Mitsubish i-Miev: Available in Europe from 2010 for €34,000

Mitsubishi i-Miev will be available in UK from 2010 with prices starting from approximately €34,000. i-Miev is expected to be available in main European markets around 2012.

The price is expected to be lowered at around €15,000 by 2012 as the production will be increased to 30,000 cars/year.

Source: autoblog.it

Mitsubishi discloses what will come after i-MiEV

Mitsubishi Motors Corp will expand the lineup of its electric vehicles (EV).

Following the i-MiEV, which was launched in July 2009, the company is now planning to release an EV that is based on the platform of the i-MiEV and has a larger storage space for business use by 2012.

Subsequently, Mitsubishi Motors plans to introduce the "Global Small," a new platform of about 1.0-liter displacement, and make it support EVs in 2012 or 2013. Because the platform is larger than the i-MiEV, which is based on a light car, it is suited for vehicles to be sold outside Japan. It is a front-wheel-drive vehicle unlike the i-MiEV, a rear-wheel-drive vehicle.

Furthermore, Mitsubishi Motors intends to release a plug-in hybrid vehicle equipped with an engine and motor to electrify cars with large-displacement engines in about 2013, defining them as advanced forms of the iMiEV. It will be mounted with a small-engine to charge the battery.

Source: Tech-On!

All-electric i-MiEV city car to play prominent role in government's £25 million 'Real World' trials

• Twenty-five of the first fifty all-electric Mitsubishi i MiEV city cars will go onto the Government’s trial in November 2009

The all-electric Mitsubishi i MiEV city car is set to play a prominent role in one of the Government’s recently announced Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator projects being run by the Technology Strategy Board. The Mitsubishi will take part in the West Midlands’ CABLED (Coventry and Birmingham Low Emission Demonstrators) consortium, which includes industry, council, academic and power organisations, and is led by design and engineering consultant, Arup.(1)

The Secretary of State for Transport, Lord Adonis, and Lord Drayson, the Minister for Science and Innovation, launched the Technology Strategy Board project yesterday, in which eight winning consortia will receive a total of £25 million from the Government to help speed up the introduction of ultra low carbon vehicles. The project brings together manufacturers, power companies, Regional Development Agencies, councils and academic institutions in an attempt to accelerate the reality of a greener future of transport in the UK.

Mitsubishi will showcase its award-winning all-electric i MiEV city car, with 25 vehicles going on the road as part of the trial from November this year. A total of approximately three hundred and forty vehicles will begin trials on UK roads within the next six to eighteen months, which makes this the biggest project of its kind.(2)

The i MiEV’s vital statistics are sure to make it a prominent and successful player in the trials: with a top speed of 87mph, a range of well over 80 miles, and the ability to carry four adult passengers and luggage in comfort. It can also recharge from flat-to-full in 6 hours via a 240V UK supply, or fast-charge from flat to 80 percent in just 20-30 minutes – all features that will ensure the car shows off how practical it is for everyday use.

Mitsubishi’s Managing Director, Lance Bradley, said “It is excellent news that the i MiEV will play such a prominent role in this real-world trial. It is a great platform for us to show off our advanced electric vehicle technology, which itself is acting as a catalyst for the many other CO2 lowering environmental technologies we have in the near future.”

(1) The CABLED consortium includes five other motor manufacturers.

(2) This figure does not include any hybrid cars currently on the road.

Source: Newspress

Mitsubishi aims to cut price of electric car

Mitsubishi Motors Corp., the maker of the i MiEV electric car (earlier post), plans to cut the vehicle’s purchase price by more than half to less than 2 million yen ($21,000) as government incentives and tighter emission rules boost demand for fuel-efficient cars.

The company will cut the i MiEV’s price tag by the “mid- 2010s,” President Osamu Masuko said at the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting in Tokyo. The price target includes tax breaks and subsidies from the government, he added. The carmaker will start selling the i MiEV in July for 4.6 million yen.

Mitsubishi Motors is unveiling its electric cars ahead of plans by larger rivals Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. to introduce similar vehicles by 2012. Mitsubishi Motors aims to sell 1,400 i MiEVs domestically in the year ending March 31 and will start North American sales next year.

Tokyo-based Mitsubishi rose 1.1 percent to 180 yen as of 1:08 p.m. on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Nissan, Japan’s third-largest automaker, has said it plans to introduce electric cars in Japan and the U.S. in 2010 and mass-produce them globally in 2012. Toyota, the world’s largest maker of gasoline-electric hybrid car, is also developing electric cars for sale in 2012.

Prime Minister Taro Aso is giving fuel-efficient car buyers subsidies and tax breaks for new vehicles to spur sales as part of a 15.4 trillion yen economic stimulus program. The government expects the incentives to add about 1 million vehicles to sales this fiscal year.

Mitsubishi Motors also plans to sell a plug-in hybrid version of the I MiEV in 2013, the company said today.

Source: Bloomberg

Mitsubishi Motors planning five more EV models

The Nikkei reports that Mitsubishi will soon introduce five other electric models, and that by fiscal 2013, it intends to sell upwards of 30,000 electric vehicles and be profitable. Concurrent with beginning production of the i MiEV (earlier post), Mitsubishi Motors had also outlined its “Mitsubishi Motors Group Environmental Vision 2020” roadmap for its near-future, including a production volume at least 20% of which is electric vehicles.

Planned vehicles reportedly include:

• A left-side-steering version of the i-MiEV for the European market in the second half of fiscal 2010.

• An electric commercial vehicle that can be used to transport goods in fiscal 2010.

• During or after fiscal 2011, larger electric vehicle models based on full-sized cars, not minicars. The first, due out sometime in fiscal 2011, will be an electric version of a 1-liter small car.

• By fiscal 2013, a plug-in hybrid sport utility vehicle.

• A sport model of the i-MiEV, with better driving performance.

• The company will also begin supply of an EV on an OEM basis to PSA Peugeot Citroën in fiscal 2010.

