2010 Mitsubishi i MIEV Plug-in Electric

[rudiger]

Didn't see anything posted about this (at least not recently). Looks promising, although it still needs a longer usable range (currently only 60 miles). Still beats the Volt, though, I guess:

Edmunds: Mitsubishi i MIEV Plug-in Electric First Drive

[Flying White Dutchman]

Funny and nice looking car

[Black2006]

Originally Posted by rudiger

Didn't see anything posted about this (at least not recently). Looks promising, although it still needs a longer usable range (currently only 60 miles). Still beats the Volt, though, I guess:

Edmunds: Mitsubishi i MIEV Plug-in Electric First Drive

It's great they are doing research. This might be fine for a third car for trips to the store, but my guess is hybrids are the near term answer to daily driving.

I do mean hybrids like the Prius or better, though, and not feel-good "fake" hybrids, like the big Lexus or the Malibu.

[rudiger]

Originally Posted by Black2006

It's great they are doing research. This might be fine for a third car for trips to the store, but my guess is hybrids are the near term answer to daily driving.

If they could keep the price down, something like this holds the potential of being a viable alternative to other ultra-compact 'urban-oriented' vehicles like the Smart fortwo, particularly if there were some sort of infrastructure in place for plug-in charging at destinations.

[MikeSF]

Said it before in another thread, but I like it, the fact that it looks so funny and out of place with cars makes me like it even more. The more cars we get on the road that look "silly"/"funny"/"toy-like" the more they will get accepted for their purpose, to drive people/items from point A to point B not to look good.

[C.RICKEY HIROSE]

Originally Posted by rudiger

Didn't see anything posted about this (at least not recently). Looks promising, although it still needs a longer usable range (currently only 60 miles). Still beats the Volt, though, I guess:

Edmunds: Mitsubishi i MIEV Plug-in Electric First Drive

What only 60 miles per charge? I used to sell / lease the Rav4 EV years ago that gave you commuters 110~120 miles per charge. That was back then with Toyota's "Old technology" The technology advances in quatum leaps and bounds, so newer 2010 technology should give at least 200 miles per charge..

[rudiger]

Originally Posted by C.RICKEY HIROSE

What only 60 miles per charge? I used to sell / lease the Rav4 EV years ago that gave you commuters 110~120 miles per charge. That was back then with Toyota's "Old technology" The technology advances in quatum leaps and bounds, so newer 2010 technology should give at least 200 miles per charge..

Was that in actual practice or the theoretic maximum they were supposed to get?

60 miles is what Edmunds said they got before they had to go back. I think that Mitsibushi said the usable range was 100 miles, meaning the maximum range was probably a bit higher.

At least, I hope it was higher if the old RAV4 would go 110~120 miles per charge in real-world use. Maybe the larger size of the RAV4 meant it had a lot more room for the battery than the MIEV, which looks pretty diminutive in comparison, almost like the tiny Tata Nano that is supposed to eventually be available in India for $2500.

[bruceha_2000]

Originally Posted by rudiger

I think that Mitsibushi said the usable range was 100 miles, meaning the maximum range was probably a bit higher.

The article said 100 miles under ideal conditions i.e. without using the A/C. Probably also means without heat.

Limited range and long charge time is what caused cars such as the EV1 and electric RAV4 to sell poorly from a production volume POV. Most people don't have the money or space for a 'third' car and for a lot of people 60 miles between charges just doesn't cut it. 14 hours at 100V means it won't even have time to fully charge if you come home at 8 PM and leave for work at 8 AM. Of course that is worst case, meaning it was pretty dead when you got home.

So, not a bad idea, but nothing that wasn't available a decade ago and in larger vehicles. I still see a plug-in hybrid with 50-60 miles between charges as the better solution since you have no actual maximum range. If people were able to recharge at work, even if it was metered so the company didn't pay, 50 miles would probably cover most everyone's daily commute.

[rudiger]

Originally Posted by bruceha_2000

If people were able to recharge at work, even if it was metered so the company didn't pay, 50 miles would probably cover most everyone's daily commute.

Not just at work. The key to acceptance of plug-ins (of any type) is getting the infrastructure in place for easy (and cheap) recharging away from home. Something along the lines of parking meters where it costs you $.25 for a finite amount of charging time.

I suspect that's one of the main reasons that gasoline powered vehicles eventually overtook all other types when gas stations became ubiquitous across the landscape. Likewise, when recharging ports become commonplace, plug-ins will, too.

[finman]

evnut.com.
all the anwers and then some. All EV myths debunked.

Darrelldd is the man. check it out. you won't be disappointed.

Well, once you've read the disheartening demise of EVs...you'll know a bit more than Fox news.

Who Killed the Electric Car dvd. Rent it. buy it. get your friends and neighbors copies.