Eco-cars go up, gas stations go down

Japan- The increment of eco-friendly vehicles could close about 2/3 of the nation's 40,000 gas sttations in the next decade.

Around 2,000 gas stations have been closing annually in recent years, but it seems that the rate of closing of gas stations may increased as eco friendly (cars that use less fuel) cars are increasing rapidly.

"If the eco-friendly vehicles accumulate half of new car purchases and 20% of all vehicles in fiscal 2020, annual demand for gasoline will plunge to 40.88 million kiloliter,29% down from fiscal 2008,while the demand for light fuel oil will fall 15%," estimation of The Federation of Petroleum Product Dealers Associations(Zensekiren).

If electric and gas electric hybrid cars catches more than Zensekiren expects, filling stations could face even difficult problem.

The Governments have started searching ways to stop gas stations from falling .