Mitsubishi unveils mass-market electric car
January 26, 2009
Car manufacturer, Mitsubishi, has unveiled the first mass-market electric car to be produced by a major car manufacturer.
The i-MiEV has a similar shape to the Smart ForTwo, albeit slightly larger. It produces the equivalent of 57bhp, can reach a top speed of 87mph, and has a range of 100 miles. Its lithium-ion battery can be recharged from flat to full in six hours from a normal mains electricity socket. However, by using Mitsubishi's dedicated high-powered charger, a recharging time of 20 minutes is possible.
The vehicle is to be marketed in the UK, with approximately 200 cars being made available initially. The final cost has not yet been decided and there has been talk of the cars being leased out first rather than sold outright. The cost of leasing would be around £750 per month.
The car is being marketed as being an extremely environmentally friendly vehicle with very low running costs. Mitsubishi estimate that the car can travel 10,000 miles on £45 worth of electricity at current domestic prices in the UK.
Short journeys in urban areas would appear to be the kind of use to which the vehicle is best suited. The performance is adequate but, as usual with this type of propulsion, the limiting factor is the range. It is reported that the 100-mile range is a best-case figure and would be reduced if components such as the heater, headlights or radio were all in use at the same time.
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