DDB

$17,000 buys you a top speed of 81 mph and a range of 81-99 miles. Not bad ;D in 2009-2010, we should see some real choices for consumers in the EV realm.




Mitsubishi Motors has delivered prototypes of its i MiEV research electric vehicle to two utilities in Japan: Tokyo Electric Power and Kyushu Electric Power. (Earlier post.)

The i-MiEV is powered by a compact 47 kW motor that develops 180 Nm (133 lb-ft) of torque and a 330V, 16 kWh or 20 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Top speed is 130 kph (81 mph), with a range of up to 130 km (81 miles) for the 16 kWh pack or 160 km (99 miles) for the 20 kWh pack. The motor is coupled to a reduction gear and differential to drive both rear wheels.

The research vehicles will be used to collect data on driving performance and battery-charging capabilities, with this information to be used in designing vehicles for field trials. Mitsubishi Motors will deliver 10 more i MiEVs to Tokyo Electric Power later this year for use as business vehicles as part of the trials.

Mitsubishi plans to sell the commercial version in 2010 for less than ¥2 million (US$17,000).

Fuji Heavy Industries, the maker of Subarus, has also begun field trials of 10 EVs placed with Tokyo Electric.

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2007...deli.html#more

__________________
Dave

'05 Passat powered by Biodiesel
'54 Corvette

DDB

One step closer. The article (below) indicates Mitsubishi is establishing a joint venture to help produce batteries for the i MiEV for production year 2010.

-Dave

Mitsubishi Corporation (MC), Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) and GS Yuasa Corporation are establishing a joint venture (JV) company to manufacture large-capacity and high-performance Lithium-ion batteries that can be used in electric vehicles (EV). The three partners aim to complete the details and set up the new company sometime within the next 6 months.

Mitsubishi will use the batteries in its next-generation EV i MiEV (i Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle), which it plans to introduce to the market by 2010. (Earlier post.) The new JV company will also supply the batteries to other automakers for EV and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) applications and for energy storage use in industrial applications.
I_miev_3_l
Mitsubishi Motors’ i MIEV. Click to enlarge.

The 3.7 V, 50 Ah LEV-50 cells from the new company are based on the LIM series of large-format Lithium-ion batteries manufactured by GS Yuasa (currently the only mass producer of large-format Lithium-ion batteries in Japan). The partners will work to enhance the cell-structure and electrode materials to deliver improved energy and power densities.

GS Yuasa is expected to own a 51% share of the new company, with MC and MMC owing 34% and 15% respectively. The new company’s headquarters will be located within GS Yuasa's Kyoto head office. During the first stage of development, ¥3 billion (US$25 million) will be invested to install automated mass production lines within GS Yuasa’s Kyoto head office plant, capable of manufacturing 200,000 cells per year. Operations are slated to commence by 2009.

GS Yuasa, with 2006 revenues of more than US$2 billion, was established as holding company in April 2004. It has 87 subsidiaries and 45 affiliates which participate in the businesses of storage batteries, power supply systems, lighting equipment, specialty and other electric equipment.

The company has worked with Mitsubishi Electric on a number of products in the past.

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2007....html#comments

__________________
Dave

'05 Passat powered by Biodiesel
'54 Corvette

dsacks6

tonybelding

We too often overlook Mitsubishi's persistent research into BEVs.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...icle360284.ece

I don't see this as a Tesla killer. . . But Th!nk probably should be worried.

TEG

The article says:
"And it is nippy around town. It does 0-62mph in less than 14 seconds – great for an electric."

OK, first of all, "nippy" (as a Britishism for "fast") sounds peculiar to us yanks. When I first read that I thought they must mean that the A/C is stuck on.

Secondly, who says "0-62 in 14 seconds" is zippy/nippy? Hasn't Tesla proven that EVs should make no excuses for performance. 14 seconds is lame acceleration for any kind of roadworthy vehicle.

Article: "It has the same boot space as the petrol and the same Tardis-like interior, with room for four adults and luggage."

So does "Tardis like" imply "bigger than it seems from the outside", or "lots of odd looking manual controls with plenty of bits that like to fall off, and the need for a good kick to work properly"? (maybe they include a "jelly-baby holder")

By the way, the iEV would seem to be competition for not just Th!nk, but also Smart cars, and other EVs from Zap and Miles.

tonybelding

Not necessarily. . . For comparison, the VW New Beetle is supposed to do 0-60 MPH in 13.2 seconds. So, the MiEV is almost as good in 0-60 and probably better in, say, 0-40 times. One might suspect the MiEV's performance is better suited to its role as a "city car" than the Beetle is.

Clarification: The VW New Beetle comes in a lot of variants in the US and Europe, with different engine configurations. Admittedly, 13.2 seconds is the slowest 0-60 time I've seen quoted for it.

vfx

I'm in total agreement that 0 to 60 in anything over 8 seconds is slow. These numbers run counter to EV's longstanding history of quick acceleration.

Maybe this is a problem, quote: "It has a smooth-as-silk automatic gearbox". I give a 50/50 chance the writer did not know what he was talking about vs Mistubishi actually puttig is some sort of gearing to gain miles and loosing speeds off the line. Though this does not make much sense...

Cobos

I think part of the "confusion" about the nippy 0-62 speed of 14s is partly due to the fact it's 0-30 speed might be relatively better (and which IS more relevant for a citycar) as Tony said but also because Europeans aren't used to as fast and powerful cars as the US. Most electrics you have been able to drive has had terrible 30-62 speeds... just look at the Think, it doesn't even list a 0-62 speed, only 0-45.
And generally "normal" cars are slower in Europe. At least looking at the 3 month old review of the new Ford Mondeo (similar to the Fusion in the US) it's normal engine has 130-140hp dieselengine and a 0-62 speed right around 10s and that they say is plenty of speed for overtaking and driving in Norway. So anything below 10s is regarded as fast in Norway :)

Cobos

DavidV

I'm in Tokyo on my honeymoon and had a chance to drop in on the Motor Show. For those curious about the details on the Mitsubishi MIEV, I have the following to share:









More pics at: http://davidv.smugmug.com/gallery/3738234#214773831

-- David Vespremi aka DavidV

DavidV

A couple more:







-- DavidV