Mitsubishi launches production of the iMiEV
Mitsubishi i MiEV - click above for high-res image gallery
Mitsubishi launched series production of its iMiEV electric car today at its Okayama, Japan factory. Mitsubishi is the first of the major automakers to kick off full scale production of a new EV and will be followed by most other automakers over the next two years. The automaker plans to build about 2,000 units through the remainder of this fiscal year and then crank that up to 5,000 next year. The first cars are going to corporate fleet customers but retail sales are expected to start later in the year.
The iMiEV has a range of about 100 miles from its lithium ion battery pack. The batteries are produced by a joint venture between Mitsubishi and GS Yuasa. With the government incentives available in Japan, the iMiEV will cost about $31,300 at current exchange rates which is a bit higher than the $27,000 price previously rumored. No decision has been made yet on when the car will be offered in the U.S. market, but we do know it will make its way here sometime. First, Mitsubishi needs to develop a production left-hand drive version.
Gallery: New York 2009: iMiEV
[Source: Nikkei]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
olhat 8:03PM (6/04/2009)
I lift my hat!
I still want be paying any deposit for this one. Too dear and too small. But if this one is a success it might help trigger Toyota to launch a Prius PHEV a bit earlier. Hope they would build up their battery factories asap, the Chinese way, construction work running 24 / 7 until I have my family size plug-in.
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spence 8:13PM (6/04/2009)
Mitsubishi FTW!
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xyz 8:15PM (6/04/2009)
Here is my new car! I don't even have to wait for left hand drive I am in Australia :o)
Of course, I will convert this to hydrogen to cover my large distances ;o)
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Nick P. 8:19PM (6/04/2009)
Great! Two points worth noting:
1) This is the first *production* E.V (not a test or a conversion) by a major (albeit smaller) manufacturer. It's clear that Mitsu and Nissan see EVs as a way to beat Toyota and Honda who are still betting on hybrids.
2) They use "in wheel" electric motors, which leaves more space for the occupants and the battery. I wonder how reliable this will be over-time under extreme climate.
- Nick -
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Mike!!ekiM 9:48PM (6/04/2009)
I don't believe they use in-wheel motors. The last breakdown of the vehicle had one electric motor in the back.
Nick P. 11:45PM (6/04/2009)
You're right. I was reading some old information. They have been developing these for a while...
- Nick -
jpm 8:33PM (6/04/2009)
*BANG*
Let the games begin!
... and Mitsubishi is off to an early start.
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guyledouche 8:44PM (6/04/2009)
VERY EXCITING STUFF!!!
I have to say that it is a bit too "cute" for my tastes, but what an excellent accomplishment and what a giant leap forward in personal transportation and green vehicle tech.
Wonderful news!
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Snoopy 8:54PM (6/04/2009)
As with everyone else who has posted so far, I wish to express my elation with this announcement.
It begins!
Now all we have to do is hope that Skynet doesn't take over in the next couple years (http://www.viddler.com/explore/comicbookbinto/videos/200/). I kid of course. I kid.
I want the Sport Air version.
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Dave 9:27PM (6/04/2009)
"The iMiEV has a range of about 100 miles from its lithium ion battery pack .... With the government incentives available in Japan, the iMiEV will cost about $31,300 at current exchange rates"
$30,000 for a tiny crapbox with a 100 mile range (probably far less if you run heat/defrost or A/C).
Thats ridiculous.
Ten years after the EV1, RAV4, Solectria, etc. were cancelled (for the same reason) and EVs still have a LONG way to go before they make sense.
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fnc 10:08PM (6/04/2009)
It looks like they can build a car with a bit more capability than the EV1 without needing as many batteries and for about a third the cost, surely that should count as an advance in tech. And battery production for Li-Ions is ramping up so hopefully the price of batteries becomes less of a factor within just years instead of decades.
polo 3:12AM (6/05/2009)
$30K before the $7,500 tax credit, and the vast majority of drivers don't drive anywhere near 100miles on a given day. The gas savings, reduced maintenance costs, and low depreciation also significantly reduce the cost of ownership. But if you want a big box SUV and don't car about gas or severe depreciation, then go with want you want.
