
Sumitomo Corporation will participate in Japan’s balancing market using electric vehicles (EVs), marking a first in Japan. The company announced the initiative, which is part of its partnership with Kumamoto City, JR Kyushu, and Sumitomo Kyushu, on July 19, 2024.
Initially, Sumitomo Corporation will use 10 EVs of eight different models leased by its group companies Sumitomo Mitsui Auto Service (seven EVs) and Hakobune (three EVs) to Kumamoto-based Shirasagi Electric Industry’s group companies. Goal connect, a Tokyo-based aggregation coordinator, will develop the systems needed to operate the scheme.
According to Sumitomo’s statement, the vehicles will only be used for upward demand response, i.e. the vehicles will be charged when receiving commands to do so.
In the future, the company will consider adding more vehicles to the scheme.
No specific launch or expansion timeline was provided.