Benesse, Lawson join forces with electric-car start-ups

Japan-based companies Benesse Holdings Inc, Lawson Inc. and Gulliver International Co. are joining in an effort to help start-ups develop electric vehicles, The Nikkei reported. The companies will set up a council aimed at drawing up safety guidelines for converting gasoline-powered vehicles to run on batteries, providing training programs for mechanics, and also offering assistance in financing for venture businesses. It will be officially launched on June 29. Benesse Chairman Soichiro Fukutake will head the group, whose members are expected to include Zerosports Co., Tajima Motor Corp. and Nano-Optonics Energy Inc., as well as universities carrying out research on electric vehicles. The organization plans to draft standards for development, manufacturing, marketing and maintenance of electric vehicles by March 2011. (June 17, 2010)