Hitachi Industrial Products, Ltd. (“Hitachi Industrial Products”) today announced that Hitachi Industrial Products will launch a large-capacity multi-port EV charger that enables fast charging of electric vehicles (EV) from October 2023.
Large capacity multi-port EV charger developed by Hitachi Industrial Products enables to shorten the charging time and eliminate the charging congestion by increasing the number of vehicles to be charged simultaneously. Bidirectional charge/discharge control technology enables to eliminate grid congestion without the need for grid reinforcement, and to stabilize voltage control required due to large introduction of renewable energy. In addition, high-efficiency power conversion technology maximizes the value of EVs’ potentiality as distributed energy resources. Hitachi Industrial Products will contribute to the expansion of charging infrastructure and growth of EVs in the market in order to realize a decarbonized society through this technology.
Background
The Japanese Government has declared its goal to realize the carbon neutrality, with zero overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and set a plan for all new passenger car sales to be electric by 2035. Despite this, implementation of EVs in the domestic market is still slow due to shortage of charging infrastructure and lack of due consideration of specific use cases for EVs. It is also expected that the power system will be overloaded due to the growth of EVs in the future, and utilization of EVs as distributed power resources will be required to eliminate grid congestion.
Demonstration of one of use cases utilizing a “Large-Capacity Multi-port EV Charger”
Hitachi Industrial Products is participating in the demonstration project initiated by CHAdeMO Association to verify the Japan-China next generation charging standard CHAdeMO 3.0 (ChaoJi2) and to promote the standard globally. This first demonstration site in Japan for the verification of next-generation EV charging standard is established at Omika Works (5-2-1, Omika-cho, Hitachi city, Ibaraki Prefecture), and will be opened to domestic and overseas EV OEM (from October 2023 for 2 years)(1).
As part of measures to reduce CO2 emissions from commuting vehicles, it is planned to install large-capacity multi-port EV charger in the parking area at Tsuchiura Works (603 Kandatsu-machi, Tsuchiura-city, Ibaraki Prefecture) to encourage employees to use EVs for their commuting by allowing them to charge EVs during working hours (from April 2024).
Main Features
1. Multi-port (scalability) Within the capacity of 500 kW, it is flexibly possible to arrange the output power from each dispenser such as 90 kW×5 port and 25 kW×20 port configuration with simultaneous charging.
2. Large capacity Two models are available with 250 kW and 500 kW, which enables to support the global requirement for high-power charging (ultra-fast charging, large-fleet EV charging).
3. V2X(2) (Energy Management) It supports V2X and capable for power demand control for the facility utilizing EVs as electric power resource.
(1) Hitachi Industrial Products (October 6, 2022) “Participation in the CHAdeMO3.0 (ChaoJi2) demonstration project for next -generation high power EV charging standard” (2) V2X (Vehicle to Everything): Communication technology links automobiles and various products.
About introduction at Hitachi Social Innovation Forum 2023 JAPAN
The product will be shown at the “Hitachi Social Innovation Forum 2023 JAPAN” from September 20th (Wed) to 21st (Thu), 2023.
Please visit the website at: https://www.service.event.hitachi/en/regist/
About Hitachi Industrial Products, Ltd.
Hitachi Group aims for further evolution and growth of the Social Innovation Business on a global basis, with three pillars of growth: “digital”, “green”, and “innovation”.
Hitachi Industrial Products contributes to improving social, environmental values of our customers throughout the product business in Connective Industries sector in Hitachi that digitally connects products in a wide range of fields such as industrial distribution, water infrastructure, healthcare, home appliances, air conditioning systems, measurement, analysis systems, and building systems. For details, please visit the Hitachi Industrial Products Ltd. website (https://www.hitachi-ip.com/).
Aflac Life Insurance Japan Ltd. (“Aflac”), Hitachi, Ltd. (“Hitachi”), and GlobalLogic Japan, Ltd. (“GlobalLogic”)(1) start full-scale collaboration to establish a Cancer Ecosystem(2) (“Workplace Cancer Ecosystem”) to provide comprehensive support for employees and their families facing societal issues surrounding cancer.
