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Mitsubishi To Launch i-MiEV Electric Car By End Of July This Year In Japan

Written by adalanthae on

Mitsubishi Motors has recently revealed the production version of the i-MiEV new-gen electric vehicle (EV), describing it as “the pioneer that will open the door to the next 100 years of our automobile society.”

The Mitsubishi i-MiEV will be retailed in Japan in late July this year.

The i-MiEV represents the crystallisation of some forty years of electric vehicle development at Mitsubishi Motors. The company is presenting the production i-MiEV as the ultimate eco-car - a solution to the various challenges the automobile faces today including environmental pollution, global warming and the depletion of petroleum-based energy supplies.

Mitsubishi will continue its extensive collaboration with both private and public sectors in Japan and overseas in developing infrastructure to promote ownership of EVs.

Mitsubishi expects to distribute, on a maintenance lease basis, some 1,400 i-MiEV models in FY 2009, principally to corporations and local authorities. The company plans to start sales of i-MiEV to individuals in April 2010 and will accept orders in late-July this year.

The i-MiEV makes maximum use of the long wheelbase that stems from its base model the “i” minicar’s rear-midship layout to install a large capacity lithium-ion drive battery under the floor and the power unit under the luggage compartment. This provides a cruising range sufficient for everyday use without compromising the generous seating or luggage space.

The introduction of the MiEV OS (MiEV Operating System) - an advanced integrated vehicle management system into which the company has poured its wealth of know-how garnered from many years of EV research and development - has provided the kind of high performance and reliability that befits a new-generation EV.

Mitsubishi i-MiEV Features: