FOURTH IN A SERIES

Keio University engineering professor Hiroshi Shimizu believes the era of the electric vehicle is near.

Shimizu established the Sim-Drive Corp. venture in August with others who believe in the cars' potential, including Soichiro Fukutake, chairman of publisher Benesse Co.

"I've been developing EVs for 30 years and have always thought they would someday become widespread," said Shimizu, who has created nine electric vehicles in that span.