Mazda has announced that it will provide three Mazda2s for conversion to electric vehicles as part of a new test project in collaboration with Itochu Corporation, Tsukuba City and several other companies.

Commencing in March 2010, the Tsukuba Environmental Style Test Project aims to comprehensively assess a low-carbon energy network composed of electric vehicles (EVs), rapid chargers, fixed battery stations, solar panels and a car sharing service.

The main initiatives of the project will be to assess the viability of reusing EV batteries in fixed battery stations, to develop an effective system to use renewable energy in EVs, and to test the viability of a new service to accelerate the establishment of a low-carbon transport society.

Mazda’s role in the Test Project will be to assist in determining optimum vehicle specifications and evaluating vehicle performance.

Through its participation in the Tsukuba Environmental Style Test Project, Mazda aims to further strengthen the base of its future R&D activities, including the i-stop idling stop system, regenerative braking and hybrid systems.

This reflects the brand’s long-term vision for technology development, Sustainable Zoom-Zoom, which was announced in 2007.