Dr. Menahem Anderman, President of Advanced Automotive Batteries, the organizer of the Advanced Automotive Battery Conference being held in Long Beach, California this week, said in one of his market overview presentations that “the most mature EV Li-ion battery on the market today is the GS Yuasa-Mitsubishi EV battery” used in the i-MiEV.

Anderman projected in a value proposition analysis for automotive Li-ion batteries that the small EV and extended range electric vehicle segment—i.e., vehicles with a battery pack of around 15-16 kWh—would lead the short-term lithium-ion market (in terms of dollars), with around 8,000 units being sold by 2011, with about half of those being i-MiEVs.

Source: Green Car Congress

Mitsubishi Motors to bring new-generation EV i-MiEV to market (三菱自動車、新世代電気自動車『i-MiEV』を市場投入)

- Delivery to corporate, governmental and local authority users starts late July -
- Sales to individuals to start April 2010 -

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation today, on World Environment Day, unveiled the production version of the i-MiEV ^{*1 *2} new-generation electric vehicle (EV), describing it as "the pioneer that will open the door to the next 100 years of our automobile society." The i-MiEV will go on sale on the Japanese market in late July of this year.

The i-MiEV represents the crystallization of some 40 years of electric vehicle development at Mitsubishi Motors. The company is presenting the production i-MiEV as the ultimate eco-car, a solution to the various challenges the automobile faces today including environmental pollution, global warming and the depletion of petroleum-based energy supplies. The company will continue its extensive collaboration with both private and public sectors in Japan and overseas in developing infrastructure to promote ownership of EVs.

Mitsubishi Motors expects to distribute, on a maintenance lease^*3 basis, some 1,400 i-MiEVi-MiEV to individuals in April 2010 and will start taking orders in late July of this year.


models in fiscal 2009 principally to corporations and to local authorities. The company plans to start sales of

*1	MiEV: Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle
*2	i-MiEV : For the full production model a hyphen has been added to the name by which the advance experiment and proving models have been known.
*3	Maintenance lease: A lease in which the monthly payments include some of the taxes, insurance and maintenance costs.

i-MiEV : Overview

The i-MiEV makes maximum use of the long wheelbase that stems from its base model the "i" minicar's rear-midship layout to install a large capacity lithium-ion drive battery under the floor and the power unit under the luggage compartment. This provides a cruising range that is ample for everyday use without compromising the generous seating or luggage space of the "i."

The introduction of the MiEV OS (MiEV Operating System)^*4 - an advanced integrated vehicle management system into which the company has poured its wealth of know-how garnered from many years of EV research and development - has provided the kind of high performance and reliability that befits a new-generation EV.

*4	Generic name for the integrated vehicle management system developed by Mitsubishi Motors for new-generation EVs.

1. Principal product features

(1) Zero drive-time CO₂ emissions

The i-MiEV is a zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) which produces no CO₂ emissions while being driven. Even when the CO₂ gas emitted at power generating stations is taken into consideration, the i-MiEV generates approximately one-third of the CO₂ produced by the gasoline "i" minicar (Calculated in-house based on the average of electric energy frameworks in Japan).

(2) Driven 100% by electrical power

The i-MiEV is very economical because it only uses electrical energy as its power source. Also, depending on electric power company rate fees, the running cost can be reduced further by charging the battery when off-peak (late night) rates apply^*5.

*5	An application must be submitted to the electric power company to qualify for domestic late night rates.

(3) Quiet, agile, comfortable performance

The i-MiEV delivers the quiet and comfortable motoring experience only possible from an internal combustion engine-less EV. Maximizing the excellent response and high low-end torque inherent to its electric motor i-MiEV enables a level of responsive and powerful performance that surpasses that of the gasoline-powered turbo engine "i" minicar.

(4) Ample range for everyday minicar use

The i-MiEV has a single-charge range of 160 km^*6 in the Japanese 10-15 mode urban driving pattern. This gives it a range that is ample^*7 for everyday minicar use.

*6	Actual range will vary depending on weather conditions, road congestion and on how the driver operates his vehicle (use of accelerator, climate control system, etc.)
*7	A nationwide survey in Japan indicates that on average 90% of car drivers cover less than 40 km/day on weekdays and that 80% cover less than 60 km/day at weekends and holidays (in-house research).

(5) 3 ways to charge the battery

The i-MiEV uses a 3-way charging system that allows the drive battery to be charged at home or when out and about. For normal charging i-MiEV is connected to either a standard 100-volt or 200-volt domestic outlet using the charging cables supplied with the vehicle. The i-MiEV's battery can also be "quick charged" at quick-charge stations which are currently being established throughout Japan.

Charging time guide ^*8

Method	Power source	Time
Normal**	200V AC(15Amp)	Approx. 7 hours (full charge)
	100V AC(15Amp)	Approx. 14 hours (full charge)
Quick	200V 3-phase (50 kW)	Approx. 30 mins. (80% charge)

*8	Actual charging times may vary depending on such factors as air temperature and power source status.
**	The normal charging gun and normal charging connector were jointly developed by Toyota Motor Corporation and Yazaki Corporation.

2. Advanced technology

(1) Main powertrain components

a. Drive battery

The i-MiEV is powered by a very high energy-density lithium-ion battery manufactured by Lithium Energy Japan^*9. The large-capacity drive battery is comprised of 88 lithium-ion cells connected in series and is installed under the floor in the center of the vehicle. This configuration contributes to outstanding handling and stability due to the car's low center of gravity.

