https://www.nedo.go.jp/news/press/AA5_101674.html
Under NEDO’s “Technology Research and Development Project for Discovery and Commercialization of New Energy and Other Seeds”, MIRAI-LABO Co., Ltd. has developed the “Solar Mobiway,” a solar power generation panel that can be laid on the road surface, and EV Repurpose, which reuses batteries discharged from used electric vehicles (EVs). The Autonomous Intelligent Road (AIR), an autonomous energy infrastructure that combines solar panels that can be laid on the road surface with storage batteries that reuse batteries discharged from used electric vehicles (EVs), will be installed on the premises of the company’s headquarters in Urayasu city, Chiba Prefecture, in cooperation with Oriental Land Co.
In the verification experiment, the performance of the “Autonomous Energy Infrastructure AIR” will be evaluated by confirming the function of a battery controller, which switches batteries without interruption while simultaneously charging and discharging. Based on the data accumulated through this demonstration experiment, it is aimed to commercialize the system in fiscal 2025.
The “Autonomous Energy Infrastructure AIR” thus combines the Solar Mobiway, a solar power generation panel that can be laid on road surfaces, and EV Repurpose Storage Batteries, which reuse batteries discharged from used EVs with short driving distances.
There are concerns, however, that the solar road surface power panels will deteriorate in power generation efficiency due to sudden changes in power generation caused by shadows cast by people and vehicles passing over them, and that the EV Repurpose Storage Batteries will activate safety devices due to the current generated when the batteries are switched. To resolve these concerns, it is essential to establish charge/discharge control technology. Therefore, MIRAI-LABO Corporation has been working on the development of an uninterruptible switching and charge/discharge control controller.
MIRAI-LABO Corporation aims to deploy the “Autonomous Energy Infrastructure AIR” to theme parks and amusement parks nationwide. In addition, MIRAI-LABO plans to use this demonstration experiment as a springboard for proposals to companies, organizations, and municipalities that have sites where natural energy can be introduced, such as convenience stores, shopping malls, parks, and school facilities, but are struggling to do so. Based on the data accumulated through this demonstration experiment, NEDO aims to commercialize the system in fiscal 2025.