Mitsubishi i-MiEV Production EV goes on sale!

Mitsubishi i-MiEV EV

A 160km range on the Japanese 10-15 urban mode driving pattern, a 7 hour 200V charge time, 30 minutes on a 200V 3-phase quick charger, and LED headlamps and tail lamps to add a finishing touch. You’ve just read the spec sheet of the new production Mitsubishi i-MiEV EV, a production electric car that has just gone on lease by Mitsubishi for nearly 4.6 million Yen inclusive of consumption tax.

That’s nearly RM165k, and with the taxes you have here in Malaysia it could end up pretty darn pricey. But it does have a lithium ion battery, which is more advanced than the nickel-base ones that go into most hybrid and EVs these days.

Mitsubishi i-MiEV EV

The battery which consists of 88 li-ion cells connected in series is installed under the floor, and the 64 PS 180Nm electric motor which is mated to a single-gear transmission is installed under the luggage compartment. Yes, like the regular combustion engine Mitsubishi i, it uses a rear midship layout.

Mitsubishi will be preparing 1,400 cars for leasing this year, mainly to corporations and local authorities. Individual leases are expected to begin in April 2010, but order-taking will begin in July 2010. Look after the jump for a video of the i-MiEV’s test run through the Tateyama Kurobe alpine route surrounded by 3,000-meter-high mountains.

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Paul Tan

After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Comments

  • rexis on Jun 15, 2009 at 4:37 pm

    4.6million yen/RM165k, thats the kind of price to get rid of evil oil companies now.

    But I bet somehow one day when oil depleted, all oil companies will become battery companies. They will have all the resources required to produce a below RM2000 battery system that can last for half the life time of the vehicle.

    Paul, how about the Malaysian tax structure now? I heard they are giving tax discount to green vehicles like the Civic Hybrid?

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  • what will happen if short circuit happen? all system down?

    anyway.. i'm the first… yeah yeah… (rolling)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • steven on Jun 15, 2009 at 7:17 pm

    165K .. in yen ?? how about + Tax ?? . . . . . can buy x5 viva 660cc

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • rooster on Jun 15, 2009 at 7:53 pm

    This is just at a R&D stage,that is why its on lease.

    just what Mini-E was doing.

    This is a full elec car as compared to the hybrid version.

    MMC is at least one step ahead in the elec car segment.

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  • rexis on Jun 15, 2009 at 8:27 pm

    Btw, since this is a zero emission vehicle, it is completely possible to design it to be waterproof enough to drive underwater.

    So, Ikeo's worry about short circuit can be prevented easily.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • howitzer on Jun 15, 2009 at 8:43 pm

    isnt that a bit too pricey.. guess we whould just wait for proton detroit ev with more milage..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • bmpower on Jun 15, 2009 at 8:48 pm

    persona ev at 80K … cheap what.

    maybe…

    i-savvy at 30K .. cheapest what?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Alifzzz on Jun 15, 2009 at 10:36 pm

    Hoping so much this kinda car rolls out all over the world. Global warming now start to be dangerous..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • perolapan on Jun 15, 2009 at 10:44 pm

    Pay RM165k for a battery toy car, so funny.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • BanyakMasukWorkshop (Member) on Jun 16, 2009 at 4:06 am

    [quote comment="244714"]Pay RM165k for a battery toy car, so funny.[/quote]

    its the price of the future. new technology today might cost a bomb, but in the future, it will just be like any other everyday item we take for granted today, like the mobile phone.

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  • well, japan already starting to build electric charge station and expect total saturation by 2011 or 2015. alot of automakers there prepping to roll out EVs already.

    they're starting to welcome the future while we're still stuck with our backwater quality diesel and fuel.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • turboKev on Jun 16, 2009 at 8:52 am

    Proton Exora is tax free right? selling at 70k++.

    if 200% tax means that car is 140-150k ? wow… but hell no.. it can not compete with Toyota wish or or Honda Stream with the same price tag..

    So i have a question.

    how does the local car Proton make up their pricing????

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  • turboKev on Jun 16, 2009 at 8:53 am

    Proton Exora is tax free right?

    selling at 70k++. if 200% tax means that car is 140-150k!

    but HELL no.. it can not compete with Toyota wish or or Honda Stream with the same price tag..

    So i have a question. how does Proton make up their pricing???

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  • peYno on Jun 16, 2009 at 2:15 pm

    one of my japanese friend told me… current hybrid cars form toyota/honda requires battery replacement every two years.. and it costs about 30man yen =RM10k .. is that true??

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  • SellRonaldoLaFergie on Jun 16, 2009 at 7:04 pm

    [quote comment="244796"]Proton Exora is tax free right?

    selling at 70k++. if 200% tax means that car is 140-150k!

    but HELL no.. it can not compete with Toyota wish or or Honda Stream with the same price tag..

    So i have a question. how does Proton make up their pricing???[/quote]

    Haiya… add up all cost for building up a unit plus + handling cost + profit margin + tax by government.

    U wanna bring down the price can laa… produce more cars laa… becose with same die etc they could ammortize the cost for die making to each part..

    It just like building a new school building, using one architect they could build up to hundreds of schools.. so when u average the cost for architect fees per building it will be cheaper than building one house. understand?

    That's why toyota manage to produce cheaper… they build more volume than P1, and they also own the steel mill, so raw material is cheap….

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  • scanzew on Jun 16, 2009 at 7:30 pm

    [quote comment="244641"]what will happen if short circuit happen? all system down?

    anyway.. i'm the first… yeah yeah… (rolling)[/quote]

    first but second hahahahaha

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  • scanzew on Jun 16, 2009 at 7:32 pm

    the only problem with pure electric car is their battery…battery represents 50-70% of the car cost….and burning ur pocket sampai berlubang….

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • scanzew on Jun 17, 2009 at 8:14 pm

    hope detroit electric will realize their promise bringing pure electric car (PEV) in late 2009….i will be first customer hahahahaha

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • chrlswai on Oct 26, 2011 at 11:52 am

    Never mind you all go for EV . i will go for petrol and the time no much people use petrol. The prices petrol drop RM.50 Per Liters.
    Every one not happy and iam happy with petrol and powerfully go for V10 car.
    Yahoo….

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