*9	Joint venture established on December 12, 2007 between Mitsubishi Motors, GS Yuasa Corporation and Mitsubishi Corporation to develop, manufacture and sell large-capacity and high energy-density lithium-ion cells for EV use.

b. Motor (power unit)

The i-MiEV uses a high-efficiency compact and lightweight permanent magnet synchronous electric motor specially developed for the vehicle. It generates maximum torque from low engine speeds to deliver powerful response and a comfortable ride experience. When the vehicle slows down the regenerative brake system causes the motor to operate as a generator. The electrical energy recovered is stored in the drive battery.

c. Transmission

The i-MiEV uses a lightweight and compact single-speed reduction gear transmission, exploiting the high low-end torque inherent to the electric motor and eliminating the need for complex gear shifting mechanisms as found in internal combustion engine powered vehicles.

d. On-board charger

The i-MiEV comes with a compact, lightweight on-board charger that allows the drive battery to be charged using a domestic 100V/200V AC line.

e. DC/DC converter

The DC/DC converter is used to charge the 12-volt auxiliary battery and power electrical equipment. It is integrated with the on-board charger in a single unit to reduce size and weight.

f. Inverter

The i-MiEV 's motor is driven by an alternating current. The inverter converts high-voltage direct current from the drive battery to alternating current and supplies motor with the power required to drive the vehicle.

(2) Combination meter display

The combination meter instrument cluster is comprised of a power meter that presents a visual display of power consumption and energy recovery status, a drive battery residual charge indicator that indicates how much remaining power there is left in the drive battery, and an available range indicator that displays an estimate of how far the vehicle can be driven on the basis of average power consumption over the last few kilometers.

(3) Shift selector

The shift selector provides the three positions described below that allow the driver to choose between maximum fun, maximum economy or maximum regenerative brake bias.

D-position:	Generates gutsy torque in direct response to accelerator input and allows the driver to enjoy i-MiEV 's performance potential to the maximum.
Eco-position:	Reduces power output and consumption to deliver maximum economy.
B-position:	Increases the regenerative brake bias. Power output is the same as for D.

(4) Climate control

The i-MiEV 's climate control system features air conditioning with an electrically powered compressor and a heating system which circulates warm water heated by an electric heater. The control dial provides six-step manual adjustment of both cooling and heating temperatures. The system reduces power consumption by minimizing occasions when both cooling unit and the heater operate together.

(5) Safety features

a. Drive battery protected by sturdy frame

The high-voltage system, battery pack included, is located inside the body frame and is further protected by a well-crib frame against damage from any direction of impact.

b. Integrated vehicle management system: MiEV OS

The MiEV OS (MiEV Operating System) gathers data and information from all the major EV components to provide integrated management of the i-MiEV 's performance. The advanced management system constantly monitors battery status and the energy recovered from the regenerative brakes while regulating output to ensure smooth and powerful acceleration from a full stop. As a result the system optimizes and minimizes energy consumption while delivering road performance that is comfortable, safe and reassuring.

3. Other equipment and trim

(1) Body colors

The range of 8 body finishes includes monotones and two types of 2-tone color schemes.

a. Monotones

Three monotone colors are offered: White Solid, Cool Silver Metallic and Raspberry Red Pearl (factory option).

b. 2-tone schemes (factory option):

Type A:	The two 2-tone color schemes that have been used to date to highlight the i-MiEV 's originality are available: Red Solid / White Solid and Cool Silver Metallic / White Solid.
Type B:	In addition two new 2-tone color schemes are available. - "Clean image:" White Pearl / Ocean Blue Metallic and White Pearl / Mint Green. - "Premium image:" Cool Silver Metallic / Black Mica.

(2) LED headlamps and rear combination lamps

The i-MiEV is the first minicar^*10 and the first Mitsubishi Motors model to use LED headlamps, which throw a longer and wider low-beam pattern while also cutting power consumption. The rear combination lamps also use fast-illuminating LED emitters for the tail and stop lamps, making these lamps more instantly visible to following vehicles.

*10	As of end May 2009, according to Mitsubishi Motors research.

(3) PBS-bamboo fiber Green Plastic tailgate trim

The i-MiEV uses PBS (polybutylene succinate)-bamboo fiber Green Plastic for the tailgate interior trim. The use of PBS-bamboo fiber cuts life-cycle emissions (from extraction of raw materials to final disposal of product) of CO₂ by some 10 percent compared with polypropylene.

(4) Mitsubishi Multi-Entertainment System (MMES)

The i-MiEV is available with the Mitsubishi Multi-Entertainment System (with a 7-inch display and SSD navigation) that is built around solid state drive (SSD) technology to offer outstanding power saving and shock resistant properties. MMES is a factory-fitted option. The navigation database can be updated using SD flash cards and the company plans to use this feature to display the location of battery charging stations as they become available.

4. i-MiEV specifications

Drive System		2WD (rear-wheel drive)
Vehicle Weight/Dimensions	L x W x H	3395mm x 1475mm x 1600mm
	Wheel base	2550mm
	Vehicle weight (kg)	1100kg
	Occupants	4
Performance	Power Consumption (10-15 mode driving pattern)	125Wh/km
	Cruising range/charge (10-15 mode driving pattern)	160km
Drive Battery	Type	Lithium-ion
	Rated voltage	330V
	Rated capacity	16 kWh
Motor	Type	Permanent magnet synchronous
	Model	Y4F1
	Max. output	47kW (64PS) / 3000 - 6000 rpm
	Max. torque	180 Nm (18.4 kgf-m) / 0 - 2000 rpm

5. Sales information (for Japanese domestic market)

Sales target:	1,400 units (fiscal 2009)
MSRP:	JPY 4,599,000 (consumption tax inclusive)*11
	JPY 4,380,000 (ex-tax) *12
(Price does not include recycling fee, insurance, taxes other than consumption tax or registration costs.)
Sales contract type: Maintenance lease

*11

i-MiEV qualifies for "Subsidies for measures designed to promote introduction of clean energy vehicles," currently implemented by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. 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).

*12

Under current Japanese tax incentives to promote the ownership of eco-cars, the i-MiEV is exempt from the excise and weight taxes normally collectable on purchase of a new vehicle.

