Mitsubishi I-Miev 2011 News

The cost of ownership of new-generation alternative fuel cars has also been highlighted at a high-level meeting last week between 10 carmakers and the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.The FCAI wants to fast-track a united front by the industry as it prepares car buyers for the rapid growth of green cars. The chamber's chief executive, Andrew McKellar, says there is an urgent need for infrastructure to be in place for electric cars, new-generation plug-in hybrids, ethanol and alternative fuels."There is a sense of urgency in the industry as we have a number of brands preparing to bring in cars with new fuel technologies," he says. "There is a roll for co-ordination across the industry to ensure that we're pursuing a more pro-active strategy to work with all stakeholders."The approach with electric vehicles needs to be seen as one element of a higher strategy that also relates to environmental and green vehicles."These technologies present an enormous global challenge, he says. "Around the world the challenge of achieving enhanced environmental performance is one of the most pressing priorities the car industry has," McKellar says. "In the case of electric vehicles we have one very practical example of an emerging technology that has accelerated in the past few years."Apart from infrastructure needs, the FCAI's electric vehicle working group will identify the types of vehicles expected to be launched as well as technical and registration requirements of new-generation hybrids and plug-in electric cars.Mitsubishi Australia, which hopes to have its i-MIEV electric car on sale soon, was one of the participants at the FCAI meeting. Spokesperson Lenore Fletcher says it is pleasing to see all parties ‘start to find our voice in terms of acceptance’. "We are coming to grips with the requirements of the new technology," she says.Apart from Mitsubishi, Toyota and Honda will soon introduce new hybrids. In addition to the new Prius, Toyota will introducing the hybrid Camry early next year. And GM-Holden is aiming to have its Volt ‘range-extender’ hybrid on sale here by 2012.Despite their emerging popularity, hybrids are still a small part of the overall car scene. Last year about 5200 hybrid passenger vehicles were sold in a market of more than 1 million.Subaru too has tested the electric current by showing of its plug-in Stella, while Mercedes-Benz hopes to have an electric version of its Smart on sale soon, which will be followed by battery-powered A-Class and B-Class hatches."We must ensure that Australia is ready for this technology," McKellar says.

The day of the electric car is fast dawning and Mitsubishi Australia is ready.Having previously exhibited the petrol-engined “i” small car at the Melbourne Motor Show in 2006, Mitsubishi will unveil an all-electric version called the i MiEV.It is a 100 per cent electric vehicle, using high-energy density lithium batteries to power its compact, lightweight motor.Mitsubishi Japan is gearing up for full-scale production and the car has sparked plenty of interest worldwide, including Australia.The four-door uses a permanent magnet synchronous motor that develops 47kW/180Nm, providing plenty of power.As the car weighs just 1080kg, it will hit 130km/h, with an operating range of 160km.That’s enough for the average daily commute in addition to an evening out on the town before it needs recharging.The i MiEV also has a regenerative braking system that reduces speed by converting the braking energy into battery energy to top up the electric supply.The Japanese model uses an on-board unit to recharge the car through 100-volt or 200-volt power sources.It takes 14 hours to recharge through 100 volts and seven hours through a 200-volt outlet.However, with the anticipated development of quick chargers, Mitsubishi believes charging time can eventually be dramatically reduced to just 30 minutes.Driving the car is relatively simple. There is no conventional gearbox, rather a gear lever with drive, economy and brake modes.The brake mode applies the regenerative function more aggressively down steep hills.The i MiEV generates zero carbon dioxide emissions and even in terms of “well-to-wheel” performance, the vehicle emits only about 30 per cent of the C02 generated by a similar-sized petrol car.“Well-to-wheel” performance measures the efficiency of the entire fuel process, from fuel production to supplying the electric power to operate the car.Mitsubishi has already undertaken extensive testing of the i MiEV with Japanese utility companies over the past two years and with electricity provider Southern California Edison in the US.The success of these programs and feedback from users has prompted Mitsubishi Motors to start selling the car alongside other petrol-engined Mitsubishis in Japan this year.The i MiEV is a true city car, measuring 3395mm long and 1475mm wide while sitting on a 2550mm wheelbase.That’s about 490mm shorter than the popular Mitsubishi Colt and 105mm narrower.Joining the i MiEV on the Mitsubishi stand are the new Lancer and Pajero ranges, as well as Mitsubishi’s rugged Triton ute. The 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show... 

