Mitsubishi abandons in-wheel motors for electric car, still no plans to bring it to the U.S.
Mitsubishi's annoucement of the "i MiEV" electric vehicle based on their "i" minicar has so far caused a bit of a stir. First, Automotive News reported that the car would be headed for the States. Then CNN said that the report was incorrect. Then, in a new article on Monday, AutoWeek, a sister publication of Automotive News, stated that Mitsubishi was still planning to bring the electric car to North America.
In all the confusion, we contacted Dan Irvin, director of corporate communications and public relations for Mitsubishi Motors North America, ourselves to get an official confirmation. In his response, Mr. Irvin said, "There is no current plan to bring an electric vehicle to the United States. MMC in Tokyo has clarified this point with Mr. Treece, the author of the article that you reference... Thanks for checking with us."
That aside, the development of the "i MiEV" is still moving forward. The rest of AutoWeek's article from Monday reports that Mitsubishi has abandoned the four in-wheel motors for a single motor which will power the two rear wheels. The reasons for this come down to conversion cost as the more traditional layout requires fewer modifications. Supposedly, the only major change to the "i" minicar's chassis comes in the form of reinforcing the rear cross member to support the weight of the batteries and motor.
As for timetables, Mitsubishi forsees a relatively quick development process. Next month, they'll begin joint research on the car with three Japanese electric utility companies. Currently, the EV gets an 80-mile range from its 330-volt lithium-ion batteries which provide 16 kilowatt-hours of energy. By the fall of 2007, the company hopes to supply five utilities with several dozen test-fleet cars that are capable of a 100-mile range using a 20-kwh power supply.
[Source: AutoWeek / Mitsubishi Motors North America]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
CarolAnnB 12:11PM (5/18/2009)
The i MiEV is a good idea...no, it's a great idea. However, I believe the biggest promotion opportunity for vehicles and vehicle sales like this lies not so much in this particular bodystyle, but in more sporty, eye-candy models like the Spyder. Using a lighter-weight reproduction of Spyder and harnessing the fuel power of sugar cane, could be a win-win solution for manufacturer, consumer, and more importantly, the environment. ;)
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Michael Delaney 8:44AM (10/26/2006)
The electric car is not the final answer to our energy problems. The final answer is far more likely to lie in the area of coal technology which can supply liquid fuel and utilize existing supply technolgies.
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Chris C. 1:17PM (10/26/2006)
The all electric automobile is the final answer, hands down! A distributed grid system, based on solar mainly (to minor extent wind) is the only way to keep up with global power projections (other than nuclear, and see what that brings us to with Iran).
The ICE will never be able to compete in terms of efficiencies, it is a dinosaur being strung along by those who want keep you addicted! Why do you want to continue to pay for and be held hostage by what you drive and how it is fueled? Opponents of electric automobile are numerous as it disrupts the status quo... "If you're not a consumer of our products (big oil, hydrogen, ethanol, anything that fuels the ICE and it's thousands of unnecessary parts) you are the enemy".
Arggghh, get a grip people! Oil, H2, liquid combustable fuels are bad as they can be controlled and thus control you! Generate your own power and tell the contolling parties to take a hike.
C*
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Steve Kreutzberg 10:33PM (1/01/2007)
America needs cars like the i MiEV, clean, affordable and functionable. With the proper marketing program and a good warranty, many commuters will see this as their first true 21st century vehicle.
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Brian OH 6:12AM (11/26/2007)
Yes, as stated by Chris C, BEV's are the solution.
The other part of the solution is Grid generation.
The solutions to our fossil-fuel reliance are all
there. Shell, Chevron, etc., stop fighting it and
get on board. Li battery technology or some other
form, will continue to improve and eventually the
only ICE vehicles will be in museums. We will then
say as we now say about mainframe computers, "why
did we go down that road for so long?".
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