Mitsubishi Might Build an Electric Car for the U.S.

An all-electric Mitsubishi car was unveiled at the 2008 New York International Auto Show. The reaction of the US was a big matter for the Mitsubishi Company. Capable of running for 80 miles on a full charge, the four-door iMiEV was a big surprise during the event. Mitsubishi got the plan to start selling the car in Japan to fleet customers in mid 2009 and to the general public in 2010. This was the official announcement made by Tetsuro Aikawa, the Company’s managing director for product development.

The initial price of the vehicle will be between %25, 000 and %30, 000 or up to $ 7, 000 more than its high-mileage, gas-powered counterpart – the i minicar.

Aikawa also said that Mitsubishi is considering the idea of bringing the car to the U.S. or Europe after 2010 if there is enough demand for a small electric car. Note that the iMiEV is smaller than a subcompact, just about the size of a four-door Smart car.

''I hope such a market will exist,'' Aikawa said.
On a 110-volt home outlet, the iMiEV basically takes 14 hours to fully charge and seven hours on a 220-volt outlet. Fortunately, Japan is developing quick-charge stations that will such charging for only 30 minutes.
It was 2005 when Mitsubishi has been developing the iMiEV. During the initial progress, the Company put a five-by-three foot lithium-ion battery under the front and rear seats of the gas-powered i minicar which was then already in the market of Japan. The vehicle doesn’t create a noise as it starts. It comes without tailpipe emissions.
There were auto makers that have manifested their concern about the safety of lithium-ion batteries since they have been observed to overheat in cell phones and laptops. Aikawa however said that the Company is confident with its battery. It is made by GS Yuasa, the Japan’s greatest battery maker.