Everything from the Mitsubishi i MiEV electric city car to the super- luxury BMW 7 Series is locked and loaded for the Melbourne Exhibition Centre from February 27, but extra contenders are continuing to emerge and the organisers are still not sure of the final line-up.The Mazda3 MPS is a secret-but-set star for the show, Subaru will have an electric contender and the all-new Nissan 370Z was confirmed earlier this week."I think it's going to be an interesting mix. But we still have no idea what Ford and Holden will be doing," show organiser, Russ Tyrie of the VACC, says."We are still waiting on Fishermans Bend and Broadmeadows. As usual, they are keeping things very close to their chest."The locals have managed to spring something special in the past so we're expecting a surprise from them. We just don't know what it will be."The third Australian brand, Toyota, has already shown its hand with a giant three-storey stand which will be the first for the brand.But the show will also be a last - at least as it has run for more than 70 years.A single Australian International Motor Show will be run from 2010, starting in Sydney, which means there will not be another major motoring event at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre until 2011.Details of the joint-venture show project, which joins the VACC with the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, are still being finalised and Tyrie admits he is more focussed on February 27 than anything in 2010 or beyond."We are very excited at the prospect of being able to stage a truly international show in 2011 in Melbourne. But that's in the future," he says."We have 35 exhibitors this year. And it's a sell-out for stand space."Obviously there is an emphasis on technology this year. That can be in electric cars, or hybrids, or diesel, or even design and lower weight and alternative energy systems."We're starting to see the future of the motor industry being revealed. So this will be an import show. That's why we've chose 'Revolution-Evolution' as the theme for the show this year.Apart from the major brands, Tyrie is rounding up a range of special exhibits that will include the Carver three-wheel vehicle, a Cobra replica built in Melbourne by George Viduvic and his new line of motorcycles."They are called Sucker Punch Sally motorcycles. They are a retro fifties design. I reckon they could be a hit," Tyrie says. 

Mitsubishi Motors Australia boss, Robert McEniry is urging Federal and state governments to back all-electric cars, which are already in use in many countries.McEniry's views have gained some support from the car industry's peak body, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.The chamber's chief executive, Andrew McKellar, says the whole EV issue "is clearly on our agenda".However, he shies away from promoting any up-front tax incentives to lure buyers into EV cars."Such incentives could lead to a distortion in the marketplace," he says."We'd much prefer to see the marketplace dictate how these cars go."At present there are few incentives for private buyers to choose alternative-powered cars like hybrids or all-electric cars.McKellar says EVs face some hurdles, including infrastructure development to help push widespread buyer acceptance.He believes, green tax incentives and parking incentives would go some way to accelerating buyer interest.Next month Mitsubishi Australia will bring in two plug-in i-MIEV electric cars for evaluation and Subaru is also showing off one of its electric cars.McEniry says the company wants to be a leader with zero-emission cars like the i-MIEV."A lot of people are talking about them but we want to take a leadership position with this new technology," he says.The electric revolution is here and Australia needs to step up, he says.McKellar accepts that technology is driving change in the car industry."It is important that the industry is starting preparatory work with government," he says.The FCAI is pushing for talks between government and those car brands with electric vehicles.Mitsubishi Australia has wasted little time in securing the all-electric i-MIEV four seater for evaluation.The car is due to go on sale in Japan soon with a local roll out as early as next year.Mitsubishi is not talking price for the i-MIEV but it is likely to cost more than $25,000."Every manufacturer will have an electric car at some stage," McEniry says."But we want to leverage it."Subaru is also testing the local market, bringing in the Stella EV car in for appraisal before the Melbourne Motor Show.Subaru spokesman, David Rowley, says the company is happy with a "cohesive industry approach" by the FCAI on EV cars.Mitsubishi Australia's i-MIEV initiative is not getting any financial support from Japan to do the i-MIEV evaluation."We're doing this ourselves, but with the endorsement of Japan," McEniry says."If the feasibility study is positive, which we're pretty certain it will be, then Mitsubishi will come into play."McEniry says the i-MIEV will be shown to state and local governments, key stakeholders and green companies, including power companies, in Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.It will also be part of Mitsubishi's Melbourne Motor Show display, which kicks off on February 27. 

