Tokyo Motor Show 2017

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cwerdna

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Location
SF Bay Area, CA
My airplane tickets are booked. Anyone going? Dates at http://www.tokyo-motorshow.com/en/outline/. I'll be at the show for 2 days.

My trip this time also includes going to South Korea (2nd time for me) and Singapore (never been there before).

I wrote http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=20720 for the 2015 show.

http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?p=445534#p445534 has a pointer to a cool video showing the work that went into setting up the Nissan booth and press conference in 2015 besides some glimpses of the show.

I'll repeat what I wrote before again:
I HIGHLY recommend the show if you're a car enthusiast and/or if you like seeing Japanese booth babes. :D That said, I wouldn't go only to Japan for a few days at TMS. There's a lot of other cool stuff to see in Japan.
 
The worst part for us vacationing in Tokyo is the long flight from Atlanta, and the crappy food in economy. That being said, we are going back during thanksgiving.. :lol:
 
Anyone else going? I'm getting on a plane to Japan in a little in over 15 hours.

I plan to be at the show Nov 1st and 2nd. I'm avoiding the the weekends and the the 3rd as that's a national holiday there. I suspect it'll be way crowded on those days.
 
I’ve arrived in Japan. Food in economy on All Nippon Airways was decent. They rank highly at http://www.worldairlineawards.com/awards/world_airline_rating.html. Sadly, the rest of the legs of my trip to Asia won’t be on ANA. :(

This time, instead of renting a WiFi hotspot for about $10/day, I bought this 5 gb (valid for 21 days) prepaid SIM http://www.bmobile.ne.jp/english/ at BIC Camera at Narita airport (wasn’t that easy to find as I had to take a free shuttle bus from terminal 1 to 2). It’s about $30 total and more than good enough for my 6.5 day stay in Japan.

Many folks would tend to gravitate towards the many places selling SIMs or renting hotspots on the 1st floor of Narita.
 
Enjoy the show! ;-)

Most people rent a WiFi hotspot device because their phones may not have the cell phone frequencies that cover Japan. Nevertheless, that 5GB prepaid for $30 is a pretty good deal.

BTW, if possible, will you be able to help find out more about the "power from Leaf via Chademo port" box you previously posted? RE: http://mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=24497&start=50#p504949

Just wanted to know if they still sell them in Japan. I was thinking, perhaps... on my next trip, I might just buy one and take it home with me.


cwerdna said:
I’ve arrived in Japan. Food in economy on All Nippon Airways was decent. They rank highly at http://www.worldairlineawards.com/awards/world_airline_rating.html. Sadly, the rest of the legs of my trip to Asia won’t be on ANA. :(

This time, instead of renting a WiFi hotspot for about $10/day, I bought this 5 gb (valid for 21 days) prepaid SIM http://www.bmobile.ne.jp/english/ at BIC Camera at Narita airport (wasn’t that easy to find as I had to take a free shuttle bus from terminal 1 to 2). It’s about $30 total and more than good enough for my 6.5 day stay in Japan.

Many folks would tend to gravitate towards the many places selling SIMs or renting hotspots on the 1st floor of Narita.
 
mxp said:
Enjoy the show! ;-)

Most people rent a WiFi hotspot device because their phones may not have the cell phone frequencies that cover Japan. Nevertheless, that 5GB prepaid for $30 is a pretty good deal.

BTW, if possible, will you be able to help find out more about the "power from Leaf via Chademo port" box you previously posted? RE: http://mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=24497&start=50#p504949

Just wanted to know if they still sell them in Japan. I was thinking, perhaps... on my next trip, I might just buy one and take it home with me.
Thanks! Will be going to the show tomorrow (my time).

Yeah, I'll probably drop by Nissan HQ in Yokohama again. Interestingly, at Narita airport customs/immigration control, they had a bunch of kiosks where they'd take your picture and your index finger fingerprints (both required for incoming foreigners) but there were no power outlets where they were positioned. Instead, they had white suitcase-like boxes from AESC that looked just like that CHAdeMO power box. I'm 90% sure these kiosks didn't exist on my 2015 trip.

I also saw something else closer to the officers' desks that was also powered by that and they clearly said "Automotive Energy Supply Corporation". Unfortunately, all of that was in a strictly no picture taking area, so I couldn't.

IIRC, the LCD monitors on those kiosks were NEC so that AESC box is probably not a coincidence.
 
