AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com AutoblogGreen http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan RothThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry.<![CDATA[Reevaluating the Mitsubishi i-MiEV in context, at home]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/mitsubishi-i-miev-review/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/mitsubishi-i-miev-review/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/mitsubishi-i-miev-review/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

An affordable, semi-practical, entry-level EV

2012 Mitsubishi i

I've driven a fair number of electrics over the last couple decades, beginning with General Motors' bullet-shaped 1991 Impact concept car and continuing through a progression of Geo Storm-based mules, prototype and production EV1s with both lead-acid and later range-doubling Ni-MH battery packs. And since returning to this side of the business, my list has expanded to include the Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf, MINI E, BMW ActiveE, Tesla Roadster, Smart ED and a right-drive, Japanese-market Mitsubishi i-MiEV.

All have shared the EV blessings of strong, near-silent, shiftless acceleration, home "refueling" and no more gas station stops with fluctuating fuel prices. All have also shared the EV curses of big, heavy, expensive batteries, the resulting high purchase/lease prices and (excluding the Volt) limited range, long recharge times and occasional range anxiety.

Most recent EV encounters have been brief - a few miles around town or a parking lot. But last year I was fortunate to enjoy a working week with a Volt and a couple days with a Leaf (see past columns). And I was recently offered a three-day loan of a U.S.-spec Mitsubishi i.

Continue reading Reevaluating the Mitsubishi i-MiEV in context, at home

Reevaluating the Mitsubishi i-MiEV in context, at home originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 24 May 2012 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>at witz endelectric vehiclegary witzenburgii-mievmitsubishimitsubishi imitsubishi i-mievThu, 24 May 2012 11:55:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20244325/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20244325/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/24/mitsubishi-i-miev-review/20244325/article-detail.xml 20244325 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/2012-mitsubishi-i-fd_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/2012-mitsubishi-i-fd.jpg <![CDATA[Mitsubishi previews bonkers i-MiEV Evolution for Pikes Peak]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/mitsubishi-previews-bonkers-i-miev-evolution-for-pikes-peak/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/mitsubishi-previews-bonkers-i-miev-evolution-for-pikes-peak/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/18/mitsubishi-previews-bonkers-i-miev-evolution-for-pikes-peak/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Mitsubishi i-MiEV Evolution - front three-quarter view

No, that's not a Mitsubishi i-MiEV in a fat suit, it's the automaker's brand-new all-electric race car, and it's set to take on the 2012 Pike's Peak International Hill Climb in July. This isn't the first time we've seen an EV enter the Pike's Peak challenge - Nissan commissioned a Leaf for battle last year, a car that set the bar for all future electric racers.

Mitsubishi says that its race car, dubbed i-MiEV Evolution, uses the same motor, drive battery and other major components as the standard, bean-shaped electric car that we haven't quite grown to love. Aside from the additional bodywork, the chassis has clearly been lengthened and widened, and the race car now uses an all-wheel-drive configuration rather than the rear-wheel drive of the standard i-MiEV.

To give you an idea of just how big the racer is, a quick glance of Mitsubishi's specs show that the i-MiEV Evolution's dimensions are within a few inches of the stock Lancer Evolution. We wouldn't be surprised if the all-wheel-drive system was sourced from the Lancer, as well.

Mitsubishi will also be bringing two more of its EVs to the Pike's Peak event, including an i that has been updated with a more aerodynamic front bumper and new safety equipment, as well as a bone stock model. Scroll down for the official press blast.

Continue reading Mitsubishi previews bonkers i-MiEV Evolution for Pikes Peak

Mitsubishi previews bonkers i-MiEV Evolution for Pikes Peak originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 18 May 2012 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hill climbhillclimbii-mievi-miev evolutionmitsubishipikes peakpikes peak international hill climbFri, 18 May 2012 18:02:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20240860/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20240860/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/18/mitsubishi-previews-bonkers-i-miev-evolution-for-pikes-peak/20240860/article-detail.xml 20240860 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/67821mit628opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/67821mit628opt.jpg <![CDATA[Hark! Mitsubishi's 'Electriphobia Institute' cures EV anxiety!]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/19/hark-mitsubishis-electriphobia-institute-cures-ev-anxiety/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/19/hark-mitsubishis-electriphobia-institute-cures-ev-anxiety/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/19/hark-mitsubishis-electriphobia-institute-cures-ev-anxiety/#commentsFiled under: , ,

mitsubishi electriphobia

Think of it as Mitsubishi's nod to Canada's offbeat sense of humor.

The Japanese automaker is using the 2012 Green Living Show in Toronto this week to launch what it calls its "Electriphobia Research Institute," which will promote the Mitsubishi battery-electric i-MiEV while it dispels some myths associated with plug-in powertrains.

Mitsubishi Canada, which is also sharing this advertising campaign on the Internet, will use the "Institute" to address misconceptions like the lack of engine noise, fear of electrocution and other subjects. The company started i-MiEV sales in Canada in December and is selling the car at 30 dealerships across the country.