The tiny battery-powered city car has been confirmed this week for local trials in February, edging out upcoming electric contenders from Smart, Nissan, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.There is no firm sales plan yet, but Mitsubishi Motors Australia is keen to turn the i MiEV trial into much more than just a dummy run — with genuine local deliveries sometime in 2010."We are going to do this. We're the first ones to put it out there," says Rob McEniry, managing director of Mitsubishi Motors Australia."There is a lot of talk about electric vehicles, but this will test the true appetite. We'll see whether it is factual or just fluff."We are ready to go for 2010, if the price is right and the market is there."The first i MiEV will be on the Mitsubishi stand at the Melbourne Motor Show from February 27, with a second car setting out soon after for a national tour of politicians, governments and major fleets.McEniry says there will be an even bigger event before the end of the year before Mitsubishi decides if it will go ahead with sales in 2010."This is not a 'might be', this is a 'what is' from Mitsubishi. We'll have a car on the stand at the motor show and another ready for driving," he says."Later in the year we want to bring some more cars out for some customer evaluations. That will be fleets and things that can spend a bit of time with the vehicle. This is very much market testing. This will be the real thing that's in the market today in full trial in Japan."McEniry believes there will be demand for the i MiEV — which can be charged from a regular household power supply — but is not sure yet on the reaction to buying and running a car in the real world."We're going to take the car around Australia and allow various groups to see the vehicle and give us some feedback. We're very interested in what they have to say," he says.The big questions are the price of the car, the warranty back-up and the infrastructure needed to support any sort of serious fleet of electric cars. McEniry is well aware of the challenges and preparing to work through them in time to get the i MiEV into showrooms."We know the target price, but we won't talk about that for the moment. Initially it will need some support form the customer base, if it's a government department or fleet," he says."It depends on the demand. We might do it on a lease. We're really not sure yet."While there is uncertainty on the showroom plan for the original i MiEV, a five-door hatchback based on a Japanese city car, Mitsubishi is pushing into the next phase of its electric car program.It will unveil a second i MiEV, this time an electric sports car, at the Geneva Motor Show in March.The newcomer — called the i MiEV Sport Air — shows that the electric cars could become a whole new family for Mitsubishi, with the potential for more than just short-haul commuter work.The Sport Air uses Mitsubishi's latest lithium-ion batteries and a high-torque engine for sports car acceleration.It says the idea is to go beyond a green car to something people also want to buy for driving, thanks to low weight, strong acceleration and good cornering grip.But Mitsubishi is keeping quiet on the details, beyond releasing two sketches which show the thinking behind the design of the Geneva Show car. 

