Although Mitsubishi hybrid forklifts and other new electric heavy industrial vehicles get little publicity and deserve much more, the remarkable sales success of its iMEV pure electric car, priced head to head with the impending Nissan Leaf, is gaining great attention.
The iMEV is the basis of UK trials of user behaviour with pure electric cars. The Australian city of Sydney is trying out the very first delivery of the all-electric i-MiEV, set to be the country's first publicly available electric car.
Sydney council in Australia is testing the first of a fleet of Mitsubishi's electric cars set to arrive to the country for the use of government departments, councils and companies across Australia.
40 vehicles will be trailed ahead of its general release in Australia next year. Sydney's council will ensure that the new car is truly zero emission by recharging the vehicle using electricity generated by the solar panels situated on the city's town hall. The 240 Suntech Pluto solar panels generate 48 kilowatts of solar energy per hour, enough to supply 17 electric vehicles.
The i-MiEV is set for widespread global release in 2011 as a 2012 model. For example, the battery-powered will cost £28,990 when it goes on sale in the UK from January, although it will cost £23,990 once an electric car incentive worth £5,000 is included.
Source: Mitsubishi
The i-MiEV's battery can be charged from either a 110- or 220-volt outlet, and gains a full charge in 14 or 7 hours, respectively.
Source: Mitsubishi
The specification for the 2012 model is shown below, range of this subcompact, at 80-100 miles, remaining comparable to that of the larger Nissan Leaf. It's smaller, slower, less refined, offers less range, seats fewer people, carries a lot less luggage, lacks the range-predicting satellite navigation and mobile-phone integration. First to be available, it is about to be leapfrogged in all but ease of parking and it is now for Mitsubishi to leapfrog the Leaf when it arrives.
Drivetrain
Drive wheels: rear
Engine: synchronous permanent-magnet electric motor with 330-volt lithium-ion battery pack
Horsepower: 63
Torque: 133 lb-ft
Transmission: none (direct drive)
Dimensions
Wheelbase: 100.4 inches
Length: 135.8 inches
Width: 59.8 inches
Height: 63.0 inches
Base curb weight: 2,381 pounds
For more read: Electric Vehicles in East Asia 2011-2021
Also attend: Future of Electric Vehicles which uniquely covers the whole electric vehicle market - land, sea, air whether hybrid or pure EV - with emphasis on future breakthroughs.
