REPORT: future Mistubishi iMiEVs could include optional range distances
Mitsubishi i MiEV - Click above for high-res image gallery
Plans for Mitsubishi's iMiEV – deliveries start in Japan this month – continue to evolve. Mitsubishi president Osamu Masuko has said that upcoming editions of the electric jellybean (OK, he didn't call it that) could have a range of about 200 km (124 miles). That's the new target distance for Mitsubishi's future range of EVs, and is higher than the 100-mile range for the i MiEV that we've heard about for a while. Masuko said Mitsubishi is also considering offering EVs with a variety of ranges depending on how much a customer is willing to spend. More yen = more miles.
Another tidbit revealed in the article in Business Week: Masuko has been chauffered in a i MiEV for the past 18 months. As we heard last month, a plug-in hybrid version of the i MiEV will go on sale in 2013. Thanks to Yanquetino for the tip!
Gallery: i MiEV
[Source: Business Week]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Yanquetino 10:37PM (7/21/2009)
Call for David Patterson... call for David Patterson... please start a waiting list.
Reply
ray 1:24AM (7/22/2009)
Yea 120 range is what we need and the consumer choice of mo money for mo range.
Since they won't be offering different motors (doubtful) with each further choice of range the car will inevitably get heaver.
Reply
David Martin 7:34AM (7/22/2009)
Altering the space allotted to the batteries would be difficult in such a small package.
I would guess that the increase to 124 mile range is more likely to be due to them squeezing more power out of the same battery size.
Of course, doing the reverse of that and decreasing battery size doesn't run into constraints, and with the high price of the little car a lot may be happy to have only, say, 80 mile range for less cost.
Reply
Ernie 1:37PM (7/22/2009)
Actually, you can already get batteries that have a higher energy density. It's just that they cost more. Which is exactly what they're proposing.
Lou Grinzo 10:12AM (7/22/2009)
I expect most EVs and PHEVs to give customers some kind of options on battery range, simply because batteries will be very expensive for some time. This is the mistake GM made with the Volt--telling the world endlessly about its 40 mile/charge range, which pushes the price up enough to strangle sales.
GM, Mitsu, Nissan, et al. will offer options. Maybe the "base model" will have only a 50 mile range, but you can pay extra for the "deluxe" pack that delivers 125 miles. Whatever the form, this kind of flexibility will be dictated by economics.
Reply
Don 5:12PM (7/22/2009)
Indeed . . . these companies really need to offer customers options on battery size. Some will demand a long range and will pay for it. Others will accept a shorter range in order to get a lower price . . . why pay for extra VERY EXPENSIVE battery capacity if you don't need it. Building EVs with 'just enough' battery power is critical to making them cost effective.
I think the Volt is fine though . . . it is a series hybrid so it already has a pretty small battery pack. I guess they could go a little smaller but I'm not sure it would be worth it.
Bix 6:26PM (7/22/2009)
Most of my commuting isn't really that long (I presume for many it's the same). However it'd be nice to have an option to use an extra battery for longer trips.
What about battery lending? If a car could have such capability (to add batteries) and considering you wouldn't have buy gas (could use that money on a lend) it looks pretty attractive idea.
The "range extending" battery could use low power/high density chemistry as power peaks needs could be satisfied by built in one.
Reply
Nick P. 12:16AM (7/23/2009)
This is exactly like buying a MacBook: pay more for bigger screen & longer battery life. As we move toward practical EVs, a lot of ideas will be borrowed from portable computers -- including battery management.
Reply
GenKhan2 4:13PM (7/23/2009)
Looks like miles till empty may become the new horsepower: a spec meant purely to increase price and profit.
Reply