What should have been the main attraction in the car world was reduced to a sideshow as the heads of America's Big Three sat down in Detroit on the same day to beg for the billions they need to stay in business.There was plenty of shiny new stuff but all the talk was doom and gloom, even from car chiefs who do not have the same live-or-die pressures as General Motors, Ford and Chrysler."I think it is fair to say this is the worst we have seen," the head of the world's fifth-largest carmaker, Carlos Ghosn of the Nissan- Renault alliance, says as he delivers the keynote speech at the opening of LA '08."And we are not certain. Is this the beginning of the end, or the end of the beginning?", Ghosn says of the critical cash crisis which is affecting nearly everyone in the car world.Still, there is plenty of new stuff and news on the strangely subdued stands in downtown LA.The latest Ford Mustang, for a start.And then the world debut of the latest Mazda3 and Lexus RX, the great looking new Nissan 370Z, the updated Porsche Cayman and Boxster, and even a droptop Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4.It's no surprise, either, that some of the special impact in LA is reserved for cars which are chasing the elusive path to a future beyond petrol that satisfies American lawmakers' deepening desire for transport without emissions.The Mini E is the obvious champion, but LA also has the electric Mitsubishi i-MIEV which is likely to become Australia's first plug-and- go volt car, and all sorts of new-and-old battery-powered concept cars from the Big Three and a growing number of hybrid production cars including the Mondeo-sized Ford Fusion.As well as the radical looking Honda FC Sport Concept, which was done to prove that a hydrogen-powered future car does not have to look as boring or family as the company's upcoming Insight or the benchmark Toyota Prius.The show is a mis-hit for General Motors, which canned its concepts and parties, although Ford stays totally committed with a Mustang which makes the running for an event which typically draws around one million visitors in a city which is the car capital of the USA and, by extension, the world."I think there is a mixed emotion at the show," says J Mays (SUBS: CORRECT), the design director of Ford Motor Company."You still have to try and tug hard enough on the heart strings that people forget about the purse strings. It's a yin-and-yang situation."Looking over at his Mustang, and across to the Honda FC, Mays expresses what many people are thinking. Even at a time when it is more politically correct to attack the car chiefs, and their private- jet flights to Washington, than to talk about a show which takes another important step towards the world beyond petrol."Automobiles are escapism. It's not just transport," says Mays."People ask if it's appropriate to launch the Mustang at his time. Damn right it is. It puts a smile on your face and enhances your quality of life."That is definitely true of the Mustang, which still looks muscular and fresh despite a chassis which trails well behind the Ford Falcon, and the open-air Gallardo and even the second-generation Nissan Cube, which could just make it to Australia one day.And the 370Z looks tauter than today's 350, with the promise of more go and much better cabin quality, and the Mazda3 is fresh and happy.The Mini E looks just like the regular petrol-power car but is a milestone car which has the power and range to win people to electric."It's an important time in the history of the global car industry," says Carlos Ghosn.He worries about the impact of the global recession, and the money pressures on carmakers trying to evolve faster than ever before, and the challenges of safety and emission regulations.But, just like the cars on the LA Show stands, and the regular car people who flood in once the doors are open, he is bottom-line upbeat and bright."The one thing that is certain, absolutely certain, is that people will continue driving cars. Cars have no substitute. We have convergence on the issues, but divergence on the solutions," Ghosn says.And that is pretty much the way things looked in LA. 

