TOKYO, Japan, March 23, 2017 – Japan Post Co., Ltd. and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today began discussions and signed a memorandum of understanding concerning the development and establishment of social infrastructure through postal deliveries using electric motorcycles (hereinafter collectively called “electric vehicles”) which will serve as an alternative to the current gasoline-powered delivery motorcycles.
During the past approximately half century, Japan Post and Honda have built a cooperative relationship in the pursuit of efficient postal delivery operation through the development and operation of delivery motorcycles.
Amid a growing consciousness concerning the global environment, businesses are expected to act in a more environmentally-responsible manner. This includes making a transition to a recycling-oriented society where limited resources are used more effectively as well as complying with increasingly strict exhaust emissions regulations.
Under such circumstances, Japan Post and Honda will jointly conduct demonstration testing on the use of environmentally-responsible electric vehicles for postal delivery operation and charging stations at post offices. Through such testing, Japan Post and Honda will pursue discussions toward the establishment of social infrastructure which will contribute to the sustainability of the global environment. Moreover, in order to secure the ability to offer sustainable and universally available services for postal businesses, the two companies will discuss how the system and capability as well as the quality of maintenance service for vehicles used for postal delivery can be secured and maintained.
◼Key discussions toward the collaboration
1. Initiatives toward the establishment of social infrastructure with a vision of utilizing electric vehicles for postal delivery:
- 1)Demonstration testing of using electric vehicles for postal delivery operation:
Japan Post will conduct demonstration testing and explore the possibility of introducing electric vehicles to be developed by Honda for postal delivery operation. Though this initiative, the two companies will strive to establish a system and capability where Japan Post can be permanently committed to postal delivery operation while continuously complying with exhaust emission regulations that will become ever more stringent into the future. - 2)Demonstration testing of installing charging stations to post offices:
The two companies will conduct demonstration testing of installing charging stations to post offices for electric vehicles that will be used for postal delivery operation by Japan Post. As a future vision, the two companies will also strive to enable post offices with their function as charging stations to serve as infrastructure that contributes to local communities as a convenient place where people get together.
2. Initiatives toward the realization of efficient delivery vehicle operations and sustainable and universally available services:
- 1)Utilization of Honda Biz LINC telematic service for postal delivery operation:
Honda has been developing Honda Biz LINC, a cloud-based solution using location information (GPS function) of a smart phone/tablet and supporting improvement of the efficiency of business operations that involve near-distance traveling with motorcycles and mini-vehicles. Japan Post will conduct demonstration testing utilizing Honda Biz LINC with its postal delivery vehicles and striving to operate their vehicles more efficiently and safely by using functions that enable ascertaining of location information of each vehicle. - 2)Establishment of a maintenance structure for motorcycles used by Japan Post for postal delivery:
The two companies will strengthen the Japan-wide maintenance structure for Honda-made motorcycles that are currently being used by Japan Post for its delivery operation so that those motorcycles can be continuously used with peace of mind and strong sense of security. With this initiative, the two companies will strive to support a stable, accurate and safe postal delivery operation by maintaining the optimal condition of delivery motorcycles through proper maintenance.