Source: Mitsubishi Motors

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Text in Japanese

～2009年7月下旬より法人・官公庁・自治体を中心にデリバリー開始～
～個人向け本格販売は2010年4月より開始～

三菱自動車は、世界環境デーとなる本日6月5日（金）、"クルマ社会の、次の100年の扉を開くパイオニア"として、量産型の新世代電気自動車『i-MiEV^*1（アイ・ミーブ）』^*2を公表し、本年7月下旬より国内市場に投入する。

『i-MiEV』は、三菱自動車における約40年の電気自動車技術の集大成であり、環境汚染、地球温暖化、石油エネルギーの枯渇など、自動車が直面する課 題に対応する究極の環境対応車として市場投入するものであり、今後、国内・海外の様々な企業・行政とも幅広く協力しながら、電気自動車の普及を推進してい く。

2009年度の販売台数は、法人ユーザーや自治体等を中心に約1,400台を見込み、メンテナンスリース^*3を基本に販売する。一方、個人向け本格販売については2010年4月より開始する計画で、2009年7月下旬より受付を開始する予定である。

*1	MiEV ： Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle
*2	i-MiEV ：市販化にあたり、車名表記を従来の『i MiEV（アイ ミーブ）』から、ハイフン付きの『i-MiEV（アイ・ミーブ）』に変更
*3	メンテナンスリース ：車両費用に加え、税金、保険費用、整備費用の一部などの車両維持管理費が含まれるリース

『i-MiEV』商品概要

『i-MiEV』は、リヤ・ミッドシップレイアウトの 『i（アイ）』の特長であるロングホイールベースを生かし、大容量の駆動用バッテリーを床下に、パワーユニットをラゲッジルーム下に搭載。これにより、日 常での使用に充分な航続距離の確保と、ベース車と同一の居住スペースやラゲッジスペースを両立した。

また、長年の電気自動車に対する研究開発から得られたノウハウを注ぎ込んだ、高度な車両統合制御技術「MiEV OS（MiEV Operating System）」^*4を導入することで、新世代の電気自動車にふさわしい高性能・信頼性を実現した。

*4	三菱自動車が独自に開発した、新世代電気自動車用の統合制御技術の総称

1. 主な商品特長

（1） 走行中のCO₂排出ゼロ

走行中、CO₂を含めた排出ガスを全く発生しない"ゼロエミッション車"である。
（発電時のCO₂排出を含めても、『i』の約1/3のCO₂排出量：日本の平均的な電力構成をもとに三菱自動車が試算）

（2） 100%電気で走る

電気だけで走行するため、経済的であり、さらに、電力会社が提供する料金プランによっては、夜間の充電により、さらに電気代を抑えることも可能^*5となる。

*5	夜間料金の適用には別途電力会社への申し込みが必要

（3） 静かでキビキビ、快適な走り

エンジンを搭載しない電気自動車ならではの静粛性と快適な走りを実現。また、応答性に優れ、低速から高いトルクを発生する電気モーターの特性を生かし、『i』のターボエンジン搭載車を上回る、レスポンスの良い力強い走りを可能とする。

（4） 日常ユースに十分な走行距離

一充電走行距離は10・15モードで160km^*6。日常ユースに十分対応できる走行距離を確保^*7した。

*6	実際の航続距離は、お客様の使用環境（気象、渋滞など）や、運転方法（急発進、エアコン使用など）に応じて値は異なる。
*7	全国のドライバーアンケート調査の結果、1日の平均走行距離は、平日では約90%の方 が40km未満、休日では約80%の方が60km未満となっている。（三菱自動車調べ）

（5） 3つの充電方法

自宅でも外出先でも充電できる3WAY充電システムを採用。AC200VおよびAC100V の一般用コンセントから手軽に充電ができる普通充電（標準装備の充電ケーブルを使用）と、今後各所で設置が進む急速充電器での急速充電にも対応した。

■充電時間の目安^*8

充電方式	電源	充電時間
普通充電**	AC200V（15A）	約7時間（満充電）
	AC100V（15A）	約14時間（満充電）
急速充電	三相200V50kW （急速充電器側の電源）	約30分（80%）

*8	充電時間は目安であり、気温や電源の状態により、充電時間が異なる場合がある。
**	普通充電に用いる普通充電ガンと普通充電コネクターは、トヨタ自動車株式会社と矢崎総業株式会社の共同開発品です。

2. 先進の技術

（1） 主要コンポーネント

a. 駆動用バッテリー

リチウムエナジー ジャパン^*9製の、エネルギー密度の極めて高いリチウムイオン電池を搭載。計88個の電池セルを直列に接続した、大容量の駆動用バッテリーを車体床下中央に配置。低重心化による優れた操縦安定性も実現した。

*9	GSユアサ、三菱商事、三菱自動車の3社にて、大容量かつ高性能な電気自動車用リチウムイオン電池を製造する合弁会社「リチウムエナジー ジャパン」を、2007年12月12日に設立

b. モーター（パワーユニット）

小型・軽量・高効率な永久磁石式同期型モーターを専用開発。発進時から最大トルクを発生し、軽快でトルクフルな走りを実現した。減速時には、回生ブレーキ機能により、モーターを発電機として働かせることで、回収した電気を駆動用バッテリーに充電する。

c. トランスミッション

複雑な変速機構を必要としないモーター特性を生かし、変速を1段に固定した軽量・小型のトランスミッションを採用した。

d. 車載充電器

家庭用AC200V/ AC100Vでの充電を可能にする小型・軽量の車載充電器を採用した。

e. DC/DCコンバーター

補機用バッテリー（12V）の充電や電装品の電力を供給する。車載充電器と一体化させ、小型・軽量を図った。

f. インバーター

駆動用バッテリーの直流高電圧を交流に変換し、走行に必要な電力をモーターに供給する。

（2） コンビネーションメーター

電力消費およびエネルギー回生の状況を視覚的に表示する「パワーメーター」と、駆動用バッテリーの残量を表示する「駆動用バッテリー残量計」、直近の平均電力消費量からおおよその残り航続可能距離を算出して表示する「航続可能距離表示」を設定した。

（3） セレクターレバー

セレクターレバーを選択することで、エコドライブや、回生ブレーキを強く働かせた走行が可能となる3つのポジションを採用。

	アクセル操作に応じた力強いトルクで『i-MiEV』本来の優れた走りを楽しめる「D」ポジション。
	出力を抑えてエコな走行を実現する「Eco」ポジション。
	「D」ポジションと同じ力強い走りのままで、回生ブレーキを最も強く働かせる「B」ポジション。

