Mitsubishi starts production of North American i-MiEV

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Mitsubishi starts production of North American i-MiEV

By Gizmag Team

19:46 October 30, 2011

8 Comments

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Mitsubishi has kicked-off production of the North American version of its i-MiEV electric vehicle

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Mitsubishi has kicked-off production of the North American version of its i-MiEV electric vehicle (EV). Slightly larger than Japanese and European models, the North American i-Miev will be launched in Hawaii, California, Washington and Oregon from late November before being rolled-out in other parts of the United States and Canada next year.

The all-electric i-Miev is powered by a 49kW AC synchronous motor fed by a 16 kWh lithium-ion Battery. It has a top speed of around 80 mph (130 km/h) and its range is approximately 80 - 100 miles on a single charge. As well as being slightly roomier, the North America version now being produced at Mitsubishi's Mizushima Plant in Japan gets new front and rear bumpers, Active Stability Control (ASC) as standard, a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and "smart" airbags that sense passengers' seating position and control deployment force accordingly. Mitsubishi says it also produces more torque (196 Nm) than it's European and Asian counterparts.

The i-Miev ES model is priced at US$29,125 ($21,625 after the $7,500 federal tax credit) and the top-spec SE version costs US$31,125 ( $23,625 after the $7,500 federal tax credit). There's also a US$2,790 "Premium package" which adds a HDD navigation system, rear camera, USB port, steering wheel-mounted audio controls and a DC quick charging port.

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User Comments (8)

Those of you who believe electric vehicles are so good please pay for them yourself. I am sick of subsidizing your foolishness.

Slowburn - October 30, 2011 @ 09:56 pm PDT

Slow,

I imagine that tax payer funded subsidies to oil companies are getting a bit hard to swallow by even you.

Buellrider - October 31, 2011 @ 07:35 am PDT

@slowburn,

How about everybody stop subsidizing your petroleum burning foolishness? Stop subsidizing it directly with oil subsidies and tax breaks for big oil. Stop subsidizing it with wars in far flung corners of the world.

How about that for "subsidizing foolishness", eh?

Gary Payton - October 31, 2011 @ 12:25 pm PDT

Slow,

I imagine that tax payer funded medical for pollution related respiratory disease is getting hard to swallow as well.

Chuck Wright - October 31, 2011 @ 12:32 pm PDT

Why does the Australian iMiev cost $48000 when they can be bought in US for $29000?

The correctly priced capital cost plus running costs of iMiev will be lower than a similar sized petrol car.

Matthew Bulat - October 31, 2011 @ 05:53 pm PDT

We can't know if EVs are competitive without a free market. Unfortunately no such market exists. Energy production has the same problem. The best we can do is choose based on our individual situation. I want an EV so that I can produce my fuel from the sun at home. The lack of maintenance also allows more independence. That is my goal.

voluntaryist - October 31, 2011 @ 10:37 pm PDT

re; voluntaryist

You can do that today with an ICE vehicle. Use solar power to separate hydrogen from water. Granted the up front costs are relatively high so you are probably better off using the electricity directly, or selling it to the utility and buying gas, but if you have the generating capacity go for it.

Slowburn - November 1, 2011 @ 01:50 am PDT

The subsidies given to big oil are in the form of reduction of the tax burden.

The subsidies given for electric cars are significant bundles of money being given out.

There is a difference, but it doesn't matter because I am apposed to both.

If I had the power I would end all government subsidies, and remove taxes on business because business passes the costs on to the consumer and I think we should see what taxes we are paying.

Slowburn - November 1, 2011 @ 08:03 am PDT