Honda tests EV charging technologies in the remote Marshall Islands
Honda Motors has started testing its electric vehicle (EV) charging technologies in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, near the Equator in the Pacific Ocean. In collaboration with the local Government, Honda will perform the testing using its electric vehicle, Fit EV, and the solar power-ready AC normal charger, Honda Power Charger. The project is being supported by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and will see Honda verifying the possibility of widespread use of electric mobility products and the installation of EV charging infrastructure in the region.

Honda is testing new electric-car charging stations in a somewhat unusual and very remote location.

It's far from the carmaker's home market of Japan, or its major markets, like the United States and Europe.

In fact, it's far from pretty much everywhere on earth.

DON'T MISS: Honda's California HQ Installs 120 Electric-Car Charging Stations (But Sells No Plug-In Cars)

The location in question is the Republic of the Marshall Islands, a nation comprised of 1,156 individual islands near the equator in the Pacific Ocean.

These remote islands were the site of bloody fighting during World War II, nuclear testing during the Cold War, and are now particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

Beginning this week, Honda will jointly conduct testing with the government of the Marshall Islands of a solar-powered AC charging station called the Honda Power Charger.

Honda tests electric-car charging in the Marshall Islands

With support from the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Honda and the Marshall Islands government will conduct a pilot testing program using the charging stations, and a small fleet of Fit EV electric cars.

Initial results will determine whether more widespread installation of charging infrastructure throughout the Marshall Islands would be worthwhile.

ALSO SEE: What Country Powered Itself Entirely On Renewable Energy For 75 Days?

Honda notes that the Marshall Islands must import the majority of its energy supplies.

Increased used of renewable energy is meant to help the country achieve a greater degree of self sufficiency, and to reduce the energy costs associated with transportation.

2012 Honda Fit EV

Situated as it is among many small islands in the Pacific, the Marshall Islands is also more likely to be devastated by rising sea levels resulting from climate change.

So the country has an even greater incentive to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

MORE: World's First Entirely Renewable-Energy Place: Wind-Swept Scottish Island (Feb 2014)

For its part, Honda is laying the groundwork for a return to the plug-in car market after a brief hiatus.

The carmaker recently withdrew both the Fit EV and the Accord Plug-In Hybrid from the U.S., and neither car sold in great numbers to begin with.

Honda plans to launch a new battery-electric car and a new plug-in hybrid in 2018, but has not provided any specific information on either model.

_______________________________________________

Follow GreenCarReports on Facebook and Twitter