Japanese to English translations easily available now

This story first appeared in the January issue of EVtalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE

The Nissan Leaf is New Zealand’s biggest selling EV and the most popular of the EV used imports from Japan, but its head units are in Japanese – which presents a little difficulty.

Leaf owners have requested an English language version, and thanks to some local engineering brilliance and some logistical support it can now be achieved.

OEM Audio in Christchurch is running the logistics for the conversion done by Kiwi company Navi-Solutions.

This partnership makes sense with OEM Audio controlling the sales, marketing, logistics and payments channel and Navi-Solutions responsible for the very clever electronics, OEM Audio manager Paul O’Connor says.

With OEM Audio’s well-known EV charging systems, it made sense for Navi-Solutions to focus on what they excel at, which is the development of these English language systems, he says.

O’Connor says the work done by Navi-Solutions is a big undertaking and is something that no one else in the world has achieved at this level.

“The EV sales network and EV owners are fortunate to have these guys involved.”

The conversion is at this stage available for the earlier Carwings units, which is vehicles produced from 2011 to November 2015.

It is a full English translation with all screens, timers and side buttons now working.

The FM tuner is updated with local frequencies on screen and the correct display shown.With the correct FM tuner, reception is outstanding and there’s no need for a band expander, O’Connor says.

Even the labels to replace the Japanese characters on the side controls of the audio are available now.

Also, the voice control has been adapted into English for phone commands and so on, plus the time zones are now all available for New Zealand and Australia.

O’Connor says the first 50 units have now been done and the feedback is overwhelmingly positive.

“We don’t think it is something that needs to be done to the car before sale, but with the right EV dealers this can be upsold to every customer and can provide an opportunity to enhance the sale for the customer and the dealer as well,” he says.

“Dealers are encouraged to call OEM Audio directly for bulk rates.“

Navigation is a work in progress with OEM Audio and Navi-Solutions confident of a solution being available in the future.

This conversion, coupled with the now well-known instrument cluster conversion pioneered by Christchurch-based Walter Larason at EVs Enhanced, provides complete English language conversion for the interior of the JDM Nissan Leafs.

The availability of the English language owner’s manuals from Japanese Solutions makes them completely in English.

One of the first dealers to offer this has been Hayden Johnston, managing director of the Genuine Vehicle Group (which includes GVI Electric).

“We expect this to be a very popular option and to open the door to even more people joining the EV life,” Johnston says.

For Auckland retail customers, David Lees at Volt Vehicles is available for sales.

“We have all become very familiar with using Google translate on our phones, but it’s not the best thing to do when driving the Leaf,” Volt Vehicles director Lees says.

“This conversion is done on an exchange basis so nothing is thrown away in landfill.”