Thanks! Pls try and see if you can ask someone at the Leaf HQ for a definite pricing. If the price is low enough, it may be justifiable to bring one home as oversized checked baggage....

Your observation at Narita was interesting.... Do they look like these with wheels on them? There a po-chiku big and a little one.
https://www.r-expo.jp/wsew2016/exhiSearch/FC/en/search_detail.php?id=1066



cwerdna said:
mxp said:
Enjoy the show! ;-)

Most people rent a WiFi hotspot device because their phones may not have the cell phone frequencies that cover Japan. Nevertheless, that 5GB prepaid for $30 is a pretty good deal.

BTW, if possible, will you be able to help find out more about the "power from Leaf via Chademo port" box you previously posted? RE: http://mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=24497&start=50#p504949

Just wanted to know if they still sell them in Japan. I was thinking, perhaps... on my next trip, I might just buy one and take it home with me.
Thanks! Will be going to the show tomorrow (my time).

Yeah, I'll probably drop by Nissan HQ in Yokohama again. Interestingly, at Narita airport customs/immigration control, they had a bunch of kiosks where they'd take your picture and your index finger fingerprints (both required for incoming foreigners) but there were no power outlets where they were positioned. Instead, they had white suitcase-like boxes from AESC that looked just like that CHAdeMO power box. I'm 90% sure these kiosks didn't exist on my 2015 trip.

I also saw something else closer to the officers' desks that was also powered by that and they clearly said "Automotive Energy Supply Corporation". Unfortunately, all of that was in a strictly no picture taking area, so I couldn't.

IIRC, the LCD monitors on those kiosks were NEC so that AESC box is probably not a coincidence.
 
mxp said:
Thanks! Pls try and see if you can ask someone at the Leaf HQ for a definite pricing. If the price is low enough, it may be justifiable to bring one home as oversized checked baggage....

Your observation at Narita was interesting.... Do they look like these with wheels on them? There a po-chiku big and a little one.
https://www.r-expo.jp/wsew2016/exhiSearch/FC/en/search_detail.php?id=1066
I believe they were the 1000 Wh version, judging by the orientation. I'm not sure now. This morning, I thought it was that and now, I'm not sure. But yes, whatever I saw was likely one of one of the two battery items or both.

I found https://www.aesc-lb-ec.com/ which I found by Googling for leaf to 100v aesc. It says the price is 321,480 JPY or about $2820 USD. I also found http://www.aesc-lb-ec.com/user_data/SubsidyForLto100.php/, but the whole thing is a huge image so the Google Translate web site can't help with that. From using the camera feature from the Google Translate app, there are definitely some references to 149,000 yen. I can't read Japanese at all...

I'm finished w/my 1st day of 2 at the show. I only went to east halls, so far (http://www.tokyo-motorshow.com/en/showguide/east13.html, http://www.tokyo-motorshow.com/en/showguide/east46.html and http://www.tokyo-motorshow.com/en/showguide/east78.html). Will be hitting west hall tomorrow.

They had some test drive (I can't do that) and test ride events: http://www.tokyo-motorshow.com/en/event/testride.html. Today was the last day of any test rides. The easiest way to attempt to reserve was via their goofy app that uses location to ensure you're at the venue. You can't reserve test rides until 2 hours before the ride itself but wow, the slots are so limited in # and people are so fast I had no luck in registering for a single 1 of the "Extreme Test-Ride Experience". By the time exactly struck the 2 hour mark, I might be able to click on a car but by the time I click 3 checkboxes (required) and agree, it says it already hit the max number. I did this numerous times today. :(

I "love" how their goofy app sends me push notifications in Japanese even though the app UI is rendering in English for me.

As before, the emphasis of all automakers at the show was pretty much ICEVs w/a small smattering of hybrids, PHEVs and EVs.

Was surprised to see a next gen e-Golf (has a full-color LCD for the gauge cluster instead of the physical dials in the previous/current gen). Surprised me that it had 2 charging inlets: J1772 in the nose under the VW logo (you push on the left side of the logo to open the charging flap) and another flap on the rear fender covering..... a CHAdeMO inlet! Hahahaha. I spoke w/the rep there for awhile, but he had to stop a bunch of times due to real potential customers wanting to talk to him.