（4） 空調システム

電動コンプレッサーによる冷房システムと、電気ヒーターで加熱した温水を循環させる暖房システムを採用。温度調節は冷暖房各6段階のマニュアル方式を採用し、冷房と暖房が同時駆動となる機会を低減することで消費電力を抑制する。

（5） 『i-MiEV』ならではの安全性の追求

a. 堅牢なフレームで駆動用バッテリーを保護

高電圧システムは、ボディ骨格の内側に搭載するとともに、駆動用バッテリーを井桁フレームで保護することで、全方位からの衝突によるダメージに備えた。

b. 新世代の電気自動車にふさわしい統合制御技術 MiEV OS （MiEV Operating System）を開発

すべてのEVコンポーネント情報を集約し、『i-MiEV』を統合制御。バッテリー状態の常時モニタリングや、回生ブレーキ機能によるエネルギー回収、滑らかで力強い発進制御など、高度な統合制御技術により、省エネルギーを実現しながら快適で安全・安心な走行を実現した。

3. その他装備

（1） ボディカラー

モノトーンと、2種類の2トーンパターンの計8色とした。

a. モノトーン

「ホワイトソリッド」「クールシルバーメタリック」「ラズベリーレッドパール（有料色）」の3色。

b. 2トーンパターン（有料色）

	これまで『i-MiEV』の独自性を印象付けてきた「レッドソリッド/ホワイトソリッド」「クールシルバーメタリック/ホワイトソリッド」の2色。
	新たな2トーンパターンとして、クリーンな印象の「ホワイトパール/ミントグリーンソリッド」「ホワイトパール/オーシャンブルーメタリック」と、上質な印象の「クールシルバーメタリック/ブラックマイカ」の3色。

（2） LEDヘッドライト、LEDリヤコンビランプ

遠方視認性と近距離の広がりを両立し、消費電力の少ないLEDヘッドライトを採用（LEDヘッドライトは軽自動車初^*10で、三菱自動車としても初）。さらに、リヤコンビランプにも点灯速度の早いLEDを採用することで視認性を高めた。

*10	2009年5月末時点、三菱自動車調べ

（3） グリーンプラスチックの採用（竹繊維PBS製テールゲートトリム）

テールゲート内側のトリムに、竹繊維とPBS（ポリブチレンサクシネート）を組み合わせた内装材を使用。これによりライフサイクル（原料採取から廃棄）でのCO₂排出量を、従来のPP（ポリプロピレン）製と比べ約10%削減した。

（4） 三菱マルチエンターテイメントシステム（MMES）

省電力性・耐衝撃性に 優れたSSD（Solid State Drive）を採用した、三菱マルチエンターテイメントシステム（MMES、7インチワイドディスプレイSSDナビゲーション）をメーカーオプションとし て設定した。SDカードの追加登録・表示機能を利用して、充電場所の情報提供を予定。

4. 『i-MiEV』主要諸元

駆動方式		2WD（後輪駆動）
寸法・重量	全長×全幅×全高	3395mm×1475mm×1610mm
	ホイールベース	2550mm
	車両重量	1100kg
	乗車定員	4名
性能	10・15モード交流電力量消費率 （国土交通省審査値）	125Wh/km
	10・15モード一充電走行距離 （国土交通省審査値）	160km
駆動用バッテリー	種類	リチウムイオン電池
	総電圧	330V
	総電力量	16kWh
原動機	種類	永久磁石式同期型モーター
	型式	Y4F1
	最高出力（ネット）	47kW［64PS］/3000～6000rpm
	最大トルク（ネット）	180N・m［18.4kgf・m］/0～2000rpm

5. 販売概要

国内販売予定台数	約1,400台（2009年度）
メーカー希望小売価格	4,599,000円（車両本体、消費税込）*11
	【4,380,000円（車両本体、消費税抜き）】*11
（リサイクル料金、保険料、消費税を除く税金*12、登録等に伴う費用は含まれない）
販売方法はメンテナンスリースを基本とする。

*11	経 済産業省が実施している「クリーンエネルギー自動車等導入促進対策費補助金」の対象になっており、一般社団法人 次世代自動車振興センターに申請し、交付決定されることにより、2009年度は139万円を上限として補助金交付が受けられる。（車両登録前に、補助金交 付申請を行い受理通知を受けていることが必要）
*12	環境対応車普及促進税制に基づき、購入時の自動車取得税、および自動車重量税が免税となる

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三菱 i-MiEV の生産ライン公開…当面月産200台規模

三菱自動車は4日、岡山県倉敷市の水島製作所で本格生産を始めた電気自動車『i-MiEV（アイミーブ）』の生産ラインを報道関係者に初めて公開した。

現時点では月間200台程度の生産計画のため採算性の問題から組み立てラインは輸出向けの『デリカ』と『パジェロミニ』との混合ラインを使用。

ただ、i-MiEVはガソリン車と違い、新たにモーターやバッテリーモジュールの搭載工程が加わるが、時折i-MiEVが流れると予め工程に組み込まれた作業現場でトレードカラーの赤いポロシャツを着た担当者数人が入念にチェックをしながら取り付ける。

例えばバッテリーモジュールを取り付けるのに5 - 6人が10分程度の時間を費やすが、「とにかく高品質のもの作りを何よりもを最優先しているため、やむを得ない」と同製作所の加藤英治所長は語る。

勿論水島製作所での電気自動車の量産は初めてのこと。立ち上げ前は、不安感を解消するため作業担当者全員を集めて高圧電流の予備知識など納得行くまで研修を重ねたという。

ソース: Response

Nissan will steer clear of hybrid look for first EV

Nissan Motors wants a bold design for its upcoming electric vehicle--one that doesn't make it look like a hybrid.

The goal is a look that screams green but stands apart from the wedge-shaped silhouette that has come to signify environmentally friendly driving in the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight hybrids.

