Isuzu Motors Limited is set to inaugurate an electric vehicle development and testing facility at the Fujisawa plant. The truck maker’s primary objective is to expedite the creation of a comprehensive range of carbon-neutral (CN) compliant vehicles by the year 2030. This initiative includes the incorporation of testing and evaluation equipment to refine systems and components specifically tailored for commercial electric vehicles. This new EV facility is aimed to start operations by 2026.
This facility will be built with Isuzu’s vision of a carbon-neutral society in mind. Their aim is by 2030, the entire product lineup of Isuzu will consist of electric vehicles across all commercial vehicle segments. Recognizing the distinctive components of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), which are anticipated to become increasingly prevalent, and acknowledging their significant departure from internal combustion engine vehicles, Isuzu emphasizes the necessity of independent evaluation and development of systems and components. To quicken the progress of electric vehicles tailored for commercial applications, Isuzu is investing in a new facility for the development of electric components at the Fujisawa plant.
This facility for electric vehicle development and testing will utilize advanced testing and evaluation equipment focused on components like batteries, motors, EV systems, and thermal management. Isuzu aims to gain a comprehensive understanding of battery characteristics in order to build stronger and more efficient batteries. Additionally, the facility provides an opportunity to optimize the synergy between EV components, such as batteries and motors, and fine-tune the thermal management of the entire system.
Leveraging the facility for fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) systems, Isuzu will engage in advanced energy management and optimize thermal management at the system level. This strategic approach is anticipated to contribute significantly to improvements in the driving range and overall performance of their electric batteries.
According to Isuzu, this approach is anticipated to contribute significantly to improvements in driving range and overall performance. Isuzu’s end goal of integrating these functionalities into one facility is to allow them to speed up the process of developing electric vehicles, and in turn, achieve carbon neutrality at their target date.
