Production of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV plug-in hybrid has resumed in Japan after a five-month suspension brought about by a battery-related issue, the Nikkei reports.
Soon after the SUV made its market debut in January, a lithium-ion battery short-circuited in a vehicle before it was delivered. Mitsubishi revealed the problem in March, suspending production and shipments as well as asking existing users to refrain from charging their cars.
An internal investigation found that batteries which had been improperly dropped as part of the screening process had found their way into battery supplies from maker Lithium Energy Japan. Steps were taken at both its Aichi Prefecture plant, where the vehicle is assembled, and at the parts supplier to prevent such recurrences.
Mitsubishi also stopped assembly of other models utilising the same batteries – the i-MiEV electric car was one of these – and issued a recall for roughly 1.2 million vehicles in June. Production of the other models resumed in early August.
Total monthly output of the Outlander PHEV is now 2,000 units a month, but the automaker is looking to double output volume by next May once it has consolidated the installation processes for batteries and motors.
Curently, back orders for the SUV is around 18,000 units, and because of limited battery availability, the company is postponing shipments to the US at the moment and focusing on delivering orders from Japan and Europe. This should also effectively delay the SUV’s planned end-2013 arrival in Malaysia.
The five-seater is powered by a combination of a 2.0 litre MIVEC Generator petrol unit offering 94 hp and a Twin Motor 4WD system comprising independent electric motors to drive both front and rear wheels, coupled to Mitsubishi’s S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control) integrated vehicle dynamics control system.
Both permanent magnet synchronous motors have a 60 kW output each, and the front unit delivers 137 Nm of torque, while the rear motor offers 195 Nm. The vehicle has a cruising range in excess of 880 km.
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why an EV vehicle must look very ‘electric’? can we have any sportier look than this?
so typical designs..
I for one and eagerly anticipating the PHEV Outlander. I live in Canada, so who knows when it will reach us. I find the 2014 styling pleasant, it’s a nice vehicle, and with the purported 150 mpg equivalent of the PHEV, potentially a “game-changer.” I presently own a 2009 Outlander (XLS with the V6) and like this vehicle very much. Nothing has gone wrong with it, it performs excellent. I’ll replace it with another Outlander, probably the PHEV, when the time comes.
I’ve been waiting for this vehicle since I heard about it. To be able to minimise our carbon footprint at reasonable price and in a roomy vehicle is a great option, not provided previously. It would be good to have a diesel PHEV option similar to the Volvo.
I dont know much about cars but ASX 2.0 and Outlander 2.0 are both 2.0. Does this, by any chance, mean that ASX will be more powerful than Outlander since it is lighter in weight? pls correct me if I’m wrong. I cant rmbr what ASX hp is.
Probably not. The 94hp of the engine is the engine alone and not includes the electric motor yet. It should be powerful than the asx. But just my thought.