The i-MiEV's U.S. equivalent, the i, has been rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the country's most fuel-efficient production vehicle at 112 MPGe, in terms of its miles-per-gallon-equivalent rating. The i can go about 62 miles on a single charge, or about 11 miles fewer than the Nissan Leaf battery-electric.

Mitsubishi started i sales late last year, and set a U.S. monthly sales record last month with a modest 52 units. The Japanese automaker also shipped the first of its fleet EVs to Google and the non-profit, car-sharing service IGO CarSharing. Mitusbishi debuted the model as the i-MiEV in Japan in 2009.

You can see the first three Electriphobia videos just below.

Continue reading Hark! Mitsubishi's 'Electriphobia Institute' cures EV anxiety!

Hark! Mitsubishi's 'Electriphobia Institute' cures EV anxiety! originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canadaelectric vehicleelectriphobiaelectriphobia research institutegreen livinggreen living showii-MiEVmitsubishitorontoThu, 19 Apr 2012 18:06:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20218807/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20218807/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/19/hark-mitsubishis-electriphobia-institute-cures-ev-anxiety/20218807/article-detail.xml 20218807 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/mitsuelectro_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/mitsuelectro.jpg <![CDATA[Round-the-world Electric Odyssey trip reaches the Rockies]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/09/round-the-world-electric-odessy-trip-reaches-the-rockies/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/09/round-the-world-electric-odessy-trip-reaches-the-rockies/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/09/round-the-world-electric-odessy-trip-reaches-the-rockies/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Citroën c-zero

An attempt by two French engineers to drive a Citroen C-Zero battery-electric vehicle around the world hasn't been lost in translation... yet.

Xavier Degon and Antonin Guy, who started what they call the Electric Odyssey in Strasbourg, France in February, reached the Rockies this month, with plans to continue on to Asia after reaching the U.S. West Coast.

The two are planning for the eight-month trip to cover 17 countries, about 15,000 miles and about 250 Euros ($327 U.S. at today's exchange rates) in electricity consumption. The two drivers are traveling in 70-mile increments, relying on supporters - in addition to restaurants, gas stations and other retailers - for recharges, according to Wired. The reason? To "promote the image of the electric vehicles" while sharing information and energy with people around the world, according to the Electric Odyssey website.

Degon and Guy reached the U.S. via ship in early March. The drivers say they've had success finding recharging locations across the U.S. - even in many rural communities - but expect the task to become more difficult once they reach Asia, mostly because of language barriers.

The C-Zero is the sister vehicle to the Mitsubishi i-MiEV. That car debuted in Japan in April 2010 and started sales in Europe early last year. The American version, called the i, debuted stateside last November and is considered by the EPA to be the most fuel-efficient production vehicle (based on the miles per gallon equivalent ratings) sold in the U.S.

Round-the-world Electric Odyssey trip reaches the Rockies originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 08:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>antonin guyc-zerocitroencitroen c-zeroelectric odysseyelectric vehicleimitsubishixavier degonMon, 09 Apr 2012 08:08:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20210912/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20210912/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/04/09/round-the-world-electric-odessy-trip-reaches-the-rockies/20210912/article-detail.xml 20210912 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/electricodyssey_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/04/electricodyssey.jpg <![CDATA[MiEV Power BOX turns your electric Mitsubishi into a mini power station]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/19/miev-power-box-turns-your-electric-mitsubishi-into-a-mini-power/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/19/miev-power-box-turns-your-electric-mitsubishi-into-a-mini-power/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/19/miev-power-box-turns-your-electric-mitsubishi-into-a-mini-power/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Mitsubishi iMiEV with Power BOX plugged in

As anyone who's suffered through an extended blackout can tell you, electric power can be a precious commodity. With the advent of electric cars comes the ability to borrow back some of the energy stored in traction batteries to help deal with emergencies or other situations.

Mitsubishi's MiEV power BOX - soon become available as a dealer option - does just that, at least for Japanese customers. The 1500-watt AC power supply offers a single 15 amp outlet that will allow a fully charged i-MiEV or MINICAB-MiEV to dish out electrons constantly for somewhere between five and six hours. According to the company, that's about the same amount of electricity as an average Japanese household might consume in a day.

The suggested price for the the MiEV power BOX reminds us that peace of mind is not necessarily inexpensive. Available as of the 27th of April, the "power feeder" will set buyers back ¥149,800 ($1,801.57 U.S. at today's exchange rates). Yeah, ouch.