A $1 billion network of plug-in charge points will be built around the country under a plan developed by American environmental pioneer Shai Agassi and backed by AGL Energy and the Macquarie Capital finance group.More than 200,000 charging points will be installed at homes, offices and shopping centres in a local development of a program already underway in Israel and Norway. And there are also plans for quick-change sites where the next generation of electric cars can stop for a quick turnaround to a fully-charged battery pack.The move comes as Mitsubishi prepares for sales of Australia's first plug-in electric car, its baby I-Miev, from 2009 and Mercedes-Benz promises an electric Smart Fortwo in 2010 with a similar power pack in its A and B-Class cars just a year later.Israel has already signed an exclusive deal with the Renault-Nissan alliance, which is producing cars specifically for the country following Agassi's development through his Better Place organisation."Electric cars are going to be such a big part of the future of motoring," says David McCarthy, the spokesman for Daimler in Australia.Other carmakers are sure to follow, with BMW Group about to go public with its Mini E for the USA next month, although others are not convinced.Toyota is steering clear of pure electric vehicles in Australia because of its commitment to hybrids, including the upcoming petrol-electric Camry, and also because it is against the burning of coal to generate electricity.Honda, another fan of hybrids, says it does not have a plug-in electric car for Australia."So far as we know, there is nothing under development in Japan," says Lindsay Smalley, the top Australian at Honda Australia."Something could be happening, but for the moment we have no plan to bring electric cars to Australia."But the electric car grid is likely to accelerate the acceptance of battery-powered cars, particularly as the Mini E is promised with a 200-plus kilometre range which would satisfy almost all urban commuters.The early focus in Agassi's plan is Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, with Adelaide and Perth to follow sometime after 2012."We call it a ubiquitous charging network across the cities. It's a massive infrastructure project ... and that means new jobs for Australians," Agassi says.Payment for the system would be similar to a mobile-phone contract, although some European cities are experimenting with a parking-meter style plan for their electric power points.The Better Place program will emphasise the use of renewable power, a link also being pushed by AGL.Full details of the plan are still being finalised, but it is backed by the Victorian government and the Federal government is assisting with a national agreement - similar to the Australia-wide rollout of fibre-optic cabling - on the system."The Victorian government supports any initiative that will have positive outcomes in reducing emissions in the transport sector and I welcome this innovative approach to help make broad adoption of electric vehicles in Australia possible,” says the Victorian Premier, John Brumby.

Smart ForTwo electric car, undergoing trials in UK it is a possibility for release early 2010.A plug-in Smart car will race a baby Mitsubishi to become the first all-electric showroom contender in Australia.The battery-powered Smart ForTwo is already undergoing trials in Britain and the worldwide head of Daimler, Dieter Zetsche, says there is a very good chance it willcome to Australia.The timing could be in the back end of 2009 or early in 2010, which means the ForTwo will be fighting for first with the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, which Mitsubishi Motors Australia chief Rob McEniry is fast-tracking for Australia — and the worse-case scenario for its delivery is some time in 2012.Mercedes-Benz is making a strong electric push with the Smart, which will be followed by battery-powered A-Class and B-Class compacts.“This idea is not totally out of the possibilities. We have not made final decisions,” is the non-committal response from Zetsche on the electric Smart during a one-day visit to Australia.“We won't go to all countries. It is a reasonable possibility it could come to Australia.”But the plug-in Smart is more than just a possibility, as Mercedes-Benz pushes hard on electric cars. It is already leasing a trial fleet and is preparing for full-scale production.Zetsche says Benz will abandon the twin-floor chassis design it pioneered as a safety move on the original A-Class when the car is renewed in 2010, but left the way open for a similar approach for electric operation.He says there will be four different body styles, not just A and B hatches, but refuses to give any detail on the potential for a coupe, sedan or wagon.Zetsche is bullish about Smart, which has come back from a near-death expansion plan to a successful model built around the tiny ForTwo.“It is the CO2 champion. So I'm very glad with where we are today. In the US we don't know how to deal with the demand,” Zetsche says. “It's always a question of perspective. For now it is all and before it was nothing. We just built more andmore problems.“Today we are making money with Smart.”The electric trial will step up in the UK with theproduction of 1000 customer cars and these could open the door for a battery-powered ForTwo in Australia.“Towards the end of next year we will see another 1000. The earliest possibility would be one of that 1000,” Zetsche says.“If that is not the outcome, thelatest would be two or three years later whenwe see high production.” 

