Mitsubishi has completed the design and testing of an electric car, in a bid to be the first manufacturer to launch a viable, crash-tested, mass-produced electric vehicle in Britain. Company sources have revealed that the iMiev - an electric version of Mitsubishi’s i-Car - is production-ready and that Mitsubishi Japan is building a factory that can produce 10,000 models per year for 2012. At the moment Mitsubishi only has the capacity to build 2000 i-Mievs per year, 200 of which are likely to come to Britain in late 2009. The Mitsubishi i-Miev is a Smart-sized vehicle that’s based on the Japan-only, rear-engined i-Car.It uses new-generation lithium-ion batteries, which recharge more quickly and last longer than conventional nickel metal hydride units. This means the i-Miev has a real-world range of 100 miles and can be recharged overnight from a conventional three-pin mains plug.Transport for London has already announced plans to treble the number of high-voltage recharging points in the city and to offer free parking for electric cars.
Join the debate
Add your comment
Re: Mitsubishi i-Miev announced
At last, a small electric car which won't become my coffin when the dozy p***ock in the 4x4 runs into me. This is the car I've been waiting for.
Re: Mitsubishi i-Miev announced
Hang on!
You can buy the "i" in the UK, therefore not making it a Japan only vehicle!?!?!
Autocar, you need to be a bit more careful with your editorial on the web site, its starting to get a little lax!!