"We need some kind of difference so that when people see our car, they will realize this is an EV, not a hybrid," Nissan chief designer Shiro Nakamura told Automotive News.

Nissan has not released pictures of the car, which is scheduled to go on sale next year. But its new styling cues include:

• No grille, to underscore the electric drivetrain

• A low hood enabled by the lack of an engine

• A visible recharging plug at the nose of the car

• A profile that is flowing, instead of triangular

A concept version of the EV will be unveiled in August and will be a front-wheel-drive, five-seat hatchback, Nakamura said.

The working design has a drag coefficient of 0.30, he said. The third-generation Prius has 0.25 and the Insight 0.28. Nakamura expects to eke out further improvements in drag by tweaking the design and adding underbody fittings to smooth air flow.

In pursuing a design that stands out, Nakamura is taking a page from Toyota--which gambled on the Prius' wedge shape and scored a hit when the car became the benchmark for green styling.

Because EVs lack a bulky engine and gasoline tank, they open up new design possibilities. Nakamura said he couldn't maximize such flexibility because the EV uses an existing platform. He wouldn't be specific about the platform, but said the car will be comparable in size to the Cube or Versa.

"It is not designed completely from scratch," Nakamura said. "We will go step by step. Later on we will bring more advanced, tires-extreme designs. We want to be economical."

Source: Car Tech

Lithium Energy Japan building second Li-Ion plant for Mitsubishi i MiEV

Lithium Energy Japan, a joint venture between GS Yuasa Corp., Mitsubishi Motors Corp. and Mitsubishi Corp., plans to construct a battery factory in response to Mitsubishi Motors’ plans to boost production of its i MiEV electric vehicle.

The joint venture will spend ¥2-3 billion (US$21-32 million) to build the lithium-ion battery factory in Kyoto. This facility will reportedly have sufficient capacity to produce battery packs for 15,000 vehicles a year starting in the autumn of 2010.

Lithium Energy Japan had initially intended to produce cells for packs for up to 2,000 vehicles a year at GS Yuasa’s main plant, in Kyoto, for a range of customers. In 2008, the company began construction on a factory in Kusatsu, Shiga Prefecture, with eventual planned capacity for approximately 10,000 vehicles. At the time, the company said it was planning to add a second plant and double output by 2012.

With the rapid increase in demand for lower emitting vehicles, Mitsubishi Motors recently doubled its planned i MiEV production for fiscal 2011 to 20,000 following an agreement to supply the car to France’s PSA Peugeot Citroen Group.

In April, Blue Energy Co., Ltd., the new joint venture company between GS Yuasa and Honda for the manufacturing, sales and R&D of lithium-ion batteries for hybrid vehicles, held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of its Osadano Plant in Fukuchiyama, Kyoto.

Source: Green Car Congress

ライン 三菱益子社長「EV事業は13年ごろに収益体質に」

三菱自動車工業の益子修社長は26日の決算発表の席上、今年7月に発売する電気自動車（EV）『i MiEV』の採算性について年産「3万台規模がめどになる」との見方を示した。

そのうえで「2013年くらいには3万台レベルにもっていきたい」と語った。i MiEVは7月から国内の法人向けを主体に発売、今年度末までに一部海外も含み1400台の販売を計画している。

今秋からは香港、英国にも投入、2010年度には左ハンドル車も設定して欧州などでの販売を強化したい考えだ。ただ、生産立ち上がりから1年間の生産は2000台にとどまる。11年度には1万5000台レベルに引き上げ、黒字転換へ着実な販売拡大を目指していく。

ソース: Response

Nissan's EV to have a 100-mile range but no advanced-tech price premium

Nissan has unveiled a few more details this week about the electric vehicle it will launch in only 18 months.

Mark Perry, director of Product Planning and Strategy for Nissan Americas, said the EV will be a "real car" offering real-world practicality. It will be a five-door hatchback with a 100-mile range on a single charge and will be "aggressively priced."

That means, he said, no EV technology premium, unlike current hybrids that sometimes sell for 20 percent more than comparably priced cars.

Furthermore, the Nissan EV will be eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit, he said, and there may be other state and local incentives to reduce the cost even more.

Perry discussed the upcoming EV with Green Car Advisor at a Southern California event introducing Nissan's electric drive system - although in a retrofitted Nissan Cube "mule" rather than in the car the company plans to put on sale.

The test car features the future EV's advanced lithium-ion battery pack and Perry said it provides enough power that that some journalists "lit up the tires" driving the test car on this nationwide tour being held to introduce the battery-electric powertrain.

On our tantalizingly short test-drive, the Cube test car was amazingly quiet and moved seamlessly - no whirring and of course, no shifting. The only apparent compromise is that the backseat of the Cube was raised to allow the installation of the battery pack beneath the floorboards.

Perry said the car could be recharged at three levels. Household current (110 volts) would require 14 hours for a full recharge while 220-volt power - available in most homes and businesses - would recharge it in four hours. At special 480 volt-recharging stations the car could be brought up to 80 percent of its capacity in about 20 minutes, which, he said, was the average amount of time Americans take when stopping at a fast food restaurant.

He pointed out that there are already 4,500 public and private recharging stations in California left from unsuccessful efforts in the 1990s to introduce a practical electric infrastructure.

Nissan's product planers determined the EV's 100-mile range to be both "rational and emotional" Perry said. An 88-mile range wouldn't impress people, but a triple-digit capability would be exciting. Besides that, he said, most Americans drive less than 40 miles a day and 98 percent drive less than 100 miles per day.

The car's range was measured on the "LA4 cycle" which mixes highway and city driving. Driver variations (lead or feather-footed drivers) would have a 10 to 15 percent impact on the 100-mile figure. The acceleration of the coming EV compares to that of a current compact car, Perry said.

While we were limited to the Cube, Perry said he has seen the actual EV that Nissan has designed and will introduce for sale in the fourth quarter next year in 12 to 15 U.S. markets.

"It is a dedicated all-new car, not the conversion of something we already offer," he said. He described the look of the car as "iconic" adding, "You need something that is different enough to let people know you are driving a special car."

