Despite what our egos tell us as Americans, when it comes to consumer technology, we’re clearly second to Japan and maybe third to somebody else. Who knows?As part of the spin, a video of the i-Miev debuted in early June as part of the United Nations World Environment Day.
The video showcases the performance and durability of Mitsubishi’s pure battery electric vehicle – the i-MiEV (Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle) – in a series of tests and in comparison to its Japanese market i gasoline counterpart.
So for those who can’t wait to catch a glimpse of the i-MiEV on the road after it goes on sale in Japan this summer, they can catch the minute-and-a-half video at www.mitsubishicars.com or by clicking here.
It’s clear from the video that emitting zero on-road carbon emissions and using no fossil fuel are not the i-MiEV’s only talents. The small, yet roomy, four-passenger i-MiEV is shown in acceleration and slalom tests side-by-side the turbocharged gas-powered i car on which it is based.
Keys to the i-MiEV’s performance include an ultra-quiet permanent magnet synchronous motor and a powerfully efficient lithium-ion battery pack that can be quick-charged up to 80 percent of capacity in as little as 30 minutes. An onboard charger accepts 110V (12-14 hour full-charge time) or 220V in half that time.
Mitsubishi Motors’ i-MiEV will be the world’s first practical electric vehicle offered by a major automobile manufacturer when fleet sales begin in Japan this summer.
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