Continue reading MiEV Power BOX turns your electric Mitsubishi into a mini power station

MiEV Power BOX turns your electric Mitsubishi into a mini power station originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehicleimiev power boxmitsubishimitsubishi imitsubishi i mievmitsubishi minicab mievmitsubishi motorspowerpower supplyMon, 19 Mar 2012 17:59:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20195990/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20195990/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/19/miev-power-box-turns-your-electric-mitsubishi-into-a-mini-power/20195990/article-detail.xml 20195990 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/mitsubishi-i-miev-and-power-box-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/mitsubishi-i-miev-and-power-box-628.jpg <![CDATA[Mitsubishi ships first fleet EVs to Google and IGO car-sharing service]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/15/mitsubishi-ships-first-fleet-evs-to-google-and-igo-car-sharing-s/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/15/mitsubishi-ships-first-fleet-evs-to-google-and-igo-car-sharing-s/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/15/mitsubishi-ships-first-fleet-evs-to-google-and-igo-car-sharing-s/#commentsFiled under: ,



Mitsubishi shipped its first i electric-vehicles dedicated to fleet use to Google and IGO CarSharing this month, as the Japanese automaker looks to boost U.S. sales of the car that's been sold overseas - as the i-MiEV - for years.

Mitsubishi sent the fleet i vehicles to Google's Northern California headquarters, where the cars will be part of the search-engine giant's GFleet of electric-drive vehicles. Other plug-in vehicles that are part of the car-sharing program are Honda Fit EVs, Chevrolet Volts and Nissan Leafs. Mitsubishi also sent i fleet vehicles to Chicago-based IGO CarSharing, a non-profit car-sharing service founded in 2002.

Last month, the automaker, which debuted the model in the U.S. in November, reported February sales of 44 i vehicles, up from 36 in January. The i, which can go about 62 miles on a single charge, is considered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the country's most fuel-efficient production vehicle, based on its miles-per-gallon-equivalent rating.


Continue reading Mitsubishi ships first fleet EVs to Google and IGO car-sharing service

Mitsubishi ships first fleet EVs to Google and IGO car-sharing service originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car sharingchicagoelectric vehiclegfleetgoogleiigoigo carsharingmitsubishiThu, 15 Mar 2012 07:58:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20193488/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20193488/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/15/mitsubishi-ships-first-fleet-evs-to-google-and-igo-car-sharing-s/20193488/article-detail.xml 20193488 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/mitsubishii-1331759160_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/mitsubishii-1331759160.jpg <![CDATA[New EV motor from Mitsubishi Electric increases efficiency, reduces size]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/12/new-ev-motor-from-mitsubishi-electric-increases-efficiency-redu/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/12/new-ev-motor-from-mitsubishi-electric-increases-efficiency-redu/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/12/new-ev-motor-from-mitsubishi-electric-increases-efficiency-redu/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Batteries are usually the focus of technological advances when it comes to electric vehicles, but a new product announcement by Mitsubishi Electric reminds us that is not the only EV element that can be improved. The company has unveiled a new motor design that integrates the inverter - the electronics that regulate the flow of electricity between battery pack and motor - reducing the footprint of the drivetrain and freeing up space in a vehicle's architecture for passenger and cargo.

While less weight and size is pretty cool in itself, the new design doesn't stop there. Using silicon carbide (SiC) in place of silicon-based chips, it cuts energy losses by more than half. Traditionally, silicon has been used for power-switching chips but SiC is more resistant to heat, so thinner chips can be used. Less material means less electrical resistance which means less energy loss.

These innovations, in addition to earlier Pokémon "Poki-poki" manufacturing processes that increased power output through improved motor winding and lamination, all add up to a propulsion system that should be worthy of some of the battery breakthroughs that are coming down the line. Now, if only Mitsubishi Motors would complement its keiretsu kin's tech advances by developing an updated electric vehicle chassis to put it in, the tri-diamond brand might regain some of its former luster. Official press release awaits after the break.

Continue reading New EV motor from Mitsubishi Electric increases efficiency, reduces size

New EV motor from Mitsubishi Electric increases efficiency, reduces size originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric motorelectric vehicle tecnologymitsubishimitsubishi electricpoki pokisicMon, 12 Mar 2012 15:57:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20189421/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20189421/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/12/new-ev-motor-from-mitsubishi-electric-increases-efficiency-redu/20189421/article-detail.xml 20189421 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/mitsubishi-electric-ev-motor-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/mitsubishi-electric-ev-motor-628.jpg <![CDATA[Toyota widens U.S. hybrid lead in February sales]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/05/toyota-widens-u-s-hybrid-lead-in-february/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/05/toyota-widens-u-s-hybrid-lead-in-february/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/05/toyota-widens-u-s-hybrid-lead-in-february/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,



Last month, Toyota pitched its hybrid vehicles at the Chicago Auto Show by partnering with Hasbro to make a Monopoly-inspired road course inside McCormick Center's South Hall.

The concept proved prescient as the Japanese automaker appeared to further dominate competitors such as Ford and Honda when it came to U.S. hybrid sales last month. Toyota, which appeared to benefit from both rising U.S. gas prices and what was likely pent-up demand for hybrids that were supply-constrained last year, increased February hybrid vehicle sales by a whopping 60 percent from a year earlier to 27,458 vehicles. Prius sales jumped 52 percent from February 2011 to 20,589 vehicles while the Toyota-branded non-Prius hybrid vehicle sales grew even faster, at an 81 percent clip. The company didn't break out sales figures for its other hybrid models, but with Toyota reporting an overall Camry sales increase of 22 percent, the newly redesigned Camry Hybrid was likely a major factor.

