Thursday, September 23, 2010
SIM-Drive, Japan’s electric vehicle startup known for its use of in-wheel motor technologies, said this week that its first vehicle will enter production as early as next spring. A prototype is scheduled to be unveiled in January.
Nano-Optonics Energy (Yonago, Japan) will manufacture the electric vehicle. Volume production is scheduled to begin in mid-2013.
SIM-Drive also has unveiled an in-wheel motor technology transfer program along with a campaign seeking partners to join the development program for SIM-Drive’s second vehicle model. The entry fee for SIM-Drive’s new development program is about $235,000. SIM-Drive expects to attract about 30 partners.
Founded by Hiroshi Shimizu, a professor at Keio University, in August 2009, SIM-Drive has emerged as one of Japan’s more promising technology ventures. Shimizu has led development of electronic vehicles with in-wheel motor technologies over the last 30 years at Keio University and as SIM-Drive’s president.
Since January, SIM-Drive has collaborated with 34 companies to develop SIM-Drive’s first EV model designed for mass production. Two auto makers, Mitsubishi and Isuzu, are among those participating in SIM-Drive’s first round of EV development. SIM-Drive is providing in-wheel motor and platform technologies to several companies, including Nano-Optonics Energy. TECO Electric & Machinery of Taiwan will manufacture the motors.
Design work on the first EV model is complete, according to Shimizu, and components will be ready by the end of October. SIM-Drive will assemble the EV beginning in November in preparation for unveiling the prototype vehicle.
SIM-Drive sees itself supporting the automotive industry by producing components and SIM-Drive platforms for electric cars. The company plans to expand its production support business by developing a new EV model every year.
For a fee, the startup also will offer the volume production support to development program partners. The technology transfer fee is about $3.5 million, or ¥300 million (¥100 million for motors; ¥200 million for platforms). Under the agreement, SIM-Drive also will receive from manufacturers a 1-percent royalty on sales of vehicles based on its technology.
Companies not participating in SIM-Drive’s development program also are eligible for the technology transfer program, but must pay SIM-Drive about $4.1 million.
By: DocMemory
Copyright © 2023 CST, Inc. All Rights Reserved
|