It would cost about 90 cents to "fill the tank" on the EV - making the cost of its fuel less than a penny a mile.

Asked if America is ready for electric cars, Perry said that while not everyone is prepared to switch, "a significant number of people are eager to have a zero-emission car with a 100-mile range."

Source: Green Car Advisor

Mitsubishi confirms i-MiEV will come to U.S.

At a press conference in a few minutes here at the New York Auto Show, Mitsubishi representatives will officially announce that the i-MiEV electric vehicle - already a hit in test drives and displays the world over - will be coming to the U.S. This move has been hinted at for a long while, but now we know for certain that the electric jellybean, based on the "i" minicar, is coming. Official details are scarce, but company representatives told us ahead of schedule that the car would be available here sometime "before 2012." The problem isn't the technology (a left-hand drive model should go on sale in Europe in 2011 after the right-hand model hits Japan and the UK, probably in 2010), but rather guaranteeing a supply of lithium for the car's batteries. If GS Yuasa can't produce the batteries, then Mitsubishi can't make the cars. Mitsubishi recently upped production plans in order to make 20,000 units a year. But don't get too attached to the i-MiEV name (which stands for "Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle"); when this car comes to the U.S., it'll get a fresh moniker.

Source: Autoblog

三菱自、電気自動車生産能力を倍増 11年度２万台に (Mitsubishi doubles output target for i MiEV plug-in electric car)

　三菱自動車は2011年度中に電気自動車「アイミーブ」の生産能力を当初計画の2倍の2万台に引き上げる。心臓部分であるリチウムイオン電池の生 産量も現在の2.5倍に増やす。09年度に生産する2000台は東京電力や日本郵政グループなど法人からの受注で予約が埋まったもよう。日本を含む各国が 環境規制を強化する中、電気自動車の需要は大きく拡大している。

　アイミーブは水島製作所（岡山県倉敷市）で生産し、今年7月、法人向けに 発売する。当初の生産計画は09年度2000台、10年度4000台、11年度1万台だった。10年以降は仏プジョーシトロエングループ（ＰＳＡ）へ年間 1万台程度の供給も始まるほか、国内で個人向け販売も始める。

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Text in English (automatically translated)

At first, Mitsubishi Motors improves the production capacity of electric vehicle i MiEV to 20,000 twice plan by the end of fiscal year 2011. The production of the lithium-ion battery that is the heart part is increased to 2.5 times the value of present. 2000 that produced in fiscal year 2009 is supposed to have buried the reservation by the order from the corporation like Tokyo Electric Power Company and the Japanese postal administration group, etc. The demand for the inside and the electric vehicle by which each country including Japan strengthens the environmental control has expanded greatly.

i MiEV is produced at the Mizushima factory (Okayama Prefecture Kurashiki City), and put on the market to the corporation in July this year. 10,000. 2000 fiscal year 2009 and 10 4000 fiscal year and 11 fiscal year the production plan at firstAfter ten years, personal sales are started to French Peugeot Citroen group (PSA) domestically besides the supplies of about 10,000 a year start.
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ソース: NIKKEI NET 日経Ecolomy

Test-driving the Nissan EV-02 electric car

Nissan invited us out to take a spin in its EV-02 electric car prototype. While we were there, Mark Perry, director of product planning for Nissan North America, chatted us up about Nissan's plans to bring a zero tailpipe emissions electric vehicle to American roads as early as 2010.

Like all automakers, Nissan is under pressure from government regulators to reduce CO2 emissions by 90 percent by 2050. While Perry stated that Nissan does have plans of bringing a hybrid vehicle to the market soon (potentially a plug-in), he also made it clear that Nissan views electric vehicles as the only way to meet emissions requirements. This is where the EV-02 comes in. The key, according to Perry, to making the promise of EV-02 a reality lies in the battery tech and the recharging infrastructure.

EV-02 uses a laminated lithium ion battery tech that crams twice the power and twice the range of more conventional lithium ion batteries into a package that's half the size and half the weight. The battery was developed by Nissan in partnership with semiconductor manufacturer NEC. Nissan will most likely use this same battery tech in its upcoming hybrid.

The EV-02--and, by extension, the future electric vehicle it will inspire--features an SAE standard charging system that relocates the bulk of the recharging circuitry onboard to allow for simpler, universal charging stations. The charging station utilizes 220-volt power to recharge the EV from 0-100 percent in about 4 hours. The industry-standard charging station will need to be hard-wired to the grid, necessitating an electrician's installation. Nissan is working with the over 3,000 electric utilities providers nationwide to work out the details of how exactly in-home installations will work and at what cost to consumers.

According to Perry, electric vehicles are 60 percent cleaner than gasoline equivalents, even if the grid is 100 percent coal-fired. Since many grids are not completely coal-powered and will see more renewable power sources in the future, as government regulations put the green squeeze on utilities, that 60 percent will only get better.

The EV-02 can be charged at standard 110-volt outlets, but the charge time is considerably longer (about 14 hours) and Nissan sees this as a less-than-ideal emergency-only option. There is also a 480-volt rapid-charge option that can bring the battery up to 80 percent capacity in as little as 26 minutes. Nissan expects roadside service stations to adopt this more expensive--but much more convenient--offering, empowering drivers to take the EV-02 on longer trips. Home users are expected to stick with the 4-hour charging cycle, because of its low cost (about 90 cents per full charge) and low strain on the electrical grid.

Once fully charged, the EV-02 will run for an estimated 100 miles before depleting its battery. The EV-02 mule we tested was a retrofitted right-hand-drive Nissan Cube. The drivetrain was whisper quiet. Nissan tuned the mule for economy and restricted us to a closed course with a Nissan chaperone, so we weren't able shred the tires with instant-on torque. Still, we were quite impressed with the linear acceleration exhibited by the EV-02, and its willingness to move .

