Mitsubishi iMiEV a stepping stone to plug-in hybrids
An example of Mitsubishi's "Heritage of Innovation"
Paving the foundation to a more electric future
Back in 1966 Mitsubishi started producing electric cars with the first model appearing in Japan in 1971. This “Heritage of Innovation” has helped Mitsubishi become a leader in electric car sales, with more than 4,000 iMiEVs already on the road.
But the iMiEV and most of today’s battery electric cars are just a piece of the new energy puzzle, even a stepping stone.
While electric cars have been around a long time, they have not been feasible according to Mitsubishi at the LA Auto Show. Without permanent magnet motors and lithium batteries plug-ins had no future, yet the future of today’s plug-ins are still limited according to Mitsubishi. In fact, electric cars like the iMiEV are almost working laboratories developing new technologies that might even reach all cars, even if they don’t plug-in or offer hybrid battery packs.
Furthermore, the iMiEV will lead to new plug-in hybrids and other electric models from Mitsubishi – one of the keys to the iMiEV program.
Consequently, during Mitsubishi’s press conference, it was reiterated numerous times that electric cars like the iMiEV are built only for local transportation and will not fit the needs and demands of many consumers. Thus, vehicles like the iMiEV will only be a piece of Mitsubishi’s electric solution, which coupled with new plug-in hybrids, etc. will make up – in the future – about 20 percent of Mitsubishi’s fleet. Nevertheless, even this relatively modest long term goal will require very significant government intervention and financial assistance.
Regardless, the iMiEV goes on sale in the US in the Fall of 2011, and Mitsubishi hopes that by 2015, the $30,000 electric car could achieve 20,000 sales per year.
I don’t think the future of today’s plug-ins are still limited according to Mitsubishi. Lately I read an article about a small German Company who produce a hybrid that runs more than 600 kilometers in one go. This is hardly to be called limited plug-in, I’d say. A car that runs with fuel needs to be refueled, too.
I rode in the Mitsubishi’s iMiEV at the L.A. Auto Show and It was a great ride. I’m going to get one. Charging is no problem,30 minutes per the Mitsubishi rep. Also there’s a mobile unit availible on the market, which can charge your EV faster then 30 minutes.