He mentions that CHAdeMO stations in Japan are 30 km apart. But he said there are coverage issues in the countryside. I didn't have a chance to talk to him more about this. I asked about him public J1772 and it sounded like that doesn't exist in Japan. People charging on J1772 at home.

There was a bit of hyrdogen FCEV stuff but more from the supplier's POV (e.g. they make some components or units that go in FCEVs). I didn't have a chance to visit Toyota's booth to see if they were pushing hydrogen but didn't see that at Honda's booth. Perhaps there's another area for hydrogen stuff.

After leaving TMS, I realized it seemed like Nissan didn't have their whole Japanese vehicle lineup at the booth. I don't think I saw a FairladyZ (aka 370Z here) nor a Teana (close cousin of the Altima).

Not directly TMS related, but the day before I attended TMS, I was at Nissan Crossing in Ginza (https://www3.nissan.co.jp/crossing/en.html). One of the marketing videos they had running was very similar to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daCVn3cZuD0, probably a longer version. I liked the music. I did recall seeing something similar sometimes running at Nissan's booth.

There's an older more generalized version w/less focus on EVs at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOFSch5NuYY.

Unrelated: It seems like many taxis in Japan are moving beyond the ancient looking Toyota Crowns and Crown Comforts that I referred to at http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?p=269676#p269676. Many seems to be much more modern looking Crowns now. I saw a Nissan Teana taxi instead of an ancient looking Cedric. I saw a Gen 2 Prius taxi (not real common as a taxi in Japan) exhibiting heavy spark knock.
 
Thanks for finding the AESC links.

That e-Golf with the rear CHAdeMO port is likely a Japan-only local market option. The Euro QC plug isn't going to help at all, at least in Japan ;-P

From the test-drive webpages, it would have been wobbly fun trying to test drive the Outlander PHEV up that steep ramp.

Did you get a chance to check out the Mitsu Outlander PHEV? I wonder if it's any different from the ones they are selling in the UK/Europe markets... like the missing CHAdeMO port from the US market-bound Outlander PHEV.

<cut>
Old press quoted (circa Jan 2016): ....Ken Konieczka, vice president of sales operations at Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc., said that the decision had been made to remove CHAdeMO DC quick charging capability on U.S.-spec Outlander PHEV models because of limited CHAdeMO DC quick charging availability.
 
mxp said:
That e-Golf with the rear CHAdeMO port is likely a Japan-only local market option. The Euro QC plug isn't going to help at all, at least in Japan ;-P

Nor will an SAE CCS "FrankenPlug" port, which is VW's choice for QC'ing in North America.
 
I saw an electric truck at TMS, the eCanter (http://www.mitsubishi-fuso.com/content/fuso/en/aboutus/corporate_profile/index.html) from Fuso, which despite the Mitsubishi logo, is part of Daimler (http://www.mitsubishi-fuso.com/content/fuso/en/aboutus/corporate_profile/index.html). Per the rep I spoke to, Fuso was spun off from Mitsubishi.

The truck had both CHAdeMO and J1772 inlets.

I also saw the https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1113357_nissan-e-nv200-fridge-concept-electric-refrigerated-van-at-tokyo-motor-show concept which https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1113356_mazda-rotary-range-extender-nissans-chill-electric-van-2018-zero-motorcycles-cummins-buys-brammo-todays-car-news called the "chill van".

I saw JPN Taxi at Toyota's booth today: http://newsroom.toyota.co.jp/en/detail/19173376. It's an LPG hybrid. I wonder if they'll start to become popular over the years, displacing cars w/old-looking designs like the Crown Comfort. I noticed they put the hazard light button on the steering wheel. I guess Japanese cabbies use it a lot. There were also at 2 USB ports on the back of the driver's seat for charging devices. I forgot to check if there were more in the car for passengers.

I'm done w/Tokyo Motor Show this year. There was definitely less focus on hydrogen FCEVs this time than last time in 2015 (which wasn't that significant either). I felt like I had a ton of free time on day 2 to see stuff at my leisure. I misjudged the time a bit. I thought that there would be a ton to see at the west halls, almost equally as much as the east halls (which I spent all of day 1 in). I was way off. There was way less to see in the west halls.

For folks who aren't that much into cars, subsystems, or tools, nor taking pics of booth babes, if TMS 2019 is of similar size, a full day is probably more than enough.

