(continued from above)
Based on the very popular gasoline-powered "i" minicar in the Japanese
market, this roomy and practical four-door 2012 model serves as the basis for
the new 100% battery-powered Mitsubishi "i" for the North American market. The
zero tailpipe emission "i" will be the first North American production vehicle
to be powered by Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle (MiEV) technology -
cutting edge drivetrain engineering that will serve as the basis for future
ultra-environmentally-friendly vehicles from the company.
Gone are
conventional automotive systems including a gasoline engine, transmission and a
fuel tank, having been replaced by advanced components including a lithium-ion
battery system, electric motor and an efficient battery charging system in the
all-new "i". This electric vehicle has already proved itself a viable and
reliable form of transportation as Mitsubishi has been selling the car in its
home market since the summer of 2009; production has already commenced for the
European-spec i-MiEV, with deliveries beginning later this year.
Mitsubishi anticipates an initial roll out of the "i" to its dealership network
in the western United States (specifically California, Oregon, Washington and
Hawaii) in November 2011, with entry into the northeastern market to follow by
March 2012 and nationwide availability by the end of 2012. The vehicle's MSRP is
expected to be around $30,000, not including Federal and available state
financial incentives.
The new production Mitsubishi "i" bound for the
North American market further differentiates itself from its Japanese- and
European-spec versions with a retooled, larger body to provide more
interior comfort for four adults, along with new North American-spec bumpers
front and rear for enhanced protection in the event of a collision. Other
noteworthy safety measures on the North American-spec vehicle include airbags
that protect passengers and control deployment force, Active Stability Control
(ASC) and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) - all included as standard
equipment.
Easier on the Environment
Thanks to its
all-electric powertrain, the Mitsubishi "i" produces zero
on-road CO2, making it a zero emissions vehicle. What's more, when factoring in
the CO2 emissions produced by the power plants that generated the electricity
that provides the energy for the "i", this revolutionary Mitsubishi production
car only produces about 30% of the CO2 emitted by the 660cc gasoline engine that
powers the non-electric-version of the car in its home market. And the reduction
in CO2 becomes even more statistically significant considering that the 660cc
gasoline engine found in the Japanese market is only about one-third of the
displacement of the typical four-cylinder gasoline engine powering cars in the
North American market.
Additional energy efficiency can be wrung from the
"i" model's electric powertrain thanks to Eco (Economy) and Brake driving modes
that supplement the vehicle's standard Drive mode. The Eco mode limits excessive
power usage from reaching the motor while the Brake mode increases the
resistance of the regenerative braking system (especially when driving downhill)
to feed even more energy back into the car's bank of lithium-ion batteries.
Mitsubishi i MiEV: Review (2/2)