Australia will have its first plug-in electric car by the end of next year.The baby Mitsubishi i MiEV has just been confirmed for local sales, with a showroom target in the final months of 2009 and a starting price in the $30,000 range.The company plans to skip the hybrid phase of future car development and go straight to a plug-in, with a claimed top speed of 180km/h and a range of 200km.“Mitsubishi don't make hybrid cars. They make electric cars. And we will have one here as soon as we possibly can,” says the managing director of Mitsubishi Motors Australia, Rob McEniry.“We will have the i-car initially. But it doesn't go into volume production until next year.“How many we get depends on the reaction by some of the key fleets in Australia, and governments. We would dearly like to have a number of them here in 2009.”The news comes as several European manufacturers, including BMW and VW, confirmed they were also getting ready to build electric production cars.Mitsubishi's i MiEV has only been a motor show concept until recently, both as a standard car and a sports model, but Mitsubishi is pushing ahead with a solid production plan for the aluminium-framed baby. It has an on-board power pack, using lithium-ion batteries, with three motors.One turns each of the front wheels, with the third powering the back axle. The power pack is in the rear of the car, creating maximum cabin space despite an overall length of just 3.4m.“Mitsubishi is determined to retain their leadership position in electric cars,” McEniry says. “Mitsubishi, if you look ... is very environmentally focused. And with the products we have, and the products that are coming, it will be a position we strengthen with our brand.“Having an electric car as a clear technology demonstration ... would naturally be very good.”McEniry will not talk specifics on pricing or deliveries but says the i MiEV will not be cheap.“Some of the hybrids were very expensive to start with,” he says.“But that changed as they became more accessible, and this should be the same.”“Initially, because those sort of vehicles are at the cutting edge, they will be sold through a lease arrangement. At the moment they have them running in Japan with test fleets, like government departments and electrical utilities.“That would probably be the way to go here, too, and to protect our intellectual property.“I would definitely like to be first with an electric car. In a similar way to the Lancer Evolution, it demonstrates the leading technologies that Mitsubishi has and the importance of them.”An electrical connection has been forged between Mitsubishi in Japan and PSA Peugeot-Citroen in France. The two groups are planning an extended collaboration on an electric powertrain for upcoming small cars, looking to cut development times and costs.They have already joined forces in several other areas, recently establishing a joint factory at Kaluga, near Moscow, in Russia.PSA Peugeot Citroen says the new agreement fits its “strategy and ambition” plan, covering 2010-2015, while Mitsubishi believes it is ideal for its electric car plans.PSA claims world leadership in electric cars, with sales of more than 10,000 vehicles.Apart from the new French connection, Mitsubishi has also linked with the Yuasa battery company to develop the high-performance lithium-ion batteries it will fit to the i MiEV.Last week Mitsubishi provided 10 of the i MiEV electric vehicles for use at the G8 Summit in Japan. It showed off its capabilities to transport the various world leaders and media at the event.They were part of an overall display of future fuel technology vehicles shown by a number of Japanese manufacturers.Mitsubishi is continuing fleet tests of the car with several Japanese power companies.The program will soon extend to the US, where fleet testing will also be conducted.Meanwhile, Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW, Germany's biggest carmakers, now want to launch electric cars.Specialists in high-end, mostly high-emission machines, German companies have built a reputation for making exciting cars but ones that are heavy polluters and consume a lot of fuel.That branding has become a liability as oil prices climb ever higher and environmental regulations are tightened amid growing fears about global warming.After Daimler and VW, which want to roll out electric models in 2010, BMW announced last week it would begin to test several hundred electric models of its Mini brand.BMW did not say when it planned to sell such vehicles, however, nor did it indicate if the BMW brand would also offer an electric car.“It remains completely open,” a company spokesman says.He says BMW's first hybrid cars, that use a traditional petrol engine combined with an electric motor, should arrive in late 2009.VW's Golf Twin Drive hybrid petrol-electric and diesel-electric test vehicles have a range of 50km in electric mode.“The future will most certainly belong to the electric motors refueled at the electrical outlet,” VW boss Martin Winterkorn says. “On the way to this future, our TDI and TSI engines are now being merged with electric motors and extremely efficient battery systems to form a new drive system.”In France, Renault has vowed to be the first manufacturer with a full-scale rollout and is aiming for several European countries in 2011. 

It looks like a boiled egg on roller skates but that hasn't stopped the Mitsubishi “i” selling up a storm wherever it has gone on sale.