Additionally, Toyota's Lexus division doubled February sales from a year earlier to 2,645 vehicles, with the newer Lexus CT 200h most likely making an impact on those numbers.

Toyota's competitors weren't so fortunate.

Toyota's competitors weren't so fortunate, however, as Ford and Honda buyers appeared to opt for fuel-efficient conventionally powered vehicles over hybrids in an effort to save gas and money. Ford's February hybrid sales dropped 24 percent from a year earlier to, 1,963 units, with the small increase in Lincoln MKZ Hybrid sales more than offset by a 20-percent drop in Ford Fusion Hybrid sales and a 45-percent decline in Ford Escape Hybrid sales. Such results contrasted with Ford's overall performance last month, as vehicle sales rose 14 percent from a year earlier. Ford, which more than doubled unit sales of its fuel-efficient Focus, is hoping for a boost in its alt-fuel demand from the soon-to-debut Ford Focus Electric. That vehicle was just given an EPA rating of 105 miles per gallon equivalent, making it officially more efficient than both the Nissan Leaf battery-electric and the upcoming Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid.

As bad as Ford fared in hybrid sales last month, Honda fared worse. The Japanese automaker's hybrid sales plunged 41 percent from a year earlier to 1,981 vehicles. While Civic Hybrid sales were up 39 percent, CR-Z and Insight sales both dropped at least 55 percent from February 2011.

Whether the Volt sustains its momentum remains to be seen.

As for electric-drive vehicles, General Motors' Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in vehicle beat out the Leaf in February sales, with the Volt moving 1,023 vehicles - more than tripling February 2011 sales - and Nissan selling 478 Leafs, a sevenfold increase from a year earlier. Whether the Volt sustains its momentum remains to be seen, as General Motors is halting Volt production for five weeks in order for dealers to get some of the plug-ins off of their lots.

With U.S. gas prices jumping about 20 cents a gallon last month to $3.74, Volkswagen boosted its sales of its more fuel-efficient diesel-powered models by 55 percent from a year earlier to 6,513 vehicles. Audi, however, reported a 26 percent drop in its diesel vehicle sales from February 2011 to 390 vehicles.

Finally, Mitsubishi, which debuted its i battery-electric vehicle in the U.S. late last year, moved 44 units, up from 36 in January. See a chart of all these number after the jump.

Continue reading Toyota widens U.S. hybrid lead in February sales

Toyota widens U.S. hybrid lead in February sales originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 17:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>by the numberschevroletfebruaryfocusfordgreen car saleshondahybridhybrid salesileafnissanpriussalestoyotavoltMon, 05 Mar 2012 17:56:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20184988/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20184988/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/05/toyota-widens-u-s-hybrid-lead-in-february/20184988/article-detail.xml 20184988 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/green-vehicle-sales_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/green-vehicle-sales.jpg <![CDATA[Mitsubishi ships first East Coast-bound i electric vehicles]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/02/mitsubishi-ships-first-east-coast-bound-i-electric-vehicles/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/02/mitsubishi-ships-first-east-coast-bound-i-electric-vehicles/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/02/mitsubishi-ships-first-east-coast-bound-i-electric-vehicles/#commentsFiled under: ,



Mitsubishi earlier this week shipped its first i electric vehicles to the U.S. East Coast with a delivery of the cars making it to Baltimore. Mitsubishi also reported February sales of 44 i vehicles, up from 36 in January.

The Baltimore-area EVs will be used by regional dealers as demonstration vehicles in advance of nationwide sales this summer. Dealerships in the northeastern U.S. as well as Virginia and Illinois will have the EVs for local customers to test drive.

The Japanese automaker in January bumped up the nationwide sales date by about nine months because of better-than-expected advance inquiries. Mitsubishi started selling the car in Hawaii and on the West Coast in November.

The model was named by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in November as the country's most fuel-efficient production vehicle, getting a fuel economy rating of 112 miles per gallon of gasoline equivalent, combined. The i can go about 62 miles on a single charge, or about 11 miles fewer than the Nissan Leaf.

Continue reading Mitsubishi ships first East Coast-bound i electric vehicles

Mitsubishi ships first East Coast-bound i electric vehicles originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 19:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baltimoreeast coastelectric vehicleii-MiEVmitsubishimitsubishi iFri, 02 Mar 2012 19:04:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20184185/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20184185/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/02/mitsubishi-ships-first-east-coast-bound-i-electric-vehicles/20184185/article-detail.xml 20184185 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/mitsubishii_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/mitsubishii.jpg <![CDATA[Mitsubishi readies i-MiEV-based prototype for Pikes Peak climb this summer]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/01/mitsubishi-readies-i-miev-based-prototype-for-pikes-peak-climb-t/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/01/mitsubishi-readies-i-miev-based-prototype-for-pikes-peak-climb-t/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/01/mitsubishi-readies-i-miev-based-prototype-for-pikes-peak-climb-t/#commentsFiled under: , ,

mitsubishi i-miev pikes peak
Sending an all-electric vehicle up Pikes Peak is not new - a Nissan Leaf and a custom EV from AC Propulsion made the climb in 2011 - but that shouldn't stop anyone from trying to reach the 14,110-foot height in Colorado better, faster and in a cooler car.

