Okayama Gas × Mitsubishi Auto Leasing × Aakel Technologies Start of One-Stop Service for EV Installation 

Press Release
April 12, 2023

Okayama Gas × Mitsubishi Auto Leasing × Aakel Technologies
Start of One-Stop Service for EV Installation

-Cooperative business that leverages the strengths of the three companies-

Providing comprehensive services from CO2 visualization of gasoline vehicles to EV transition planning, EV leasing, EV charger installation, and EV charging management by consulting Okayama Gas about EV introduction.

Three companies solve the concerns of corporate and municipal customers about the transition to EV and their operation.

　Okayama Gas Co., Ltd. (HQ: Okayama, Japan, President & CEO: Tatsuya Okazaki, hereinafter "Okayama Gas"), Mitsubishi Auto Leasing Corporation (HQ: Tokyo, Japan, President: Satoshi Nakano, hereinafter "Mitsubishi Auto Lease"), and Aakel Technologies, Inc. (HQ: Fukuoka, Japan, President: Ryoji Miyawaki, hereinafter "Aakel") announced that from April 2023, a one-stop service for the introduction of EVs will be launched as a three-company collaboration project.

Collaboration’s background

　Okayama Gas has a management philosophy of "trust from the local community and contribution to the community," and is actively working on decarbonization as an energy business operator rooted in the community.

Okayama Prefecture has announced in its "Okayama Prefecture Action Plan for Global Warming Countermeasures" that it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. In February 2021, Okayama City made the "Zero Carbon City Declaration," which aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, which cause global warming, to net zero, and is working to realize a decarbonized society.

In response to the efforts of each municipality in Okayama Prefecture, Okayama Gas has decided to promote the introduction of EVs in cooperation with partner companies to realize a decarbonized society and contribute to the local community.

Since the conversion of vehicles to EVs is essential as one of the specific initiatives for decarbonization, and since it can also be used as a mobile storage battery for BCP response in the event of a disaster, we will take on the challenge of decarbonization together with the people of Okayama by implementing energy management using EVs.

Okayama Gas Co., Ltd. President & CEO：Tatsuya Okazaki – comment

　Why Okayama Gas and EV?
To realize a decarbonized society. As a gas company that supplies fossil fuels, we must face the difficult challenge of decarbonization head-on. To that end, as an energy company rooted in the community, we will work to decarbonize the region not only from gas but also from the energy of the whole region.
Vehicle electrification is essential for decarbonization. However, simply introducing EVs is not a solution. Complex energy management is required to charge the vehicle in a timely manner while it is operating. Together with Mitsubishi Auto Leasing and Aakel Technologies, we will fully support the introduction of EVs, including charging management, which is the key.

Mitsubishi Auto Leasing Corporation General Manager of Future Promotion Office：Nobuhiko Hiroka – comment

　Mitsubishi Auto Leasing is actively promoting eco-friendly vehicles in all its businesses to realize a sustainable society. In response to the recent growing interest in decarbonization and the SDGs, we believe that the electrification of vehicles will accelerate more than ever.
In the case of EVs, it is necessary to consider not only the arrangement of the vehicle, but also the installation of chargers, securing charging time, charging management when introducing multiple units, and other items that did not need to be considered for gasoline vehicles.
We will provide various items necessary for the introduction of such EVs in cooperation with Okayama Gas and Aakel Technologies. As a pioneer company that was one of the first to introduce EVs in the auto leasing industry, we will contribute to the decarbonization of our customers.

Aakel Technologies, Inc. President & CEO：Ryoji Miyawaki – comment

　To achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the shift to EVs is an issue that companies and local governments must address. Under such circumstances, companies and local governments that are leading the way in introducing EVs are facing several issues, especially when it comes to charging, which has prevented them from switching to EVs.
In order to solve these problems, it is necessary to acquire the status of the vehicle in real time and optimally manage the vehicle and charging. To achieve this, we have developed a solution for EV charging and vehicle management.
We look forward to working with Okayama Gas and Mitsubishi Auto Leasing to dispel concerns about the introduction and operation of EVs and contribute to the spread of EVs among the people of Okayama.

Inquiries

Legal name：Okayama Gas Co., Ltd.
Business：Production, supply and sale of gas; sale of gas appliances; gas piping
Foundation：January 1910
Location：2-1-1 Sakurabashi, Naka-ku, Okayama City, Japan
Representative：President & CEO Tatsuya Okazaki
Capital stock：400 mln ¥
Employees：259
Corporate Planning Office
TEL：086-272-9271
URL：https://www.okagas.co.jp/

Legal name：Mitsubishi Auto Leasing Corporation
Business：Comprehensive solution services such as leasing, and maintenance related to automobiles
Foundation：January 1972
Location：Tamachi Center Bldg, 5-34-7 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Representative：President & CEO Satoshi Nakano
Capital stock：960 mln ¥
Employees：1,064
PR Officer：Iganami
TEL：03-5476-0112
URL：https://www.mitsubishi-autolease.com/

Legal name：Aakel Technologies, Inc.
Business：Providing digital services for carbon neutrality and consulting for companies aiming for net zero
Foundation：August 2018
Location：Daimyo Kaisei Bldg 7F, 2-11-13 Daimyo, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
Representative：President & CEO Ryoji Miyawaki
Capital stock：60 mln ¥
Employees：40
PR Officers：Nishiyama and Fuchida
TEL：092-732-7551  
MAIL： pr@aakel.co.jp
URL：https://aakel.co.jp/