NTN Corporation (hereafter, NTN) has become a gold sponsor for the the “EV Mobility Design Contest for International Students 2017” hosted by the Association for the Promotion of Electric Vehicles (APEV).

The contest has been held as the “EV Super Micro Mobility Design Contest for International Students” since 2013 with the aim of stimulating activities related to microcompact mobilities, and also to provide young people who will lead future generations a way to experience the enjoyment of Monozukuri. This is the third time the contest will be held, and is based on the concept of having young generations apply the creative and planning capabilities of their designs to discover new ways for the future of mobile societies and the environment. The contest has been broadened to cover all EVs, and in addition to EV design, includes environmental design aspects related to the people and culture of society, cities and regions as a whole.

NTN has utilized the technology and knowhow acquired through research and development of bearings, and advantages of its position as the world's leading supplier of hub bearings that support vehicle wheels, to develop the In-wheel Motor System and other system products for EVs and environmentally friendly vehicles and other next-generation vehicles. A two-seater EV equipped with the “In-wheel Motor System” developed by NTN was the first microcompact mobility powered by In-wheel Motor System in Japan to acquire registration number in October, 2013. NTN has conducted demonstration tests with numerous local governments to verify practicalities and develop new applications. NTN also developed the EV mobility “Q'mo,” offering capabilities such as ‘pivot turn' and ‘lateral move' not available with conventional vehicles, as part of efforts to demonstrate to the world new vehicle designs of the future.

These approaches taken by NTN for next-generation vehicle development and business deployment were considered to match the objectives of the contest. It leads that NTN sponsors the contest this time following on from the previous contest.
Through sponsoring events like this contest, NTN will support the development of human resources who will lead the future, as well as help boost realization of next-generation vehicles and develop a low carbon society.
Contest Overview

Contest name “EV Mobility Design Contest for International Students 2017” Association for the Promotion of Electric Vehicles (APEV)
Host Association for the Promotion of Electric Vehicles (APEV)
Supporters (planned) Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, The University of Tokyo Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies, Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc. (JAMA)
Assignment To propose a design of the future mobility which maximize the potential of zero-emission EV and to show the ways how such future mobility will be involved in the society
Participants Students aged 18 years or older (can form teams of 2 to 6 members)
Schedule
April 2017: deadline for entries
Middle of June 2017: 1st screening results announced
Early September 2017: 2nd screening results announced
End of October to early November 2017: Final screening and award ceremony
Contest HP http://www.apev.jp/contest/en/

NTN initiatives in the EV business