Culture Hi-Tech

Tokyo Mobility Show 2023: Unveiling the Future of Transportation, from Flying Cars to Giant Robots

Hi how are you?

On November 3rd, a national holiday of Culture Day, it means fans of all vehicles, not just cars, went to the exhibition hall including me, went to the Tokyo Mobility Show.

Just as I had imagined, from the entrance to taking photos of the exhibits and cars, the crowd was so overwhelming that, at 77 years old, I was terribly exhausted to watch many and take photos and videos in a crowd.

So please enjoy the dreamy lineup of the latest concept models!

‘JAPAN MOBILITY SHOW 2023’

“Until now, the ‘Tokyo Motor Show (1954~2019)’ was held every two years, featuring only cars. It has now been renamed to ‘Tokyo Mobility Show,’ including the vehicles of the future, and was held after a four-year hiatus.

The event saw the participation of nearly 500 companies, the highest number in its history. In addition to Japanese manufacturers, China’s BYD, which enhances the presence of electric vehicles (EVs), participated for the first time.

Regarding the EV market, there is a sense of Japanese EV manufacturers lagging behind, but EVs currently face various challenges, and each company made their appeals through their exhibits.

Starting from 2023, the Tokyo Motor Show is transitioning into a sustainable event with a focus on the environment.

As part of the ‘GREEN’ initiative, JAPAN MOBILITY SHOW 2023 aims to contribute to the realization of a carbon-neutral society and provide a platform to consider Japan’s future as a sustainable event.

The event made efforts to reduce CO2 emissions associated with the event and implemented carbon offset measures in unavoidable cases.

Additionally, steps toward sustainability are being taken, including the introduction of environmentally conscious fuels.

Implementation Details:

Use of Fuel Cell-Powered Vehicles Generating Electricity with Hydrogen. At the ‘H2 Energy Festival,’ which featured music performances by popular artists, comedy shows, and live radio broadcasts, hydrogen-related research institutions and multiple companies collaborated to deploy stages powered by hydrogen-derived energy.

Hydrogen vehicles were also installed at the venue to realize an environmentally conscious new stage.

Vehicles Used:
MIRAI / Toyota (https://toyota.jp/mirai/)

Clarity / Honda (https://www.honda.co.jp/auto-archive/clarity/phev/2021/)
CJPT FC Truck / Isuzu (https://www.isuzu.co.jp/newsroom/details/20220719_01.html)

Environmentally Conscious Fuel
For all gas used in the ‘Gourmet Kingdom’ food section, Fuji Gas Carbon Neutral LP Gas (FCN-LPG) from Fuji Gas Co., Ltd. was introduced.

Carbon credits were used to offset greenhouse gas emissions resulting from LP gas consumption (combustion).

Next-generation bio-diesel fuel “SUSTEO” from Euglena Corporation was partially introduced as the fuel for generators used in the Motorsports Area (outdoor demo run site).

Carbon Offset
Based on the results of the ’46th Tokyo Motor Show 2019,’ it was estimated that the CO2 emissions during the event period amounted to approximately 878 tons.

To offset this, carbon credits equivalent to the same amount were purchased, contributing to the reduction of CO2 emissions equivalent to the annual CO2 absorption capacity of around 99,755 cedar trees.

JAPAN MOBILITY SHOW 2023 aimed to promote sustainability by organizing business meetups between mobility-related companies and startups under the theme of ‘Environment & Carbon Offset’ at the Startup Future Factory.

Additionally, Japan Future Session featured sessions on carbon neutrality, providing numerous opportunities for discussing sustainability with the attendees.” Quoted from the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc.

Besids cars, flying car which is non-operator but it can take you to your destination, and they will be available service in the near future.

Another attraction is startup develops ‘Gundam’-like robot with $3 million price tag

Tokyo-based startup Tsubame Industries has developed a 4.5-meter-tall (14.8-feet), four-wheeled robot that looks like “Mobile Suit Gundam” from the wildly popular Japanese animation series, and it can be yours for $3 million.

Called ARCHAX after the avian dinosaur archaeopteryx, the robot has cockpit monitors that receive images from cameras hooked up to the exterior so that the pilot can maneuver the arms and hands with joysticks from inside its torso.

New mobility concepts cater to older people’s love for the road

Last year, 448,476 people voluntarily surrendered their licenses for fear of causing accidents, of whom 95.6% were age 65 or older.

Older people who love to drive do not have to give up on their passion after surrendering their driver’s license, as many Japanese automakers and startups are creating new personal mobility solutions to cater for their unabated desire for driving.

“Although we offer the ‘Senior Car’ carts for people who have voluntarily surrendered their license, many of them feel they are too young to be users of the four-wheeled electric wheelchair,” a Suzuki official said at the Japan Mobility Show.

Suzuki President and Representative Director Toshihiro Suzuki unveils the Suzu-Ride at a press day of the Japan Mobility Show

Finally, quoted from the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc.: Under the theme ‘Let’s go in search of the future we want to ride,’ the Tokyo Mobility Show (JMS), which brought together 475 companies and organizations from various industries and startups, beyond the boundaries of the automotive industry, concluded on November 5th with 1,112,000 attendees.

Thanks for browsing, Have a great day!

About the author

古林 茂樹(Shigeki Furubayashi )