Snowdog 7:22AM (6/05/2009)
No it is ~$44 000 before Japanese subsidies. So it would be ~$37K AFTER US subsidies.
http://media.mitsubishi-motors.com/pressrelease/e/products/detail1940.html
JPY 4,599,000 (consumption tax inclusive)
JPY 4,380,000 (ex-tax)
"For fiscal 2009, intending owners are eligible to receive a maximum subsidy of JPY 1,390,000 on approval of an application submitted to the Next Generation Vehicle Promotion Center (The intending owner must apply for the subsidy and receive notification of its approval before the vehicle is registered)."
Dave 8:31AM (6/05/2009)
"But if you want a big box SUV and don't car about gas or severe depreciation, then go with want you want." - polo
For the record, I drive a '97 Miata.
Dave 8:33AM (6/05/2009)
"But if you want a big box SUV and don't car about gas or severe depreciation, then go with want you want."
For the record, I drive a 97 Miata.
Rick 9:29AM (6/05/2009)
The amount saved in gas, oil changed, filters, tuneups, belt changes, transmission, drivetrain and other various maintenance costs over the life of the financing period (much less life of the car) would more than cover any cost overage you currently vision in your head.
Snowdog 10:10AM (6/05/2009)
Rick. Seriously?
I car: $14000
Imiev: $44000 (see mitsubishi link I posted above). If you count a $7500 credit from the US government as pure savings: $36500.
Difference $22500.
You are never, ever going to get close to making up that $22500. In fact it will only get worse when you start having to replace the ultra expensive battery.
I don't know what ultra expensive maintenance you are imagining. I drive a 10 year old Ford Zx2. I bought it new and it is currently in excellent condition. Maintenance related to the ICE (engine/transmission/fuel systems/exhaust systems) in that time is under $2000 over ten years. Less than $200/year average. I could put the $22500 difference in the bank and the interest would more than cover my maintenance costs.
I admire the enthusiasm of EV fans and appreciate them buying current EVs to help drive research, but EVs are not an economical choice. Just accept that and move on, instead of trying to rationalize some set of circumstances where they are.
Until we have huge battery break through EVs will continue to be more expensive to operate than the equivalent gas car.
meme 1:43PM (6/05/2009)
Snowdog: It's not as extreme as you're making it out to be.
iMiEV: 93,000 mile/10 year warranty. Now, the battery doesn't die when the warranty expires. In fact, it essentially never "dies"; the standard for determining when a battery gets changed under warranty for EVs is generally when it drops below 80% charge capacity, and the rate of charge capacity decline slows down over time. 70% charge capacity would probably last you until the vehicle is in the scrapheap. But let's assign a 50% probability of replacement within the vehicle's lifespan out of warranty, and an average car lifespan (current average, about 19 years). Efficient cars tend to have longer lifespans than inefficient cars (because there's more incentive to keep them running), but let's go with 19 years anyways, with 11,000 miles/year. That's 209,000 miles. The i is rated for 43mpg in Japan, which is more like ~32mpg combined FTP/US06 drivecycles. That's 6,531 gallons of gas. At $3.25/gal, that's $21,226 gas savings. Assuming electricity costs 1/4th as much as gas per mile (a reasonable assumption in most of the US), that's ~16k$ savings.
How much is that battery replacement? Well, the first question is, how much is that pack? It's a 16kWh battery pack, and its cells currently likely cost about $0.50/Wh, or about $8k total. Assigning a 50% probability of replacement, that'd be an expected cost of $4k. But wait! The replacement would be at least 9 years in the future (remember, the warranty?), and battery prices won't be anywhere near that high then. If we assume volumes of a few hundred thousand EV packs per year per manufacturer, they'll be approximately $0.25/Wh (according to EnerDel's figures). So that's really a $4k pack and an expected cost of $2k. So you're down to $14k savings.