Photos of Preliminary Idea Workshops
The three companies have been working together since December 2022 on a project at Hitachi’s workplace for preliminary study. Responding to Aflac’s concept of a ” Workplace Cancer Ecosystem”, the three parties used GlobalLogic’s design-led digital engineering*3 to conduct interviews and workshops with employees affected by cancer to identify areas of insufficient support in the existing system from the perspective of the employees themselves. Based on that, the team consolidated the desired direction and goals, and proposed initiative ideas to realize them.
Moving forward, Aflac, Hitachi and GlobalLogic will accelerate this co-creation and conduct full-scale verification for the feasibility of each idea toward the establishment of the ” Workplace Cancer Ecosystem” that accompanies employees who have experienced cancer, providing support throughout the survivor journey before and after having cancer.
Background of Co-creation
The probability of a Japanese person being diagnosed with cancer in his or her lifetime is approximately one in two(4). It is an important initiative for companies to support their employees in their fight against cancer because the company is where people spend most of their adult life. It not only contributes to realizing one’s own way of life while fighting cancer, but also helps to secure the workforce by reducing employee turnover and temporary leave due to the disease.
On the other hand, according to a survey conducted by the Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, approximately 57.4% of the respondents(5) stated that “it is difficult to balance work and cancer treatment” due to insufficient company support in health care initiatives and systems, as well as low recognition and utilization of the initiatives by employees themselves. Support for patients in the workplace is becoming a significant challenge.
Aflac has formulated a mid-term management strategy (2022-2024)(6) under the slogan “Aflac VISION2024” toward 2024, the 50th anniversary of operations in Japan, with the aim of leaping forward to become the leading company in creating “Living in your own way.” In order to implement one of the strategies (“Creating living in your own way ecosystem strategy”), Aflac is building a “Cancer Ecosystem,” a large system to comprehensively resolve societal issues related to cancer, through collaboration and cooperation among various stakeholders, including workplaces, schools, patient groups, NPOs, corporations, and government organizations.
Hitachi is promoting social innovation businesses to resolve societal issues together with customers, leveraging digital technologies empowered by Lumada(7) globally. Also, Hitachi has built an ecosystem based on Lumada that enables collaboration with a wide range of partners, and is innovating through co-creation by multiple companies and organizations to address a variety of societal issues.
As a co-creation project integrating Aflac’s “Cancer Ecosystem” and Hitachi’s Lumada ecosystem, the three companies aim to establish a “Workplace Cancer Ecosystem” in which companies take the initiative in providing comprehensive, mid- to long-term support for employees with cancer at Hitachi’s workplace.
Overview of Previous Initiatives
The three companies have promoted a project to conduct a preliminary study using Hitachi’s workplace as a field to understand the current issues in the workplace. Combining the insights of Aflac, a pioneer in cancer insurance and the longest-standing insurance company dealing with cancer in Japan, and the knowledge of Hitachi and GlobalLogic in advanced case studies and methods for creating new services based on design thinking, the team examined the functions required for the “Workplace Cancer Ecosystem” and the stakeholders that should be engaged for the realization.
Specifically, interviews were conducted with Hitachi employees, including those who have experienced cancer, to identify gaps between expectation and reality, in terms of cancer experience, health awareness, and utilization of internal systems. Based on the results, Aflac, Hitachi, and GlobalLogic gathered at Lumada Innovation Hub Tokyo*8, Hitachi’s co-creation base, and held several workshops to discuss “ideal state” ideas. Using GlobalLogic’s design thinking, which has revolutionized the user experience of services and products of many major global companies, the team created a survivor journey of personas derived from various employee surveys, while referring to the current support details of internal systems. In addition, they thoroughly identified issues that had not been considered sufficiently from the perspective of the end user (employees), and examined the direction of the desired state and discussed 20 ideas to resolve the issues.
