Motor Authority - blog Tag: iMiev

Looking ahead to year 2020, the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the company, Mitsubishi today announced its new ‘Group Environmental Vision 2020’ roadmap for its future environmental and sustainable motoring policies.

The new environmental roadmap directs Mitsubishi’s commitment to the development of technology - spearheaded by electric vehicle (EV) technology - and to reducing the environmental impact of its business activities in general. To achieve the roadmap's goals and targets, Mitsubishi will focus its resources in a three-pronged approach focused on Product & Technology, Corporate Activities and... Looking ahead to year 2020, the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the company, Mitsubishi today announced its new ‘Group Environmental Vision 2020’ roadmap for its future environmental and sustainable motoring policies. The new environmental roadmap directs Mitsubishi’s commitment to the development of technology - spearheaded by electric vehicle (EV) technology - and to reducing the environmental impact of its business activities in general. To achieve the roadmap's goals and targets, Mitsubishi will focus its resources in a three-pronged approach focused on Product & Technology, Corporate Activities and Cooperation with Society. As well as pushing ahead with the development of EV technologies, the company will seek to reduce environmental loads throughout the full lifecycle of its products in many ways including the improvement of fuel economy in internal combustion engine-powered vehicles and vehicle size and weight reduction. Covering the full gamut of corporate activities from product planning through development, production, sales and after-sales services the company will step up its efforts to promote a more widespread use of the EV. In addition, the company will raise the level of its environmental protection activities throughout Mitsubishi by setting new environmental standards for each field of corporate activity - from production to distribution, procurement, sales and office work. For cooperation with society, the company will work hand-in-hand with its customers and society at large in creating an infrastructure that supports the use of EVs. It will also step up its contribution to protecting the global environment by promoting more eco-friendly driving habits and through environmental conservation activities with local communities. Some specific goals include reducing per-vehicle CO2 emissions during production by 20% over 2005 levels, achieving a production volume at least 20% of which is comprised of EVs, and cutting its global lineup CO2 emissions by a weighted average of 50% over 2005 levels. Coinciding with today’s reveal of its environmental roadmap, Mitsubishi also started delivery of its i-MiEV to government and commercial customers and announced that the first sales to private individuals will commence in April next year.Mitsubishi Environmental Vision 2020 Roadmap Read More

Already angling for sales in excess of 20,000 units annually, Mitsubishi took the opportunity of the New York Auto Show to announce it will be selling the i-MiEV electric car in the U.S. and other global markets.

The car is already in testing in California, Oregon, Tucson and elsewhere, but the subject of U.S. sales had until now been shied away from. Now, the company is eager to talk about its plans for the i-MiEV and other electric vehicles as well.

"Electric vehicles are one branch of the automotive landscape and we are dedicated to providing these technology-sourced solutions as an important path for the world's clean-air options,"... Already angling for sales in excess of 20,000 units annually, Mitsubishi took the opportunity of the New York Auto Show to announce it will be selling the i-MiEV electric car in the U.S. and other global markets. The car is already in testing in California, Oregon, Tucson and elsewhere, but the subject of U.S. sales had until now been shied away from. Now, the company is eager to talk about its plans for the i-MiEV and other electric vehicles as well. "Electric vehicles are one branch of the automotive landscape and we are dedicated to providing these technology-sourced solutions as an important path for the world's clean-air options," explained Mitsubishi Motors North America president and CEO Shinichi Kurihara. "We believe the i MiEV delivers on the promise of sustainability, suitable range, performance, and innovative packaging and styling." While Motor Authority had the opportunity to test a right-hand drive unit on the streets of Los Angeles during last year's Los Angeles Auto Show, the cars headed for the U.S. will be left-hand drive. A set of concepts, including the Sport Air and Prototype i-MiEV give indications at what future U.S. i-MiEV and its offspring could look like. The Prototype i-MiEV in particular is essentially a production-ready example of the car that will be hitting markets starting in 2010. Initial U.S. launch can be expected sometime in 2011, with a much bigger sales push to start after 2012, once the 20,000-unit target is reached.2009 Mitsubishi Prototype i MiEV concept Read More

The industry is in pain, but it's still planning for the future. Today that's clear nowhere more so than at Mitsubishi, which has just announced it will be upping its production target of the iMiEV to 20,000 units annually by 2012 up 200% on previous goals of 10,000 per year.

