscal year Reiwa 7.

Installed Facilities

• Inagi Central Park Comprehensive Gymnasium West Parking Lot
• City Hall First Parking Lot
• Shiroyama Park Central Library Parking Lot
• Friend Hirao
• Second Cultural Center

Planned Facilities

• City Hall Third Parking Lot
• Shiroyama Cultural Center
• Inagi and Fuchu Memorial Park

The rapid charger installed this time is based on the "Collaboration Agreement on the Promotion of Electric Vehicle Charging Facility Development" concluded between Inagi City and Terra Charge Co., Ltd. on May 13, 2024. The city waives the administrative property usage fee (land rent) for the installation site, while Terra Charge Co., Ltd. bears all installation and operational costs of the charger. The business scheme is reimbursed through electricity fees paid by users and subsidies from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. This arrangement has the advantage of allowing the city to promote charging facilities without bearing the introduction costs.
In February 2023, the city made the "Inagi City Carbon Neutral Declaration" and is promoting the introduction of solar power generation equipment to public facilities and the conversion of lighting to LED in collaboration with private companies to realize this goal. The installation of the rapid chargers this time was also carried out as part of this effort.

By the way, this business idea started when I found an introduction case in Yanai City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, where an acquaintance serves as mayor, in the June 2023 issue of the magazine "Local Government Communications," and instructed the internal office to consider it. At the same time, Terra Motors Co., Ltd., before its name change to Terra Charge Co., Ltd., happened to approach our city for sales, and we began discussions and coordination for this introduction.
The equipment under discussion at that time was a standard type of charging facility, which posed the issue of occupying parking spaces for long periods during charging when introduced in public facilities. However, subsequently, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government announced a large-scale subsidy program, making it possible to equip all with rapid charging facilities, which greatly accelerated the conclusion of this agreement.

The initial plan announced by Terra Charge Inc. in September of Reiwa 5 is to install 1,000 chargers free of charge at facilities within Tokyo. In fact, the number 1,000 has significance because there are about 1,000 gas stations located in Tokyo, and the goal was set to install approximately the same number of chargers. Since there are 4 gas stations in Inagi City, I had assumed that about 4 chargers would be allocated, but I am pleased that the number has greatly exceeded that, reaching 8 locations.
In addition, the equipment to be installed in the city this time is a latest model 150kw high-output rapid charger, and it is the first among all municipalities nationwide where Terra Charge Co., Ltd. installs, which is also very welcome.
Furthermore, the electricity used for this rapid charger aims to be 100% renewable energy in practice, and it will be made available free of charge to the city during disasters, thereby contributing to both decarbonization and disaster response.
For more details on how to use this service, please search for "Rapid Charger" on the official Inagi City website.
The city will continue to promote public-private partnerships and advance carbon neutrality within the city.