News On Japan

Toyota unveils home batteries that hook up to hybrids, EVs

Jun 03, 2022 (Nikkei) - Toyota Motor will enter the home battery market, offering outdoor units that can be charged from hybrid and electric vehicles, the automaker said Thursday.

As demand grows for power products that can keep the lights on in homes during emergencies, Toyota aims to grab market share by providing a convenient battery that connects with various energy sources, including solar panels.

The product debuts in August and includes a battery unit with a capacity of 8.7 kilowatt-hours and an adapter to connect with electrified vehicles.

Toyota drew on expertise with automotive batteries that it amassed over the years as a pioneer in gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles. The home batteries work in temperatures ranging from 45 C to minus 20 C, and users can check how much charge is left and change settings from a custom smartphone app.

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Large Typhoon No. 25 was moving northwest over waters south of Japan at 3 p.m. on September 19 and is forecast to strengthen as it approaches Kanto and the Izu Islands from September 20 through September 21, bringing the risk of torrential rain, violent winds and further damage in areas still recovering from last year's typhoon.

A black bear has been spotted near one of the most popular hiking trails on Mount Takao in western Tokyo, prompting authorities to urge visitors to take precautions ahead of the five-day Silver Week holiday and the approaching autumn foliage season.

Starbucks is considering selling a majority stake in its Japanese business, potentially valued at as much as $3 billion, or about 470 billion yen, as the U.S. coffee chain seeks to concentrate management resources on its struggling North American operations.

Japan's Halloween Jumbo Lottery went on sale nationwide on September 16, offering a combined top payout of 400 million yen for the first prize and its adjacent-number prizes.

A new top-tier "Supreme Class" offering fully private compartments above the level of Green Car service will debut on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen on October 1, with passengers able to experience the new seating at a demonstration booth at Shin-Osaka Station.

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