(1) GlobalLogic Japan: The Japanese subsidiary of GlobalLogic, a digital engineering services company headquartered in Silicon Valley, which was acquired by Hitachi, Ltd. in July 2021. (2) A mechanism for various stakeholders to cooperate and collaborate to comprehensively resolve societal issues related to cancer. (3) GlobalLogic’s design-led digital engineering: GlobalLogic’s unique way to explore innovation ideas that satisfy users’ desirability, business viability, and technical feasibility through design thinking, and to realize the ideas with digital technologies in an agile way. (4)
Hitachi Payment Services (Hitachi Payments), India’s leading integrated payment solutions provider, has entered into an agreement to acquire the Cash Management Business of Writer Corporation, a multi-business enterprise.
In the Cash Management industry, Writer Safeguard – the Cash Management Business of Writer Corporation, has been providing comprehensive cash services including ATM cash replenishment and retail cash pick-up services to corporate clients in India since 2001. Writer Safeguard has a network of close to 40,000 touchpoints including ATMs and Retail spanning 25 states across 1,500 locations serviced by a workforce of over 10,000 people.
The acquisition will transform Hitachi Payments’ market standing by integrating the cash management business into its overall service offerings, positioning it as a one-stop payments and commerce solutions provider. It will enable Hitachi Payments to provide comprehensive ATM services to financial institutions, while on the merchant side it would complement Hitachi Payments’ digital offerings. By offering a unified and single platform for all merchant related payment and commerce needs, the acquisition will further strengthen Hitachi Payments’ value proposition to merchants and serve as a catalyst in accelerating digital adoption.
Tatsuro Ueda, Vice President and Executive Officer, CEO of Financial Institutions Business Unit, Hitachi, Ltd. said, “As the movement of digitalization accelerates globally, Hitachi is committed to provide future-ready solutions that effectively meet the varied needs of our customers especially in India, where digitalization is progressing rapidly in rural areas. This acquisition will enable us to expand our service offerings and further strengthen our position in the Indian market. Specifically for the merchant ecosystem, we will be able to provide a distinctive value proposition and further drive digital acceptance by becoming a one-stop solution provider, catering to the diverse needs of merchants.”
Sumil Vikamsey, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer – Cash Business, Hitachi Payment Services, said, “The acquisition of the Cash Management Business of Writer Corporation will complement Hitachi Payments’ vision of becoming a leading payments and commerce solutions provider, offering holistic, reliable and cost-effective solutions across the payments value chain. In line with our overall strategy, the deal creates opportunities for us to broaden our service offerings and provides us a unique position to drive growth and innovation in the Indian payments landscape.”
Dayle de Souza, Managing Director, Writer Business Services, said, “Over the last two decades, Writer Corporation has created a rich legacy in the Cash Management Business through pioneering technologies, operational efficiencies and superior risk management practices. As one of the founding members of the Cash Logistics Association, the company has played a pivotal role in bringing global standards to the Cash Management industry in India. We are confident that the transfer to Hitachi Payments will bring new possibilities for this business. We will continue to retain and grow the ATM Managed Services business as a part of the overall service portfolio to our corporate clients.”
Hitachi Payments is a pioneer in the payment industry in India, offering a comprehensive range of payment solutions including ATM Services, Cash Recycling Machines, White Label ATMs, POS Solutions, Toll & Transit Solutions, Payment Gateway Solutions and innovative offerings such as SoftPOS, POS Value Added Services and next-gen mobile based merchant platform enabling end-to-end services. The company is committed to delivering exceptional customer experiences and driving financial inclusion across India.
Completion of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions.
About Hitachi Payment Services Pvt. Ltd.
A 100% subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd., Hitachi Payments is an integrated payment solutions provider empowering financial institutions, payment aggregators and fintechs with a comprehensive array of end-to-end payment solutions focused on security, reliability and innovation. A pioneer in the Indian payments space, it has over 66,000 ATMs (including 27,500 Cash Recycling Machines) and 9,300 White Label ATMs under management. For more information on Hitachi Payments, please visit the company’s website at https://www.hitachi-payments.com
About Hitachi, Ltd.
Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society through the use of data and technology. We solve customers’ and society’s challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products. Hitachi operates under the business structure of “Digital Systems & Services” – supporting our customers’ digital transformation; “Green Energy & Mobility” – contributing to a decarbonized society through energy and railway systems, and “Connective Industries” – connecting products through digital technology to provide solutions in various industries. Driven by Digital, Green, and Innovation, we aim for growth through co-creation with our customers. The company’s consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2022 (ended March 31, 2023) totalled 10,881.1 billion yen, with 696 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 320,000 employees worldwide.
