
As waste gasses from fossil fuels continue to choke our planet and money-grubbing businessmen propose plans to frack (and that’s not some coy euphemism) the very ground we walk on to get at even more of the stuff, more and more people are doing their bit to be kind to the environment. Solar panels can be seen up on the roofs of residential buildings, people separate their waste so that as much of it can be recycled as possible, and more consumers than ever are choosing electric or hybrid vehicles.
And now, Japanese motorists have another reason to go green: Evangelion-themed electric car charging stations!
In a move to promote its line of “Elseev” charging poles, Panasonic has teamed up with ever-popular anime smash Evangelion to produce these specially themed charging stations for cars that run on lovely clean fizzbang rather than the liquid remains of once-living organisms.
The pump-like stations are being installed in the town of Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, which is a popular getaway for Tokyoites due to its close proximity to the capital and picturesque landscape. And of course, as fans of the anime will know, in the world of Evangelion, Hakone actually features as “Tokyo-3”–what better place to install a series of futuristic green juice boxes to run eco cars on!?
Although there are currently only two designs in operation (models 01 and 02 in the above image), stations featuring whole Eva gang, from Rei to Kaworu, are also due to be rolled out soon, though we’re not sure when they’ll arrive or whether they’ll be a permanent feature. We certainly hope they’re here to stay, though, as charging up is a lot more fun when you’re pretending to refuel your own mini mecha!



Take a tour of Tokyo-3 on an Evangelion bus
Hakone Opens an Evangelion Themed Souvenir Shop, Hopes They Don’t Get Overrun With Fans Again
Hakone volcano erupts on small scale
We visit Evangelion’s real-life Village-3, a hidden gem where time has stopped【Photos】
Visiting Evangelion’s Tokyo-3 anime locations in real-life Hakone【Photos】
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Yoshinoya and Dragon Quest slaying scalpers with shift to made-to-order collaboration merch
New Mt. Fuji overnight bus takes travelers from downtown Tokyo straight to the most popular hiking trail
Tochigi man shares his family’s process for creating 16 years worth of rice paddy art
Climbing season officially opens for Japan’s Mt. Hiyoriyama, the shortest mountain in the country
Tokyo revises accommodation tax amidst tourism boom, Airbnb rentals now included
7-Eleven Japan now has Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches, but how do they taste?[Taste test]
Raw chicken dishes to be regulated by Japanese government
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Foreign tourists injured in Nissan GT-R crash near Tokyo’s Shibuya Scramble Crossing
Japan triples departure tax, foreign tourists and locals now must pay more to leave country
A visit to Sri Lanka’s knockoff knockoff Uniqlo (no, we didn’t stutter) to see its rare “Pikachus”
Japanese overnight sightseeing train returns for summer with ramen stops and ocean views
Sanrio Character Poll announces winners, Hello Kitty absent from top 10 in many countries
Starbucks Japan teams up with Converse Tokyo for a new limited-edition collection in honour of Tanabata
Don’t judge this Kiki’s Delivery Service book by its cover, because it’s not actually a book!
7-Eleven Japan releases chocolate cookies that taste like freshly baked melon bread
The quest for Dragon Quest Yoshinoya figure sets: Worth taking for fans, tricky for scalpers[Pics]
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Studio Ghibli store Donguri Republic announces opening of first-ever store in America
New Japanese overnight train coming to connect Tokyo with Tohoku in sleep-travel style
Japan launches first overnight Shinkansen bullet train between Tokyo and Osaka this summer
Japanese sweets shop sells an ohagi so exquisite it sells out by noon
Forget Tokyo go-karts – there’s a new way to sightsee on four wheels in Japan
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Japan now has talking Evangelion ATMs
Godzilla vs. Evangelion towels need all of Japan as stage big enough to contain their awesomeness
Blood-red Evangelion hot spring bath to open in Japan for fun, relaxing terror
City hall in Japan now has a giant Evangelion robot statue in its lobby【Videos】
Japan Railway Company to end awesome Evangelion Shinkansen service soon, makes us all sad
Evangelion episode to be shown on giant skyscraper monitors across Japan for 20th anniversary
Real-life Evangelion apartment in Japan is ultra-cheap, ultra-anime【Photos】
We visit the full-scale Evangelion statue in Kyoto and particularly delight in the food tie-ins
Edible Evangelion Angel cores now on the menu at Coco’s Japan【Taste Test】
500 Type Eva Cafe releases exclusive lineup of Evangelion-themed meals, sweets and drinks
Official Evangelion rations now on sale at movie theaters across Japan
Evangelion, Spice and Wolf LED manhole covers installed in otaku-friendly neighborhood in Japan
You can now visit a recreation of Evangelion’s Tokyo-3 and live there in miniature form in【Pics】
Japan now has a transforming giant robot/car that two full-sized adults can ride in【Video】
10 things Japan gets awesomely right