Mitsubishi brings next-gen EV mini to market

Tokyo-based Mitsubishi Motors wants a piece of the electric vehicle market, and thinks it has the ultimate mini, eco-car to do the trick.

The company unveiled its production version i-MiEV next-generation vehicle, expected to go on sale in the Japanese market in late July. The name stands for Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle. The announcement, tied to today’s World Environment Day, comes ahead of Toyota Motor (NYSE:TM) and Nissan Motor (Nasdaq: NSANY), which are planning to launch competitive versions in July.

Across the globe, other automakers including General Motors and Hyundai are racing to market electric vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries (see Hyundai plans to sell hybrid in U.S. in 2010). 

The Renault-Nissan alliance has added a number of countries to its list of locations for its upcoming line of electric vehicles, spanning Europe, Asia and North America (see Renault-Nissan, EDF in electric car partnership, China taps Renault-Nissan for electric car pilot in 2011, and Renault Nissan to bring electric cars to Portugal).

And Mumbai-based Tata Motors (NYSE:TTM) unveiled an electric version of the Indica hatchback in 2008, with plans to make it available in Norway in 2009 and India in 2010 (see India's Tata Motors reveals electric car prototype).

Mitsubishi plans to distribute 1,400 models of the i-MiEV in fiscal year 2009 to corporations and local authorities, on a lease basis. Individual buyers will have to hold out until April 2010, but orders are being taken in late July, at a price point of ¥4.6 million ($47,000), before taxes.

The zero-emission freeway speed vehicle, powered by an advanced lithium-ion battery, can be charged by connecting the i-MiEV to either a standard 100-volt or 200-volt domestic outlet or quickly charged at stations currently being established throughout Japan. A quick charge, lasting about 30 minutes, offers an 80 percent charge, while 7- and 14-hour charges using domestic 100- and 200- volt outlets, respectively, provide a full charge.

The company said it’s the first minicar to have LED headlamps. It also boasts bamboo fiber green plastic tailgate trim, which Mitsubishi says cuts carbon dioxide by 10 percent when compared to polypropylene.

The company first showed off the minicar, which has a 100-mile range, at the 2008 New York International Auto Show, as part of its "i" branded lineup that also includes the i MiEV Sport, a concept car that using multiple electric motors, which is a coupe variation on the i-MiEV (see Mitsubishi shows off tiny electric car).