[2018-03-13] Japanese Electric Company Tests Bitcoin Lightning Network

[feverpitch]

The Chubu Electric Power Company, the third largest electric utilities provider in Japan, has partnered with Internet of Things (IoT) startup Nayuta Inc and software company Infoteria in order to experiment with the possibility of using Blockchain technology to record the charging of electric vehicles (EV) and plug-in hybrids. The Lightning Network is set to be used for charging micropayments for the electricity, reports TechCrunch Japan.

As part of its plan to build a new type of “collective housing” that contains an electric vehicle charging component, the Chubu Electric Power Company is simultaneously performing tests on both the Blockchain level, and second layer scalability solution Lightning Network level, towards the development of this project.

https://cointelegraph.com/news/japanese-electric-company-tests-bitcoin-lightning-network-payments-for-car-charging

[Carlton Banks]

Confused sounding article.

Yet another inappropriate use of blockchain tech is being touted (recording energy usage is not an application that needs to be uncensorable). What happens when faulty equipment fails to records correct Wh figures for this blockchain? The blockchain has to be amended in those circumstances, which means blockchain isn't suitable, as it's purpose is the complete opposite of being amendable.

Lightning network is a payment channel system for the Bitcoin network, and nothing to do with recording other types of data (electricity usage or otherwise)