Output targets for 2010 are also up 25%, from 4,000 to 5,000 units. That will ramp up to a target of 10,000 cars by 2010, with the 20,000 annual target to coincide with the car's release for retail sale in 2011.

Already the 2009 output of the iMiEV is spoken for - though not actually sold - with corporations putting in requests for 2,000 of the cars.

The tiny EVs are... The industry is in pain, but it's still planning for the future. Today that's clear nowhere more so than at Mitsubishi, which has just announced it will be upping its production target of the iMiEV to 20,000 units annually by 2012 up 200% on previous goals of 10,000 per year. Output targets for 2010 are also up 25%, from 4,000 to 5,000 units. That will ramp up to a target of 10,000 cars by 2010, with the 20,000 annual target to coincide with the car's release for retail sale in 2011. Already the 2009 output of the iMiEV is spoken for - though not actually sold - with corporations putting in requests for 2,000 of the cars. The tiny EVs are built to fit Japan's kei-class regulations, which give them the advantage of certain parking, insurance and taxation rules. It also makes for a very compact way to transport four adults around at city speeds. When Motor Authority tested the iMiEV at last year's Los Angeles Auto Show, we found the car to be comfortable, capable and generally much more well-rounded than its size and statistics might suggest. It is, nevertheless, a very minimalist and utilitarian vehicle suited only to urban environments and lower-speed duty. Mitsubishi's stock saw a mild rise on the Japanese market as a result of the forward-looking announcement despite the carmaker's overall sales following the market's downward trend.2009 Mitsubishi Prototype i MiEV concept Read More

Joining Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV Sport Air Concept at this week’s Geneva Motor Show is the new Prototype i-MiEV, a closer to production version of the Japanese carmaker’s upcoming all-electric car. The Prototype i-MiEV is based around the currentregular i-MiEV all-electric hatch that is already feasibility testing in Japan and Europe but has been updated slightly in preparation for a market launch next year.

The front and rear tracks have been widened and front and rear overhangs have been extended to provide the higher levels of pedestrian protection expected in Europe as well as better occupant protection in the event of a... Joining Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV Sport Air Concept at this week’s Geneva Motor Show is the new Prototype i-MiEV, a closer to production version of the Japanese carmaker’s upcoming all-electric car. The Prototype i-MiEV is based around the currentregular i-MiEV all-electric hatch that is already feasibility testing in Japan and Europe but has been updated slightly in preparation for a market launch next year. The front and rear tracks have been widened and front and rear overhangs have been extended to provide the higher levels of pedestrian protection expected in Europe as well as better occupant protection in the event of a rear-end shunt. The interior design features simple, clean styling and with a dial-type shifter and extensive use of circular shapes for the air vents and other elements. The snow-white body and ice-blue interior color derive from a "glacier" theme that was designed to evoke a ecological image. The printed circuit board pattern used in the surfaces and motifs adds a high-tech look to the interior. Seating capacity can accommodate four adults. Power comes from a 63hp (47kW) electric motor with 132lb-ft (180Nm) of torque. This motor is powered by a 330V lithium-ion battery and drives the rear wheels only. No European launch date for the updated i-MiEV has been announced yet. The regular i-MiEV, meanwhile, will be Mitsubishi’s first mass produced all-electric car and is currently scheduled for a late 2009 launch in Japan. It will have a driving range of roughly 100 miles and should take about seven hours to charge from a household power outlet. In an attempt to curtail long charge times, a 'quick-charge' pack is also being developed by power companies, which will see the i-MiEV’s battery being charged to 80% of its capacity in just 35 minutes. Mitsubishi eventually hopes to sell up to 2,000 i-MiEVs in the first year and plans to expand this to around 10,000 units by 2011.2009 Mitsubishi i MiEV Sport Air Concept2009 Mitsubishi Prototype i MiEV concept Read More

While the idea of an electric sports car is not a new one, mainstream carmakers have been slow to consider the proposition of a performance electric vehicle (EV). Niche carmakers like Tesla, Fisker and Lightning immediately spring to mind when one thinks of electric sports cars, but soon we may be able to add Mitsubishi to that list.

The Japanese carmaker has unveiled today its new i-MiEV Sport Air Concept at the Geneva Motor Show. It is based on the existing i-MiEV all-electric hatch but features a much more powerful motor with a higher instantaneous torque.