Enter Mitsubishi and a radically reworked all-electric i-MiEV Prototype that will participate in the 2012 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb this July. Based on sketches released today, the car is a one-seat racer the certainly looks ready for on-track duty. It also looks nothing like the bean-shaped i-MiEV we've grown accustomed to. We're certainly curious how well it'll make the peak, since the powertrain is made up of "the same EV components as the current production i-MiEV" and it'll be piloted by well-known driver Hiroshi Masuoka, who won the Dakar Rally in 2002 and 2003 behind the wheels of a Mitsubishi Pajero and Pajero Evolution, respectively.

The idea here, of course, isn't just to have a good time. Mitsubishi will "use the data obtained through its participation in the event to enhance the durability and reliability of pure EVs and plug-in hybrid EVs which it will be bringing to market in the near future." Read: plug-in versions of the Outlander, the i-MiEV-based truck and the Mirage EV.

Continue reading Mitsubishi readies i-MiEV-based prototype for Pikes Peak climb this summer

Mitsubishi readies i-MiEV-based prototype for Pikes Peak climb this summer originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehiclehiroshi masuokaii-mievmievmitsubishimitsubishi imitsubishi imievpikes peakThu, 01 Mar 2012 15:45:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20183863/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20183863/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/03/01/mitsubishi-readies-i-miev-based-prototype-for-pikes-peak-climb-t/20183863/article-detail.xml 20183863 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/i-miev-prototype-for-pikes-peak-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/i-miev-prototype-for-pikes-peak-628.jpg <![CDATA[Mitsubishi will offer battery-electric Outlander crossover by March 2013]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/13/mitsubishi-battery-electric-outlander-ev/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/13/mitsubishi-battery-electric-outlander-ev/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/13/mitsubishi-battery-electric-outlander-ev/#commentsFiled under: ,



Mitsubishi, which will unveil the latest version of its Outlander crossover at the Geneva International Motor Show next month, will start selling a battery-electric version of the CUV by next spring.

The Japanese automaker said it will add an "EV-based Outlander model" to its lineup during its fiscal year 2012, indicating that the EV will start sales by March 31, 2012. Mitsubishi didn't provide further details on specifications, price or range, saying only that the powertrain would be based on Mitsubishi's "already existing EV technology." Last July, Ward's Auto reported that Mitsubishi would start selling a plug-in hybrid-electric version of the Outlander Sport in 2013. The automaker first unveiled a concept version of the plug-in at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show,

Mitsubishi's battery-electric crossover marks its continued efforts to cut its fleets' carbon footprint by way of broader electrification. Mitsubishi, which started selling its battery-electric Mitsubishi i on the West Coast and in Hawaii last November, last month confirmed that the i would be available nationwide by summer, earlier than expected. The car, which costs about $6,000 less than the $35,200 Nissan Leaf battery electric, was named in November by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy as the U.S.'s most fuel-efficient vehicle in terms of its so-called miles-per-gallon-equivalent ratings.

Earlier this month, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) ranked the Mitsubishi i the "greenest" car sold in the U.S. this year. The ACEEE had bestowed that award on the Honda Civic Natural Gas for the previous eight straight years, though the Leaf shared last year's distinction with the CNG-powered Civic.

Mitsubishi will offer battery-electric Outlander crossover by March 2013 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crossoverelectric vehiclegenevamitsubishimitsubishi outlanderoutlanderoutlander phevplug-in hybridMon, 13 Feb 2012 19:56:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20170932/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20170932/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/13/mitsubishi-battery-electric-outlander-ev/20170932/article-detail.xml 20170932 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/mitsuoutlander_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/mitsuoutlander.jpg <![CDATA[Mitsubishi i steals ACEEE's "Greenest" car of the year title from CNG Civic]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/07/mitsubishi-i-steals-aceees-greenest-car-of-the-year-title-fro/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/07/mitsubishi-i-steals-aceees-greenest-car-of-the-year-title-fro/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/07/mitsubishi-i-steals-aceees-greenest-car-of-the-year-title-fro/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

mitsubishi i

For the first time in ages, the Honda Civic Natural Gas is not the "greenest" car in the U.S. This year, it's the Mitsubishi i. At least, it is according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), which takes it upon itself to rank these sorts of things.

The CNG-powered Civic has made the top of the list for the past eight years (last year, the Nissan Leaf shared the No. 1 spot) but it drops to second place this year. Last year, ACEEE gave the Civic Natural Gas a score of 54, a number that takes into account "unhealthy tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption, and emissions of gases that contribute to climate change." This year, the i managed to rake in 58 points, which ACEEE says is the "highest Green Score awarded since the rankings began in 1998." That deserves a golf clap or two, even if the methodology for calculating the score changed for 2012 (details in the PR after the jump).