I also noticed today that the show floor had gotten pretty empty by 7 pm. I guess folks were hungry and left. During the day, it can get real crowded.

Unrelated: Google Maps on iOS was awesome for taking the bus in Tokyo. I'd previously used it for train and subway directions in Japan in 2015 while renting a wi-fi hotspot. In the past, travel books (e.g. Frommer's Japan) said for Tokyo to not bother taking the bus saying it was complicated and it's all in Japanese. Well, the physical bus stops do list the direction in English (e.g. to Monzen-nakacho or Tokyo Big Sight) and the electronic signage and announcements onboard do have English. Google Maps would tell me to take say bus 19 towards Tokyo Big Sight from a given spot. Unfortunately, sometimes the marker wasn't in the right spot so I had to ask for directions.

It only cost me under 210 yen (under $1.85 USD) to get from a bus stop near my hotel to Tokyo Big Sight, where TMS was held. Taking trains and/or subway would've cost at least double. For reference, UberBlack fare estimate is 3,033 to 4,006 yen (about $26.60 USD to $35.17). Tokyo taxis are notoriously expensive so they'd likely be even more.
 
cwerdna said:
mxp said:
Thanks! Pls try and see if you can ask someone at the Leaf HQ for a definite pricing. If the price is low enough, it may be justifiable to bring one home as oversized checked baggage....
I believe they were the 1000 Wh version, judging by the orientation. I'm not sure now. This morning, I thought it was that and now, I'm not sure. But yes, whatever I saw was likely one of one of the two battery items or both.

I found https://www.aesc-lb-ec.com/ which I found by Googling for leaf to 100v aesc. It says the price is 321,480 JPY or about $2820 USD...
I was at Nissan HQ earlier in the evening. I couldn't spend much time there as I had to go elsewhere. The box had disappeared. It wasn't anywhere in the gallery this time and wasn't at its prior location.

I showed the woman at the info desk my pic of the box. She didn't know what it was at first. I had to explain to her its function (e.g. CHAdeMO port on Leaf to 100 volts) and since she could see the Japanese in my pics, she ended up just Googling on her iPad and found me https://www.aesc-lb-ec.com/. I did see a glimpse of her at http://www.eco-aesc-lb.com/AESCCAT/14-035/index.html. I didn't really expect them to know. Let's just say the folks staffing their general info desk were pretty women :) and not engineers nor in sales, biz dev or marketing. I don't think they were EV enthusiasts either. I'd imagine they could answer some general questions about the vehicles in the gallery besides directing people to the business meeting area, bathrooms, etc. One of them migrated to using a duster to clean a car.

Side note: They were some RFID readers and what looked like signage about 500 yen to charge on the 2 CHAdeMO DC FCs outside Nissan HQ. The large boxes attached w/the RFID reader weren't there 2 years ago. I guess it was free 2 years ago? (I think pics at https://api.plugshare.com/view/location/48598 were basically what saw in late 2015.)

On the + side, there were at least 7 Leafs of different colors (either 6 or 7 different colors) on display. There weren't nearly as many duplicates (if any) for any of the other models. On the stage were 2 Leafs with 4 more next to it.

At Tokyo Motor Show, the only 2 vehicles on the stage at Nissan's booth were the Leaf and the iMX concept. There were more models within their booth, but just not up on stage.
 
FWIW, I was in Japan (mostly) Tokyo from late Oct 29th thru early morning Nov 6th. In my time there, IIRC, I only saw 1 Leaf in the wild. It pulled up to Nissan HQ to use 1 of its 2 CHAdeMO DC FCs. And, as I said earlier, from the box attached to the side, it appears that charging there costs $. I'm 99% sure it wasn't a test drive vehicle. A father got out along w/a child. The wheels looked aftermarket and like none we have in the US.

I was South Korea (mostly Seoul) for a few days and AFAIK, I saw 0 EVs in the wild. I've been in Singapore for a few days (leaving in under 12 hours) and AFAIK, I've seen 0 EVs. I talked to a former roommate who is from and lives in Singapore and I gathered that Evs here are still in their infancy. I asked about Teslas and he said they're not sold in Singapore so one had to jump thru "100" hoops to import one into the country.

From the sounds I've heard on the street in Singapore, there are some cars running around w/auto-start/stop systems. I've seen quite a few Gen 3 and 4 Priuses as taxis along w/a plethora of other cars used as taxis.
 
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