The concept is distinguished by its detachable ‘clear cutaway’ roof... While the idea of an electric sports car is not a new one, mainstream carmakers have been slow to consider the proposition of a performance electric vehicle (EV). Niche carmakers like Tesla, Fisker and Lightning immediately spring to mind when one thinks of electric sports cars, but soon we may be able to add Mitsubishi to that list. The Japanese carmaker has unveiled today its new i-MiEV Sport Air Concept at the Geneva Motor Show. It is based on the existing i-MiEV all-electric hatch but features a much more powerful motor with a higher instantaneous torque. The concept is distinguished by its detachable ‘clear cutaway’ roof panel which brings a wide open feel to the interior. Other features include a rear-midship platform, second-generation lithium-ion battery module with improved electrodes, while the body uses a number of new weight-reducing technologies. The electric motor in the i-MiEV Sport Air Concept is rated at 80hp (60kW) and 170lb-ft (230Nm) but the torquey powerplant isn’t the vehicle’s only performance aspect. To lower the center of gravity and increase driving stability the main EV system components (battery module, inverter, battery charger) are located as low as possible. The body structure also uses plastic panels to reduce weight around the rear axle where the powertrain and EV system components are installed and thereby achieve an ideal 50:50 front/rear weight distribution. The standard i-MiEV will be Mitsubishi’s first mass produced all-electric car and is currently scheduled for a 2010 launch in Japan. However, the company plans to start real world trials for the car in Japan, Europe and the U.S. later this year. It will have a driving range of roughly 100 miles and should take about seven hours to charge from a household power outlet. In an attempt to curtail long charge times, a 'quick-charge' pack is also being developed by power companies, which will see the i-MiEV’s battery being charged to 80% of its capacity in just 35 minutes. Mitsubishi eventually hopes to sell up to 2,000 i-MiEVs in the first year and plans to expand this to around 10,000 units by 2011. 2009 Mitsubishi i MiEV Sport Air Concept Read More

Mitsubishi's highly anticipated i-MiEV electric car prototype is set to be revealed this week at the Geneva Motor Show, but ahead of the car's unveiling the Japanese company has announced an interesting development. Mitsubishi has just inked a Memorandum of Understanding regarding cooperation between itself and European auto giant PSA Peugeot Citroen. The deal relates to the production of a Peugeot-branded electric car based on the new i-MiEV, a move which has been expected for some time now but has finally been officially confirmed.

While Mitsubishi will manufacture the European-spec i-MiEV for Peugeot, it will be sold in Peugeot... Mitsubishi's highly anticipated i-MiEV electric car prototype is set to be revealed this week at the Geneva Motor Show, but ahead of the car's unveiling the Japanese company has announced an interesting development. Mitsubishi has just inked a Memorandum of Understanding regarding cooperation between itself and European auto giant PSA Peugeot Citroen. The deal relates to the production of a Peugeot-branded electric car based on the new i-MiEV, a move which has been expected for some time now but has finally been officially confirmed. While Mitsubishi will manufacture the European-spec i-MiEV for Peugeot, it will be sold in Peugeot dealerships and should be hitting the market by late 2010 or early 2011. Up to 10,000 of the compact electric cars are expected to be supplied to Peugeot each year from 2010 onwards. Mitsubishi also plans on selling a European i-MiEV under its own brand name, leading to speculation that the Peugeot-branded i-MiEV may be marketed as a more upmarket variant of the Mitsubishi. Mitsubishi plans to launch the first i-MiEV by mid-2010 in Japan with the first European sales scheduled to start in the following year. The vehicle will feature a 63hp (46kW) electric motor powered by 330-volt lithium ion batteries. This will provide it with a driving range of roughly 100 miles and should take about seven hours to charge from a household power outlet. In an attempt to curtail long charge times, a 'quick-charge' pack is also being developed by power companies, which will see the i-MiEV's battery being charged to 80% of its capacity in just 35 minutes. PSA Peugeot Citroen is already one of the largest global manufacturers of electric vehicles, and has expertise in the field of electric powertrains. The French carmaker is also trying to be the first to market with its own diesel-hybrid vehicle and in 2007 showed a concept car that achieved 69MPG. Mitsubishi, on the other hand, is an expert in the supply of large capacity and high performance lithium ion batteries. Read More