The ACEEE also figures out which vehicles are the dirtiest for its "Meanest" list. This year, the Chevrolet G3500 Express/GMC G3500 Savana cargo vans, Ford E-350 Wagon and Bugatti Veyron can claim this dubious honor.

Continue reading Mitsubishi i steals ACEEE's "Greenest" car of the year title from CNG Civic

Mitsubishi i steals ACEEE's "Greenest" car of the year title from CNG Civic originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aceeeaceee listelectric vehiclegreenest carii-mievmievmitsubishimitusbishi iTue, 07 Feb 2012 18:08:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20166226/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20166226/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/07/mitsubishi-i-steals-aceees-greenest-car-of-the-year-title-fro/20166226/article-detail.xml 20166226 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/73-mitsubishi-i-miev-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/73-mitsubishi-i-miev-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Mitsubishi delivers first 2012 i electric vehicle in Normal, IL]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/25/mitsubishi-delivers-first-2012-i-electric-vehicle-in-normal-il/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/25/mitsubishi-delivers-first-2012-i-electric-vehicle-in-normal-il/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/25/mitsubishi-delivers-first-2012-i-electric-vehicle-in-normal-il/#commentsFiled under: ,

mitsubishi i

The 2012 Mitsubishi i will be available nationwide earlier than once expected, and the first bit of expanded availability can be seen with the delivery of six of the electric vehicles in Normal, IL. These are the first of the little hatchbacks that have made it to the U.S. outside of the vehicle's initial markets of America's West Coast states (excluding Alaska) and Hawaii.

The reason Mitsubishi is so focused on Normal - it released the "New Normal" commercial about the i in October - is because it's home to Mitsubishi Motors North America Manufacturing. Mitsubishi delivered the first fleet i in the U.S. to City CarShare in the Bay Area in December and made the first customer delivery in Hawaii the same month.

The Illinois deliveries are not just being pushed by Mitsubishi. The city of Normal is doing its part to encourage electric vehicle use, as well. Along with nearby Bloomington, IL, the city has created the EV Town initiative which works to develop the area "as a model electric vehicle community."

Continue reading Mitsubishi delivers first 2012 i electric vehicle in Normal, IL

Mitsubishi delivers first 2012 i electric vehicle in Normal, IL originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehicleevtownii-mievmievmitsubishimitsubishi inormal illinoisWed, 25 Jan 2012 18:03:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20156218/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20156218/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/25/mitsubishi-delivers-first-2012-i-electric-vehicle-in-normal-il/20156218/article-detail.xml 20156218 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/73-mitsubishi-i-miev-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/11/73-mitsubishi-i-miev-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Mitsubishi bumps up nationwide release of its i electric vehicle]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/06/mitsubishi-bumps-up-nationwide-release-of-its-i-electric-vehicle/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/06/mitsubishi-bumps-up-nationwide-release-of-its-i-electric-vehicle/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/06/mitsubishi-bumps-up-nationwide-release-of-its-i-electric-vehicle/#commentsFiled under: ,



Mitsubishi has officially confirmed that its i electric vehicle will be for sale nationwide by summer 2012 and will be available for test drives across the country in March, as the Japanese automaker looks to bump up the car's nationwide debut in response to better-than-expected consumer interest. The company also sold 76 i vehicles in the U.S. last month, the first full month of domestic sales, Mitsubishi Motors North America spokeswoman Christine Jew told AutoblogGreen.

Mitsubishi, which allows customers to pre-order the vehicle online or at company dealerships, bumped up the national rollout of the i, known overseas as the i-MiEV, by nine months, Mitsubishi said in a statement Wednesday. The original nationwide due date was the end of 2012, so "nine months" is taking the test drive time frame into account.

Mitsubishi, which started selling the car in the West Coast and in Hawaii in late November, is looking to benefit from what they hope is greater U.S. consumer interest in electric-drive vehicles after a year where gas prices rose 27 percent. The car, which is priced in North America at about $6,000 less than the $35,200 Nissan Leaf battery-electric vehicle, offers an EPA-rated single-charge range of about 62 miles, or 11 miles fewer than the Leaf's. Mitsubishi has sold about 16,000 i-MiEVs (the global version of the i) since debuting the model in Japan in July 2009.

In November, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy named the i the most fuel-efficient vehicle sold in the United States. The federal agencies' latest edition of their Fuel Economy Guide rates the i at 112 miles per gallon of gasoline equivalent. The Leaf came in second at 99 MPGe.

