Mitsubishi's electric future

Mitsubishi UK's Managing Director Jim Tyrrell has announced plans to offer its plug-in electric i-Car, the i-MiEV, on sale here in 2009. The innovative electric city car, which utilises Lithium-ion batteries and electric motors can travel around 80-100 miles on a full charge. Recharging is simply a case of plugging the i-MiEV into a domestic supply, a full charge taking 5 to 7 hours, an 80% top-up taking as little as 20 minutes. Around £50 worth of electricity is enough, Mitsubishi claims, to provide around 10,000 miles of motoring. The same distance in a diesel Colt in comparison would cost around £1,500.

Tyrell is determined to persuade his Japanese counterparts that there's a huge potential market in the UK for the i-MiEV. One hurdle however might be the car's price. A fully costed car is anticipated to be around £20,000; however Tyrell admits that it could go on sale for around £15,000. That might sound expensive, but the i-MiEV is a four-seat car that's also been properly crash-tested - unlike the majority of its competition. To help achieve as low a sticker price as possible Tyrrell is calling for the Government to reduce or remove import duty and VAT on non-polluting vehicles. He suggests that while the Government is happy to punish motorists it's not very good at providing incentives for greener motoring.

The i-MiEV is based on the existing petrol Mitsubishi i-Car which went on sale in the UK earlier this year. Sales have far exceeded Mitsubishi's expectations, one dealer reportedly even taking a Bentley as a trade-in. The standard i-Car uses a turbocharged rear-mounted 660cc engine, its compact drivetrain located under the floor to maximise interior space despite its compact dimensions. The i-MiEV replaces the conventional powertrain with electric motors and batteries. Tyrrell is lobbying hard to have around 500 for the UK in 2009, and is keen to have Mitsubishi seen as the UK leader in electric vehicles.