Importing electric car from Japan or elsewhere

[ACCYSTAN]

I was looking into a Japanese import again and wondered if I import an electric car from Japan or elsewhere, would UK charging infrastructure work or would I need a different set up?

[ACCYSTAN]

Anyone help with my question?

Is it access question? Will it simply work on any charger with the same plug type?
Do Tesla use the same plug type across the world?

[hidetheelephants]

You'd need to check the specific model, many/most older JDM EVs will have Chademo which is not a current standard in the UK, I imagine existing chargers capable of Chademo will remain available but doubt any new ones will be installed and availability will be worse than for CCS. Adaptors to allow CCS chargers to charge a Chademo-equipped car are available but are not cheap. They will all have type 1/type 2 AC charging for charging at home or at other slow AC chargers, if that's what you intend to do this may not be a problem.

[MisterV]

There is loads about this on the internet, for example Google "are ev charge systems the same worldwide".

It seems Japan uses the same system as USA, which is different to the UK. Could an adapter work? I have no idea.

You could ask in the EV and alternative fuels forum section.

Edited by MisterV on Wednesday 5th November 19:39

[ChocolateFrog]

MisterV said:

There is loads about this on the internet, for example Google "are ev charge systems the same worldwide".

It seems Japan uses the same system as USA, which is different to the UK. Could an adapter work? I have no idea.

Maybe you should Google it

[samoht]

It seems Japan still uses Chademo, so any JDM import would have that. There are some Chademo chargers around, but generally slower.

This seems to cover the issues:
https://www.evguru.com.my/post/navigating-electric...

The navigation probably won't be able to guide you to suitable chargers.

I imagine it wouldn't have any warranty, vs the 8 years / 100k miles battery warranty on UK market EVs.


If the criticisms of EV motoring are difficulties finding suitable chargers and rapid depreciation, I think importing one from Japan would exacerbate both problems.

Additionally, there aren't really any interesting Japanese EVs vs what you can get here.


China and Korea would be more promising for EVs. I think Korean market cars use CCS1 which should be a simple adapter to CCS2, as the protocol is the same (?), just the physical plugs differ. You still have the navigation issue though.

[Fessia fancier]

Another thing to check is carriage and insurance for carriage might not be that easy because it is electric and secondhand.

[ACCYSTAN]

Fessia fancier said:

Another thing to check is carriage and insurance for carriage might not be that easy because it is electric and secondhand.

Thank you for the reply’s and this one hit the nail on the head

Quotes on a Honda fit where coming back at £710 shipping cost including insurance before broker fees

Quotes on a Tesla model 3 admittedly only got 1 quote so far but it’s £1,650 including the insurance as apparently it must be stored on the highest level of a roro ship in a special EV area and spaces are a premium.

Looks like I will quit now before I hand any money over.

[dhutch]

Out of interest, barriers aside, what was the interest in importing a car from Japan?

I can understand the drawer for some of the 20-30yo cars which come over, Landrovers without rust, etc as well as the JDM exclusive stuff. Mazda Bongo, Legnum VR4, whatever.

Does that apply to EVs?

[hidetheelephants]

There was a period when Nissan Leafs etc were cheap enough over there that it made some sense to buy and import, especially low mileage examples, not sure it's true today.

[ACCYSTAN]

It wasn t actually Japan , it was China but I used Japan as I know it has an established used car trade to the UK.

Essentially a used 3 year old long range Tesla could be had at a compelling price I thought it would be worth reviewing what would be involved in export.

I expect the same is true of Japan although I haven t checked local Japanese prices.

I have been working with a guy who imported the current shape Honda Jazz / Fit last year and it worked out a good few grand cheaper than the equivalent UK cars on autotrader even with all the costs of delivery, taxes, speedo converter, radio, etc.

Got a second quote for EV shipping and again the RoRo boat is not keen on taking them and you have to pay a premium as they can only be stored on a certain part of the ship.

Edited by ACCYSTAN on Thursday 6th November 17:09

Edited by ACCYSTAN on Thursday 6th November 17:11

[samoht]

£820 for a CCS2 to GB/T adapter for DC charging
https://evniculus.eu/products/adapter-ccs2-to-gbt?...
Interesting overview of some of the issues
https://evniculus.eu/blogs/journal/everything-you-...
it limits you to 300A, so about 120kW on a 400V car/charger.
note that the adapter has its own rechargeable battery inside, and receives firmware updates for compatibility with new cars/chargers, since it's not only adapting the physical pins but also the logical charging protocols.

& another cheaper one for home AC charging
https://evniculus.eu/products/adapter-type-2-to-gb...


then there's the question of trying to make the infotainment do anything at all in this country.