Japan Post to use only electric cars by '15

Japan Post Service Co., which belongs to Japan Post Holdings Co., announced Monday that it is planning to gradually introduce electric cars to replace and eventually phase out its current fleet of automobiles over the next eight years to help reduce levels of greenhouse gas emissions.

The company owns about 22,000 lightfreight cars that are used to deliver mail and about 1,000 passenger cars that are used for business purposes. It has already adopted some hybrid cars as part of its fleet.

The company’s gasoline costs total about 10 billion yen a year. By incorporating more hybrid cars as part of its fleet the company expects to reduce gasoline costs.

Japan Post said the change to electric cars will be a good fit for short-distance deliveries and business use, due to battery technology advancements. Currently, the company has called for several automakers to become involved in the development of battery operated cars and also approached them to develop battery operated bikes.

It will be necessary for the company to provide recharging points for the vehicles at 1,092 post offices across the country.