Comprehensive EV Lifecycle Management with EVolity

Despite a global acceleration of electric vehicle (EV) adoption, Japan has lagged behind. While the consumer market faces fewer obstacles, commercial EV adoption presents significant challenges, ranging from vehicle selection and cost analysis to the construction of necessary charging infrastructure. Yet, as environmental and social responsibilities grow, the shift to EVs is becoming inevitable for corporations.

To tackle these challenges, Marubeni and Panasonic HD launched “EVolity” in 2023. The company’s mission is to address a wide range of issues related to the introduction and operation of commercial EVs—from trial use to full-scale adoption, including the installation of charging infrastructure and other support. EVolity aims to offer services covering the entire EV lifecycle, including vehicle operation, battery management, maintenance, and even the reuse of EVs and batteries.

Marubeni brings to the table its long-standing investment in the EV sector, while Panasonic HD leverages its proprietary battery technology and experience gained from expanding its business in China. Anticipating a surge in EV demand in Japan, the two companies joined forces to create EVolity.

Panasonic HD leads the development of vehicle and battery management—key components of EVolity’s services—using its advanced battery degradation diagnostic technology. Meanwhile, Marubeni focuses on sales and business strategy.

However, development was not solely left to Panasonic HD; Marubeni played an active role by defining initial requirements, overseeing development progress, and designing the user interface from a sales perspective. As EVolity built its track record during the demonstration phase, Marubeni also initiated efforts to create marketing materials to better engage customers and enhance public relations.

Agile, Customer-Centric Service Development

EVolity emerged in response to a shared societal challenge identified by Panasonic HD and Marubeni. Through prototyping and collecting customer feedback, it became clear there was strong demand for consulting services that not only manage EVs and their batteries but also guide clients through the adoption process. These insights have been pivotal in defining EVolity’s current service offerings.

In recent years, as EVs have garnered greater attention, many companies have sought to enter the market. EVolity’s competitive advantage lies in Panasonic HD’s battery technology. With extensive experience as a battery manufacturer and service provider in China—a leading EV market—Panasonic HD has access to vast amounts of battery data, enabling highly accurate, AI-driven predictions for battery degradation.

However, creating marketable services requires more than just advanced technology. Panasonic HD and Marubeni are both large companies that are working to expand their clientele based on the networks they have developed, while maintaining agility comparable to startups.
New functionalities are introduced on a monthly basis, as the sales team identifies emerging needs through periodic interactions with customers. In this highly competitive field, EVolity’s strength lies not only in its technological capabilities but also in its agile service update system.

Expanding Business by Accumulating Battery Expertise

EVolity’s strategy capitalizes on the unique strengths of both Panasonic HD and Marubeni. Panasonic HD provides a high level of technological expertise, while Marubeni, as a trading company, maintains close communication with customers to deliver precisely what they need. This synergy is key to EVolity’s agility.

Marubeni’s broad experience across various sectors allows it to maintain strong relationships with clients. The synergy between Marubeni’s established network and execution capabilities, which many smaller startups lack, will further drive EVolity’s growth.

EVolity seeks to revolutionize Japan’s EV landscape by providing all-encompassing support for EV adoption. Beyond that, the company is exploring opportunities in the resale of EVs and the secondary use of batteries. With growing corporate accountability for environmental impact, demand for EVs and battery reuse is set to rise. However, calculating the value of batteries in the EV market remains a complex challenge.

EVolity’s continuous accumulation of battery-related data positions it as a potential game-changer in the battery sector. EVolity will enable more companies to adopt EVs and spearhead the resolution of environmental and social issues.