For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company’s website at www.hitachi.com
About Writer Group
Writer Corporation is a multi-business enterprise operating in Global Relocations, Information Management, ATM & Cash Management, Hospitality, Lifestyle and Premium Real Estate. It was founded in the year 1953. It has its presence in India, Middle-East, UK, Africa and Singapore. Headquartered in Mumbai, the Writer Group employs 15,000+ people globally, operating with a single goal to consistently meet and exceed our customers’ expectations through premium quality services. Imagination and innovation have been the hallmark of Writer, which has helped align its service capabilities with the evolving needs of corporates and individuals across the world. The organization has established a reputation of superior quality within Relocations, Information Management, Cash Management, Lifestyle and Premium Real Estate.
For more information on Writer Corporation, please visit the company website at www.writercorporation.com
Hitachi Energy, a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all, today announced it has been selected as preferred technology provider of SSEN Transmission and National Grid, to supply two high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter stations to interconnect the Scottish and English power grids.
North Sea Link – Blyth Station in the UK
The energy transition requires a collaborative effort that can only be achieved with advanced technologies and new ways of working. In appointing Hitachi Energy as their preferred technology provider, SSEN Transmission and National Grid secure best-in-class technology and future production capacity in a rapidly growing market. For Hitachi Energy, this enables investment in new production capacity and to undertake large-scale recruitment drives. It also strengthens collaboration, standardization of solutions, and synergies between projects.
The integration of renewables requires solutions that make the grid resilient, stable, and flexible. Hitachi Energy’s innovation and long development of voltage sourced converter (VSC) power electronics and control and protection (MACHTM)(1) technologies meet the requirements alongside many other landmark grid integration projects.
Eastern Green Link 2 will consist of two 525-kilovolt (kV) bipole VSC converter stations connected by 440 kilometers of subsea cable and 70 kilometers of underground cable, making it the longest HVDC link in the UK. The link will efficiently supply a total of 2,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity, which is enough to power around two million UK homes.(2)
The link will help to secure power transmission in the northern UK and support the integration of new renewable electricity generation in Scotland, as part of the UK’s Net Zero Strategy.(3) As much as 11,000 MW of offshore wind capacity is possible in Scottish waters by 2030(4), and HVDC transmission will play a large part in bringing this vast amount of renewable power to shore and south, to communities across the country.
“The UK’s Net Zero Strategy has ambitious targets which will require vast amounts of new renewable generation. Electricity will be the backbone of the entire energy system,” said Niklas Persson, Managing Director at Hitachi Energy’s Grid Integration business. “Our pioneering HVDC technology will ensure that this electricity will reliably and efficiently get where it’s needed most.”
“This is another important milestone for EGL2 which is part of the new network infrastructure required to help the UK meet its net zero and energy security ambitions,” said Sarah Sale, Deputy Project Director of National Grid. “Along with cabling bidder and formal joint venture announcements, this is another key part of the project which is now in place and ready for the delivery phase. We look forward to working in collaboration with Hitachi Energy and BAM as the project continues to progress.”
“The converter stations at either end of the cable will play a crucial role in making the power transported subsea suitable for transportation around the onshore transmission network – getting Hitachi Energy and BAM in place to deliver that technology is great for the project,” said Ricky Saez, the EGL2 Project Director from SSEN Transmission.
“BAM is delighted to work in collaboration with Hitachi Energy on this vital renewable energy project for National Grid and SSEN Transmission,” said Huw Jones, Executive Director of BAM Nuttall. “The converter stations will enable the transmission of green energy from areas of offshore wind generation to centers of population, supporting the UK’s net zero ambitions and providing better energy security. We look forward to engaging with local communities and suppliers in Aberdeenshire and North Yorkshire, supporting BAM’s vision to deliver sustainable infrastructure for our clients, stakeholders, and the communities in which we work.”
