SoCal Edison gets its Mitsubishi i MiEV
Right on schedule, Southern California Edison (SCE) and Pacific Gas and Electric (PG & E) have received all-electric Mitsubishi i MiEVs to begin their testing programs with. Although the cars displayed on the LA Auto Show floor were red and white, like the one we drove earlier this year in New York, there was at least one vehicle in SCE colors cooling its heels in an garage somewhere close by. This follows the custom-paint practice the company implemented in Japan when seven different utilities received the electric Kei cars to test.While a few lucky Japanese customers will be able to buy an i MiEV to fulfill their urban transportation needs this coming year, it may be a while before Americans get their chance. Mitsubishi exec, David Patterson told Gas 2.0 that it might only go on sale over a year and a half from now. It seems Oregon may be one of the first states to receive it if talks between that state and Mitsubishi are as successful as those held with Nissan.
Gallery: Mitsubishi i MiEV - Press Kit
[Source: Flickr / Gas 2.0]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ben 2:13PM (11/24/2008)
Huh!? I wonder why Oregon gets to receive I-MiEV's when there are others across the nation desperate for this planet and resource saving car? As evidenced by a national poll, potential electric car owners do not believe a national charging system is needed, just decent cars. The I-MiEV exceeds expectations in terms of real world (versus targeted) driving. Any suggestions short of me moving to Oregon or California to get in line to own/drive and I-MiEV?
Reply
jpm 1:41PM (11/24/2008)
Good news. Another step closer to the realization of EVs.
On a related note, does any one know if Phoenix Motorcars delivered four of their SUTs to PG&E in early 2008?
Reply
Adam Moore 1:47PM (11/24/2008)
Interesting that the steering wheel is on the opposite side.
Reply
gorr 2:07PM (11/24/2008)
They should do honest commerce like honda do. Rent or sale their new products to customers that want to drive it for real and by free choice. Why are they asking politicians to test-drive it for years??? Well because this is a s&?t product and this is the most downsized thing available on the market , LOL. Especially since gas price have drop half-price since 2-3 months ago.
The market for cars is upside down because of stupid policies and project by useless politicians. Only manufacturers selling a car to one or more customers make sence in a economy system. Politicians usually buy missiles and tanks and machine guns from manufacturers, now they buy downsized cars for you and tell you with your taxmoney what to drive.
I tell manufacturers to built a car carburated by water electrolysis and offer it in a showroom near where i live in canada. I wont buy this one. They can offer it to other customers, i don't mind.
Customers should rule all this market of car thinking, manufacturing, distributing and selling. Politicians are just there to repeat a popular belief , and that consist of there useless jobs. If they want to learn what is a green car then they just have to let new players in the industry offer it instead of killing them like they did to 4000 peoples sept 11 2001.
Reply
Yanquetino 2:14PM (11/24/2008)
PG&E also took delivery of their promised i-MiEV, likewise customized with their preferred colors and logo:
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/video?id=6518983
Reply
gorr 2:29PM (11/24/2008)
O"K i give-up, im tired of waiting to replace my dodge neon 2005 5 speeds. How much and where and when can i buy it. I live in canada and i have an electric outlet.
Reply
kert 2:46PM (11/24/2008)
2000 units produced for Japan in 2009:
http://jagadees.wordpress.com/2008/11/24/2000-i-miev-evs-in-2009/
Reply
kert 2:49PM (11/24/2008)
A fresh LA test drive report too:
http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/2316/
"It was hard to believe all the hype, but when compared to the smart fortwo, the i MiEV is definitely in a superior class of subcompact driving experience."
Reply
Mark 3:24PM (11/24/2008)
Any word on pricing or Canadian sales?
Reply