Continue reading Mitsubishi bumps up nationwide release of its i electric vehicle

Mitsubishi bumps up nationwide release of its i electric vehicle originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehicleEVii-MiEVmitsubishimitsubishi iMitsubishi i-MiEVtest drivesFri, 06 Jan 2012 08:07:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20140660/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20140660/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/01/06/mitsubishi-bumps-up-nationwide-release-of-its-i-electric-vehicle/20140660/article-detail.xml 20140660 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/mitsubishii_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/01/mitsubishii.jpg <![CDATA[Mitsubishi EVs 'compete' in Indy's inaugural EV500]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/30/mitsubishi-evs-compete-in-indys-inaugural-ev500/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/30/mitsubishi-evs-compete-in-indys-inaugural-ev500/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/30/mitsubishi-evs-compete-in-indys-inaugural-ev500/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Mitsubishi i

Two Mitsubishi i electric vehicles were "raced" at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last week by professional race car drivers Roger Yasukawa and Johnny Miller. The contest? To test how quickly the EVs could be recharged with Level 3 quick-charge stations make by Contour Hardening.

Yakusawa and Miller reached top speeds of about 56 miles per hour in the i EVs as part of the exhibition, which was filmed and available to you after the jump. The drivers "completed" the so-called EV500 in about 12 hours, Road & Track reported.

Contour Hardening organized the event to get a better idea of how quickly driving range could be added to the EVs with short charge cycles using higher-powered EV charging stations.

In late November, Mitsubishi started selling the i - known as the i-MiEV overseas - on the West Coast and in Hawaii, and will expand sales nationwide in mid-2012. The car, which is priced in North America at about $6,000 less than the $35,200 Nissan Leaf battery-electric vehicle, offers an EPA-rated single-charge range of about 62 miles, or 11 miles fewer than the Leaf's. Mitsubishi has sold about 16,000 i-MiEVs since debuting the model in Japan in July 2009.

In November, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy named the i the most fuel-efficient vehicle sold in the United States. The federal agencies' latest edition of their Fuel Economy Guide rates the i at 112 miles per gallon of gasoline equivalent. The Leaf came in second at 99 MPGe.

Continue reading Mitsubishi EVs 'compete' in Indy's inaugural EV500

Mitsubishi EVs 'compete' in Indy's inaugural EV500 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 30 Dec 2011 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mitsubishi has said it wants to have over half of its sales to be electric vehicles by 2020, so rumors of an all-electric truck from the Japanese automaker make an awful lot of sense. That's just what the Nikkei is reporting, saying the light-duty truck is due some time in fiscal 2012. The truck will be Mitsubishi's third EV, following the i-MiEV (also known as the "i"), that has been on sale since 2009, and the Minicab-MiEV (pictured, more details here), a vehicle made in partnership with Suzuki that went on sale this month.

The Nikkei (via Reuters) says that plan for the upcoming light-duty truck is to let it easily charge from a household outlet and that it "will be targeted at farmers, contractors and others who use light trucks for their work." The cost? less than 1.5 million yen ($19,223 U.S. at today's exchange rates) after Japanese government subsidies. Sounds like a practical new entry into the plug-in universe.

Beyond this practicality, Mitsubishi's plans expand in many directions. We've heard that Mitsubishi will offer up a plug-in version of the Outlander Sport and an electric model based on the Evolution XI concept in 2013, as well as a plug-in Evo sedan.

Mitsubishi working on light-duty electric truck for farmers, contractors originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehicleilight duty electric truckmitsubishimitsubishi electric truckmitsubishi evWed, 28 Dec 2011 18:04:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20136760/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20136760/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/28/mitsubishi-working-on-light-duty-electric-truck-for-farmers-con/20136760/article-detail.xml 20136760 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/mitsubishi-minicab-miev-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/11/mitsubishi-minicab-miev-628.jpg <![CDATA[Mitsubishi delivers first i models in U.S. to Bay Area car-sharing group, residents of Hawaii]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/13/mitsubishi-delivers-first-i-in-u-s-to-bay-area-car-sharing-grou/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/13/mitsubishi-delivers-first-i-in-u-s-to-bay-area-car-sharing-grou/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/13/mitsubishi-delivers-first-i-in-u-s-to-bay-area-car-sharing-grou/#commentsFiled under: ,

mitsubishi i

Making the first all-electric i in the U.S. even more efficient by offering it to lots of drivers, Mitsubishi has delivered an i to City CarShare in the Bay Area. Similar to Zipcar but with a local emphasis, City CarShare is a Bay Area nonprofit that has been arranging car-shares in and around San Francisco since 2001. Adding an i to the fleet puts CCS, "one step closer toward our goal of having 50 percent of our fleet run on alternative fuel as part of our mission to decrease carbon emissions in the Bay Area," said CCS CEO Rick Hutchinson in a statement. That car counts as the first fleet delivery; the first customer delivery has taken place in Honolulu, HI, where the new drivers says it will save them, "at least $3,000 a year" in fuel costs compared to a gas-powered vehicles.

Mitsubishi has high hopes for not only the i but also plug-in vehicles in general, recently pushing up nationwide deliveries by a half year and making big claims about the future of EVs for the company. Before becoming available across the U.S., the i will be delivered to customers in California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii starting in January.

