Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric car to hit streets

Mitsubishi is putting an electric version of their sub-compact “i” model into production. The Mitsubishi i-MiEV will be delivered to select customers on lease as soon as July, ten months before the car officially hits the market, but only in Japan.

The Japanese manufacturer specifically released the car today to mark the United Nations’ World Environment Day, pointing out that the i-MiEV is responsible for two-thirds less CO2 emissions versus the gasoline Mitsubishi i.

The tiny electric car has a lithium-ion battery center-mounted under the floor, with power being sent to a unit mounted in the trunk. Mitsubishi claims a range of 100 miles when the car is driven under normal urban conditions. The battery can be recharged to 80 percent capacity in about half an hour when using a 200 V, 50 kW three-phase power source. Using standard outlets, the car goes from empty to fully-charged in either seven or 14 hours, depending on the voltage used. Regenerative braking also helps to recharge the battery pack.

Ultimately, the driver gets a motor rated at 47kW, with 180 Nm of torque available almost immediately. Mitsubishi did not release figures related to either the car’s acceleration, top speed, or quarter-mile times. We do know that the driver will have three different drive modes to choose from, including “maximum fun,” “maximum economy,” and “maximum regenerative.”

Inside, the driver will be fed data through an instrument cluster with a few meters we would expect to see on an electric-powered vehicle. Along with power consumption and energy recovery information, the driver is also given information about range, and remaining power. This system is powered by a computer operating system developed specifically for this car. An optional, multimedia system running off a solid-state hard drive is also available.

Japanese consumers have to cough the equivalent of $47,544 to buy one. The initial 1,400 units will be handed over to various corporations and government bodies over the summer. Sales of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV will begin in April 2010, after which it may eventually come to the United States.

 

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