Mitsubishi, Yuasa quintuple lithium ion production before it even starts
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Mitsuibshi i MiEV
Once again showing how important automakers see the lithium ion battery is an announcement from Yuasa and Mitsubishi that their joint venture battery plant needs to be much larger than originally planned. In fact, the two companies have quintupled planned output before a single battery has even been manufactured. Mitsubishi is expecting high demand for its upcoming i-MiEV electric car, which should go on sale in Japan sometime in 2009. We wonder how much impact Japan Post's plan to use an all electric fleet had in this decision.
At the outset, the plant will cost about 4 billion yen ($36.94 million) and be able to produce enough packs for 10,000 EV's. By 2012, an additional 10 billion yen ($92 million or so) will have been spent to double that capacity. In order to make room for a plant this large, Yuasa is said to be searching for a new site in Japan.
Gallery: Mitsubishi i MiEV - LIVE
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dave 1:09PM (8/06/2008)
Why don't they build the plant where there's cheaper land, space , and you get more bang for your yen? Dayton, OH, the once stronghold for GM manufacturing is looking for auto manufacturing jobs.
Reply
Tony Belding 2:17PM (8/06/2008)
This news isn't glamorous, but this kind of development is what's ultimately going to make EVs competitive with gassers.
If you look at what goes into a petroleum-fueled piston engine, it's astonishing that they can be as affordable as they are. It's all about capital investment, high-volume production and cost reduction. Piston engines have huge, specialized factories devoted to their production. They're produced in huge quantities, and their manufacturing methods have been cost-reduced over a span of decades in a highly competitive industry.
There's nothing to prevent the same from happening with batteries, and this venture with Mitsubishi and Yasua is an example of how it begins.
Reply
Rick 6:50PM (8/06/2008)
I hope this means they'll sell enough so by the time we get it here, the $40k price tag will come down some.
Reply
kert 4:23PM (8/06/2008)
if anything, it confirms that Mitsu is solidly ahead of the pack in bringing mass market plug ins to consumers in meaningful volumes.
Reply
KenZ 5:54PM (8/06/2008)
"Why don't they build the plant where there's cheaper land, space , and you get more bang for your yen? Dayton, OH, the once stronghold for GM manufacturing is looking for auto manufacturing jobs."
Unfortunately (and I'm sure you know this), because the labor costs even in depressed US markets are still ridiculously high compared to overseas. The world has changed fundamentally. Perhaps really high oil prices would eventually mean limited production in the US for US vehicles would make sense, but that's still a ways away.
Reply
EV-1 12:53AM (8/07/2008)
This sounds SO INSPIRING ! :)
I'm really hopeful this will get going ASAP !!!!
I'm really hoping this will be a Stunning SUCCESS !!!!
That will SPUR THE COMPETITION ! ! ! !
Go! Mitsubishi ! Go!
Reply
ryan 5:46AM (8/07/2008)
I am going to guess that a large majority of people rooting for the i MiEV don't realize that it is based on a kei-jidousha... in other words, it is REALLY small. Sure the base gasoline-powered car won lots of awards in Japan due to its innovative design, but the fact is that many Americans would have a hard time fitting into one. Safety is also something that these cars are not known for.
I drove a kei-jidousha over here for a couple years and loved it. I however am a hypermiler that only weighs 145, all packed into a 5 foot 10 package. My parents laughed when they saw my car.
I will be rooting for the i MiEV though, and hope that it is able to penetrate the very different markets of the world.
Reply
EV-1 6:52PM (8/07/2008)
@ #7 :
Well the point is not this specific model of car (from Mitsubishi).
The point is, they're expanding production capacity
AND
they're getting into gear to start !
Small it may be, but it's no toy ! :)
( As opposed to certain expensive two-seaters )
EV-1 7:00PM (8/07/2008)
@ #7 :
Well the point is not this specific model of car (from Mitsubishi).
The point is, they're expanding production capacity
AND
they're getting into gear to start !
Small it may be, but it's no toy ! :)
( As opposed to certain expensive two-seaters )
Models come,change and go.
Shurely, someone will cover the market demand for a roomier model - AS SOON AS THEY'LL FINALLY GET GOING which is the single most important step.
robertmc 8:35AM (8/12/2008)
I think it's more than just about cars. Japan foresees (correctly) a decline in the world's economy and they see this as a way to gain an advantage. A country NOT saddled to high gas prices is more able to withstand an economic downturn.
Reply