Hitachi Energy is collaborating with BAM, a construction company that designs, builds, and maintains sustainable buildings and infrastructure, to provide the civil and installation scope for the project. The collaboration with BAM will leverage the core competencies of the two companies to deliver a best-in-class solution for the project.
Hitachi Energy pioneered commercial HVDC technology almost 70 years ago and has delivered more than half of the world’s HVDC projects.
(1) Modular Advanced Control for HVDC (MACHTM) (2) www.nationalgrid.com/electricity-transmission/network-and-infrastructure/segl2 (3) www.gov.uk/government/publications/net-zero-strategy (4) www.gov.scot/publications/offshore-wind-policy-statement/ HVDC website www.hitachienergy.com/offering/product-and-system/hvdc
About Hitachi Energy
Hitachi Energy is a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all. We serve customers in the utility, industry and infrastructure sectors with innovative solutions and services across the value chain. Together with customers and partners, we pioneer technologies and enable the digital transformation required to accelerate the energy transition towards a carbon-neutral future. We are advancing the world’s energy system to become more sustainable, flexible and secure whilst balancing social, environmental and economic value. Hitachi Energy has a proven track record and unparalleled installed base in more than 140 countries. Headquartered in Switzerland, we employ around 40,000 people in 90 countries and generate business volumes of over $10 billion USD. https://www.hitachienergy.com www.linkedin.com/company/hitachienergy https://twitter.com/HitachiEnergy
About Hitachi, Ltd.
Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society through the use of data and technology. We solve customers’ and society’s challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products. Hitachi operates under the business structure of “Digital Systems & Services” – supporting our customers’ digital transformation; “Green Energy & Mobility” – contributing to a decarbonized society through energy and railway systems, and “Connective Industries” – connecting products through digital technology to provide solutions in various industries. Driven by Digital, Green, and Innovation, we aim for growth through co-creation with our customers. The company’s consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2022 (ended March 31, 2023) totaled 10,881.1 billion yen, with 696 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 320,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company’s website at www.hitachi.com.
Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE:6501, “Hitachi”) announced today that it has delivered a proton therapy system to HKSH Medical Group (“HKSH”), of which Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital is a member. The system has started treatment as of July 11, which marks the beginning of proton therapy treatment service in Hong Kong.
This system, consisting of two rotating gantry treatment rooms, each equipped with spot scanning technology, is expected to become model case to display its capability to be installed in limited space of urban area with tis compact design configuration.
For over a century, HKSH has been a leading private hospital in a city renowned for the quality of its healthcare. Consistently ranked among the best hospitals in Asia, HKSH has been a pioneer in various advanced medical technologies, nursing care, and patient-centric care, serving as a model of care in the Asia Pacific region.
Hitachi’s particle therapy systems can be found in leading hospitals around the world. With over 85,000 patients* treated to date, the systems have an excellent reputation for reliability. In addition to the proton therapy solution delivered to HKSH, Hitachi provides products and services with higher performance and added value, ranging from the heavy ion therapy system to the hybrid system combined with the capabilities of proton and carbon therapy.
By promoting its healthcare business, Hitachi supports patient-friendly treatment and improvement of the quality of life (QoL) for cancer patients in Hong Kong and surrounding areas. It will continue to accelerate the globalization of its particle therapy system business and contribute to the further development of minimally invasive cancer treatments.
*Statistics based on data up to December 2021 published on the PTCOG`s website (https://ptcog.site/index.php/patient-statistics).
Overview of Particle Therapy Website of Hitachi’s Particle Therapy System: www.hitachi.com/businesses/healthcare/products-support/pbt/index.html.
About Hitachi, Ltd.
Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society through the use of data and technology. We solve customers’ and society’s challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products. Hitachi operates under the business structure of “Digital Systems & Services” – supporting our customers’ digital transformation; “Green Energy & Mobility” – contributing to a decarbonized society through energy and railway systems, and “Connective Industries” – connecting products through digital technology to provide solutions in various industries. Driven by Digital, Green, and Innovation, we aim for growth through co-creation with our customers. The company’s consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2022 (ended March 31, 2023) totaled 10,881.1 billion yen, with 696 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 320,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company’s website at www.hitachi.com.