Nissan plans to offer a vehicle based on the technology present in the EV-02 within 18 months. The vehicle would be unique in design, compact, and 99-percent recyclable, including the batteries. Perry promised that the vehicle would come at no price premium (sitting somewhere in the $20 to 30,000 price range), seat five passengers, and be available with the full gamut of advanced safety features and premium amenities (including GPS, premium audio, cruise control, heated seats, etc.). The vehicle would be eligible for the $7,500 green car tax credit and, with an operating cost below $0.04 per mile, would be cheaper to run than a gasoline vehicle even if gas drops to $1.10 per gallon.

The sole compromise that Perry let slip is that the vehicles will be optimized for the climate in which they are sold, meaning EVs sold in cold climes will feature boosted heat and crippled air conditioning, with hot climates receiving the opposite treatment. This setup sounds a little weird, but we'll wait and see how it works out.

Nissan hopes a lower entry cost, lower operating cost, and immense green cred will create the perfect storm to push electric-vehicle adoption past that of hybrids and into the mainstream.

The vehicle will be available for purchase by the public in various U.S. markets as early as 2010, depending on the regional adoption of the charging infrastructure. Current partnerships include the State of Tennessee, the State of Oregon, parts of California (Sonoma County and the San Diego metro area) and the Tucson, Ariz. metro area.

Source: The Car Tech blog

Nissan may flip electric-vehicle switch early in U.S.

Nissan North America could launch U.S. retail sales of electric vehicles as early as 2010--two years sooner than expected.

For a year, the company has been saying it will start EV fleet sales to utilities and commercial users in 2010 and consumer retail sales through its dealer network two years later.

But Mark Perry, director of product planning and strategy for the automaker in Franklin, Tenn., says some U.S. markets probably will be ready for retail sales sooner than 2012. "We're keeping ourselves open to the possibility that if a market is ready for it, we'll go ahead earlier," Perry says.

Nissan plans to sell a line of new electric vehicles powered by a lithium ion battery created through a partnership with NEC of Japan. The automaker has requested a low-interest loan from the U.S. Department of Energy to build an EV battery manufacturing plant in Smyrna, Tenn.

Perry says Nissan will launch sales city by city as communities get their vehicle recharging infrastructure in place.

Separately, a person in Tokyo familiar with the EV project said Nissan is eyeing an electric vehicle with a range of 100 miles between charges. The vehicle will be a family car, based on a platform already in use.

The car will be a uniquely designed stand-alone model to make it distinct, much the way the Toyota Prius hybrid called attention to its green credentials with novel styling.

When volume is high enough, Nissan will consider building cars overseas, including the United States.

Source: Automotive News via The Car Tech blog

Nissan says its electric car will have 100-mile range

Nissan's new all-electric car to be sold starting late next year will have 100 miles of pure battery range, a Nissan North America planning director said.

Product planning and strategy director Mark Perry also told the Chattanooga Engineers Club that the company wants to eventually make the car that will run on a lithium ion battery pack and the batteries at its plant in Smyrna. The car will initially be made in Japan.

Perry told the engineers' group Monday that Tennessee is to be a launch market for the all-electric car after it arrives in late 2010, along with Oregon and Sonoma County, Calif.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported that Perry said the car will "seat five and be in the size range of a Sentra or Versa."

Nissan's North America headquarters is in Franklin.

Perry said the 100 miles of pure battery range is more than double the battery range of some competitors' electric cars.

Perry said that while the cost of a conventional vehicle of similar size may range from $28,000 to $30,000, the federal government is offering a tax credit of up to $7,500 on the electric car. He said annual maintenance costs will be $1,350 less for a pure electric vehicle than a conventional car. "The payback is immediate," Perry said. He estimated the cost to "fill the tank" in the Chattanooga area at about 90 cents, and said it will take about four to eight hours to do so at a residence.

Perry said plans are to reduce that time frame to four hours in 2012.

Nissan NA spokesman Fred Standish previously said the company submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Energy for a share of the government's $25-billion loan program intended to help automakers retool their plants to build more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Standish said the Smyrna plant, built in 1983, is the only one of Nissan's three plants in the U.S. that would meet the loan's criteria.

The Energy Department has received dozens of applications for the loan program, including requests from Detroit's automakers, Tesla Motors Inc., which builds an all-electric two-seat sports car, and several battery manufacturers.

Source: Detroit Free Press

Energie Ouest Suisse and Renault-Nissan Alliance to build zero-emission future in Switzerland

Swiss electric utility company Energie Ouest Suisse (EOS) and the Renault-Nissan Alliance today announced they are working together to develop solutions for zero-emission mobility in Switzerland through the promotion of electric vehicles and the establishment of a battery-charging network.

Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed recently, the two parties will study ways of implementing and maintaining a battery-charging network throughout the country. The MOU also intends to define the terms and conditions for the supply by the Alliance of electric vehicles to EOS for use in its fleet.

EOS and the Alliance will also create and support educational activities to promote the use of electric vehicles.

EOS, which produces 85% of its electricity from hydropower, is the first company for the Alliance to tie up with in Switzerland - the headquarters of Nissan's European operations - for a zero-emissions program.

"For EOS, the introduction of electric vehicles brings a forward-looking response to Switzerland's energy and climate challenge," said Hans Schweickardt, CEO of EOS. Indeed, as the second-largest emitter of CO2 after heating (43%), transportation accounts for 33% (16 million tons) of the country's total green-house gas emissions. Replacing 15% of Switzerland's cars by 2020 with electric vehicles would reduce CO2 emissions in the transportation sector by 1.1 million tons per year, or a reduction of around 7%.

"We are delighted to be partnering with a clean energy specialist like EOS and look forward to working together to create the infrastructure and conditions for zero-emission mobility in Switzerland," said Carlos Tavares, executive vice president of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

The Renault-Nissan Alliance has begun zero emission initiatives with Israel, Denmark, Portugal, the Principality of Monaco and the French utility company EDF, as well as the State of Tennessee, the State of Oregon and Sonoma County in northern California in the US. In Japan, the Alliance has partnered with the Prefecture of Kanagawa and the City of Yokohama.

Source: Nissan Global Website