Mitsubishi says that "numerous fleet orders" are on the books, placed by "multinational corporations, municipalities large and small, major utilities and nonprofit organizations - from New York to Hawaii." Looks like we'll be seeing more of these EVs on the roads real soon.

Continue reading Mitsubishi delivers first i models in U.S. to Bay Area car-sharing group, residents of Hawaii

Mitsubishi delivers first i models in U.S. to Bay Area car-sharing group, residents of Hawaii originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mitsubishi's i-MiEV first rolled out for Japanese fleet sales in 2009, and it's been on sale to the general public in Japan for 18 months. Since then, the car has become available in several European markets and even picked up a 500-unit order from the government of Estonia. Overall sales have been reported to top 11,000 units. Not a bad start for a little five-door jellybean, and Mitsubishi has stated that they expect the i-MiEV (or just 'i' for the upcoming U.S. model) to become profitable within two years.

Still, it's a long way from there to turning Mitsubishi into a company where over half of its sales come from electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. Mitsu's plans for expanding its electric line-up are nothing if not ambitious. In addition to rolling out the i in more countries, with nationwide U.S. sales pushed up to the middle of 2012, there are several more electric vehicles in the works.

Coming for 2013 is an plug-in version of the Outlander Sport to be followed by an electric model based on the Evolution XI concept. Mitsubishi then plans to add another small electric vehicle based on the Mirage, and eventually to create a plug-in Evo sedan. The timeframe for all these electric vehicles is aggressive when compared with the slow pace of EV introductions to date. However, since Mitsubishi sells over a million vehicles a year (54,000 in the U.S.), aggressive moves are what it will take to hit the 50 percent EV target in the next eight years.

The Mitsubishi i has been priced at $29,125 for the U.S. market ($21,625 after federal tax credit). Its specifications are considerably different from either the Japanese or Euro-spec i-MiEV. The vehicle is larger and faster while getting around 85 miles to a charge. At 112 mpg equivalent, the Mitsubishi i will top the charts for fuel economy among 2012 vehicles.

Say what? Mitsubishi looking to plug-ins to make up 50% of sales by 2020 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asxelectric vehicleevolution ximirage evmitsubishimitsubishi evmitsubishi ioutlander sport evplug-in hybridsales targetsThu, 08 Dec 2011 11:53:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20122829/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20122829/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/08/say-what-mitsubishi-looking-to-plug-ins-to-make-up-50-of-sales/20122829/article-detail.xml 20122829 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/mitsubishii_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/mitsubishii.jpg <![CDATA[Mitsubishi i sales plan moved up in U.S., Mirage EV coming in 2013]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/05/mitsubishi-i-sales-plan-moved-up-in-u-s-already-selling-well-i/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/05/mitsubishi-i-sales-plan-moved-up-in-u-s-already-selling-well-i/http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/05/mitsubishi-i-sales-plan-moved-up-in-u-s-already-selling-well-i/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Mitsubishi i-MiEV

Why wait? That's the question that Mitsubishi president Osamu Masuko doesn't want Americans asking when it comes to purchasing a brand new Mitsubishi i. Thus, he has reportedly moved the nationwide on-sale date for the better-than-you-thought i in the U.S. from the end of 2012 to the middle of next year. The first examples of the car will start deliveries in four rollout states (California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii) in early 2012. The reason for the advanced roll-out schedule is that Mitsubishi dealers are clamoring for it, Masuko said during the Tokyo Motor Show. This is really no surprise, since Mitsubishi is promoting the car through Facebook and clever TV ads. Masuko also said that Mitsubishi will introduce a second small EV, this one based on the Mirage, to the U.S. in the middle of 2013.

Meanwhile, over in Norway, the round i-MiEV (as it is known overseas) is selling quite well, moving 1,000 units there. The minister of the environment (and development cooperation, he holds two posts), Erik Solheim said he believes that EVs offer a solution for "achieving a real reduction of emissions." He also said that he wanted to make "an extra big thank you" to the customers that asked for and purchased the electric cars, since what they want is more important than what either politicians or companies promote (all quotes from Google Translate). While not as noticed as other EVs, the i-MiEV is being tested and sold around the world, from Estonia to Thailand.

Mitsubishi i sales plan moved up in U.S., Mirage EV coming in 2013 originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mitsubishi Concept PX-MiEV II

If Mitsubishi is serious about its electrification efforts, it has to offer more than the pint-sized all-electric i in the States. That's where the Concept PX-MiEV II comes in.

What you're looking at is the plug-in hybrid version of the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander, something Mitsubishi confirms is set to go on sale sometime in 2012.

A traditional 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is mounted up front, but each rear axle has an electric motor that's fed power by a lithium-ion battery pack spanning the floor. Mitsubishi claims the MX-MiEV II can run up to 31 miles on electric power alone, and if you mash the gas the system switches to parallel hybrid mode by engaging the engine. All told, you should be able to make it up to 500 miles on a single tank, but if you're commute is less than 15 miles, you could go gas-free for months.

Mitsubishi Concept PX-MiEV II is the 2013 Outlander in mild disguise originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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