"But wait, there's more!" EV drivetrains have about 1/10th as many moving parts as gasoline drivetrains, and consequently way less maintenance. Ever priced getting your transmission fixed? Or added up how much all that routine maintenance costs? Or looked at how much your car starts costing you once all those belts start breaking and stuff? If I recall the statistics correctly, the average American spends about $2,500/year on "repairs and maintenance". Now, a fair chunk of that will be to pay for deductibles and uninsured coverage on car accidents -- let's say half -- making the number $1,250. Some cars more, some cars less, of course. Now, the drivetrain isn't the only part of a car that can break. Brakes get wear, although they get less on an EV due to regen. Tires get wear on both. Things like the AC and heater and radio and so forth can break on both. And so on. Let's say that the EV's maintenance isn't a 10th as much, but a third as much -- an annual savings of $833, or $16k total. Total savings are now up to $30k
How much will insurance cost? Hard to say. EVs being more expensive would tend to raise coverage, but some insurers actually give discounts for hybrids, so you might expect likewise for EVs. Let's call it a wash.
Aha, but there's one missing detail: the time value of money. You have to account for interest on that extra upfront investment -- what it could have been making if put to other means. I don't feel like doing the math here, but I'd wager that $30k savings but with $22.5k more upfront is probably about a wash from that perspective.
Snowdog 3:43PM (6/05/2009)
Meme: You are being ridiculous. $8k for the battery??
Then why does a $14K car become a $44K car with EV drivetrain. Motors and controllers are less than ICE/transmission/fuel/exhaust system.
That $30K difference is mainly battery. There was a recent story of kids doing a EV conversion of a car for $7K. Because they used cheap Lead Acid batteries.
EVs are expensive because of the expensive batteries. EV drive trains aren't.
Where are you getting this warranty info from. Seriously doubt it gets a 10Y/100K warranty. It will be hurting long before that.
meme 5:37PM (6/05/2009)
"Where are you getting this warranty info from. Seriously doubt it gets a 10Y/100K warranty. It will be hurting long before that."
Have you not been following this vehicle at all? Random example:
http://www.birminghammail.net/lifestyle/motoring/2009/02/19/the-i-miev-is-a-shocker-97319-22966194/
Mitsubishi's been stating for a long time that they plan to offer a 10 year warranty on the pack.
"Meme: You are being ridiculous. $8k for the battery?? Then why does a $14K car become a $44K car with EV drivetrain. Motors and controllers are less than ICE/transmission/fuel/exhaust system."
No, they're not, and you know, it'd pay to actually be versed in prices before you start pontificating. How much do you think the AC-150 powertrain that runs the Mini-E costs? Try $25,000. Now, *in large volumes*, ACP thinks the drivetrain would only cost $3,500, but *for now*, EV drivetrain components are very expensive. Mitsubishi's not going to be up to even moderate volumes for two years.
The AC-150 is a high-end EV drivetrain, mind, you, but even a low-end one will cost ya. The Azure Dynamics AC24LS couldn't meet the MiEV's reported stats on a vehicle that weight, but costs $3k. But that's just the motor -- you also need an inverter and a charger. The AC24LS is designed to be paired with the DMOC445, a low-end inverter. That's $3.5k. There's no specific charger the two need to be paired with, so let's go with one of the cheaper chargers out there that can handle the onboard charging req's of the MiEV -- perhaps a Manzanita Micro PFC50. That's $3.3k to $4k, depending on the version. So this *low end* drivetrain that'd make the MiEV accelerate too slowly would cost $10k.
Lastly, whether you like it or not, $0.50/Wh *is* the going price for automotive li-ion packs. GM has stated that their 16kWh pack costs "thousands less" than $10,000 after a report stated that the pack was going to cost that much. Th!nk bought 5,000 27kWh packs from EnerDel for $70m -- $14k each. Thunderskys are available on the open market for EV hobbyists in *non-commercial quanties* for under $0.50/Wh. Tesla's cells, being of the non-automotive variety, are cheaper, at about $0.35/Wh.
So perhaps before you start pontificating in the future, you might actually want to learn what you're talking about.