Mitsubishi i MiEV

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Price Announced for Mitsubishi i-MiEV

June 18, 2009 in Consumer News, EVs, Hybrids, diesel, small cars by kristen | No comments

We already knew that the Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric car would go on sale in July 2009, but we didn’t know how much it would sell for. I, for one, would never have guessed that the price tag would be a whopping $45,660. There’s a lot of new tech packed into that teensy package.

Other high-tech electric cars are expected to reach the $40,000, including the anticipated Chevy Volt and the already announced Subaru Stella, which starts at $49,255, according to the New York Times’ Wheels blog.

What other cars cost about $50,000? Let’s take a look:

  • 2010 Lexus RX Hybrid: $41,660
  • Mercedes-Benz ML320 BlueTec clean diesel: $48,600
  • Volkswagen Touareg 2 TDI clean diesel: $42,800

But all of these, for their steps in a green direction, require fossil fuels in one form or another and emit CO2 to a greater or lesser degree. The i-MiEV will be all-electric and zero-emissions.

Image of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV by Kristen Hall-Geisler.

i-MiEV Sales to Start in April 2010

June 9, 2009 in Consumer News, EVs, small cars by kristen | No comments

Mitsubishi announced that it’s little egg-shaped EV, the i-MiEV, will start production ASAP, with limited test leasing of about 1400 cars to select customers begining as soon as July 2009.

The press release for the unveiling of the production version of the i-MiEV calls it “the pioneer that will open the door to the next 100 years of our automobile society.” While electric cars will figure in the next century of driving, let’s remember that improved gasoline technology, clean diesel, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, liquid natural gas, and hydrogen fuel cells will all play a part in transportation in the decades to come.

Image of the production Mitsubishi i-MiEV provided by Mitsubishi Motors.

Oregon and Mitsubishi Partners in Charging

April 27, 2009 in Biz News, EVs, New Tech, PHEVs, small cars by kristen | 1 comment

Kulongoske and i MiEV

Ted Kulongoski, Governor of Oregon, John Koenig of Mistubishi Motors North America, and Jim Piro, head of electric utility PGE all took the podium on Earth Day to announce Oregon’s partnership with Mistubishi to establish a statewide network of charging stations. Presumably, these stations will be used by Mitsubishi’s i MiEV fleet when they come to Oregon for testing later this year.

Piro and Kulongoski both interated that Oregon is moving away from fossil fuel power, with the idea of emissions-free driving at the source and from the tailpipe (metaphorically, of course. EVs don’t have tailpipes). The region PGE serves is already number one in purchasing renewable power, so it seems hearts and minds of its customers have already been won over.

Kulongoski also said he was working with the federal Department of Transportation on greening the interstates. He’d like to see quick chargers at rest stops along Interstates 5 and 84 in Oregon, and apparently the U.S. government hasn’t shut down the idea completely.

Image of Gov. Kulongoski with i MiEV and charger by Kristen Hall-Geisler.

Finalists for World Green Car of the Year Announced

March 13, 2009 in EVs, Hydrogen, MPG, small cars by kristen | No comments

Honday Clarity

The three finalists for World Green Car of the Year have been announced, and while none of them are widely available, none of them are big surprises, either:

  • Mitsubishi i MiEV (electric)
  • Toyota iQ (gasoline)
  • Honda Clarity (hydrogen)

Only the Clarity is available in the U.S., and it’s only leased to a select few customer in certain markets. The i MiEV is sold in Japan, and the iQ is sold in both Japan and Europe. The iQ, in case you’re not familiar with this foreign-only car, is the size of a Smart ForTwo and a 1-liter gasoline engine that gets 55 mpg.

The New York Times “Wheels” blog notes that with such disparate fuels and production levels, it’s not exactly a level playing field. Nonetheless, a winner will be announced at the New York Auto Show, which is being held April 10-19.

Image of the Honda Clarity by Kristen Hall-Geisler.

Mitsubishi Reveals Two EV Prototypes in Geneva

February 20, 2009 in EVs, Future Cars, small cars by kristen | No comments

Mitsubishi will reveal two electric vehicle prototypes at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show in March: the Prototype i MiEV and the i MiEV Sport Air concept.

Mitsubishi Prototype i MiEV

The first car will introduce features that inch the little EV closer to Euro-spec readiness, including left-hand drive. All of the electric Mitsubishis on the road right now in their first phase of testing are Japanese-spec right-hand models, even the few in the U.S. The potato-bug of a car gets a wider stance and longer overhangs for Europe as well.

Mitsubishi i MiEV Sport Air Concept

The i MiEV Sport Air concept is expected to have a more powerful electric motor and a solid driving feel, due to the weight of the in-floor battery packs. It also will feature a “clear cutaway” top, which in Mitsubishi’s sketches looks like a sweep of glass from the windshield to the rear window.

Images courtesy of Mitsubishi.