MIEV

For the production model from Mitsubishi Motors, see Mitsubishi i MiEV.
Mitsubishi's MIEV logo
Mitsubishi's MIEV logo

MIEV (Mitsubishi In-wheel motor Electric Vehicle) or MiEV (Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle) /ˈmiːv/[1] is the name given by Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors (MMC) to its alternative propulsion technologies.[2] From late 2006, “MiEV” encompasses all of Mitsubishi Motors’s electric drive systems work, including lithium-ion batteries, in-wheel motors and other technologies related to electric vehicle (EV), hybrid-electric vehicle and fuel-cell vehicles.[3]

The Mitsubishi In-wheel motor was first introduced in the Mitsubishi Colt EV, a Colt-based concept car first exhibited at 2005 Tokyo Motor Show which used a series of lithium-ion batteries to power electric motors located in the wheels.[4] Subsequent electrically powered vehicles have included a 200 kW Lancer Evolution,[5] and a battery-equipped Mitsubishi i kei car (i-MIEV).[1][6]

The i-MiEV was launched for fleet customers in Japan in July 2009,[7] and on April 1, 2010 sales to the public began in the Japanese market at a price of 4 million yen
(~USD43,000).[8] After government incentives the sale price drops to 2.8 million yen (~USD30,500).[8] Sales in other countries are expected to begin in October 2010.[9] Sales in Ireland and the U.K. are scheduled to begin in January 2011.[10][11]

  1. ^ a b Interview With Managing Director in Charge of Product Development and Environment Affairs Group Headquarters, Tetsuro Aikawa Archived 2006-10-22 at the Wayback Machine, Mitsubishi Motors internally conducted interview, February 2005
  2. ^ "Mitsubishi Motors builds new research EV, "i MiEV" for joint research with power companies" Archived 2009-06-14 at the Wayback Machine, Mitsubishi Motors press release, October 11, 2006
  3. ^ "Mitsubishi Accelerates Electric Vehicle Work, Announces New Research Vehicle and Testing Partners". Green Car Congress. 2006-10-12.
  4. ^ "Mitsubishi Motors to drive forward development of next-generation EVs" Archived 2010-04-04 at the Wayback Machine, Mitsubishi Motors press release, May 11, 2005
  5. ^ "Mitsubishi Motors to enter Lancer Evolution MIEV in Shikoku EV Rally 2005", Mitsubishi Motors press release, August 24, 2005
  6. ^ "Plugging into electric dreams" Archived 2011-05-21 at the Wayback Machine, Kevin Hepwork, The Daily Telegraph, September 28, 2007
  7. ^ "Mitsubishi Motors Begins Production of i-MiEV; Targeting 1,400 Units in Fiscal 2009". Green Car Congress. 2009-06-05. Retrieved 2010-04-04.
  8. ^ a b "Japanese Start Buying Affordable Electric Cars". New York Times. 2010-04-01. Retrieved 2010-04-04. [dead link]>\
  9. ^ "Mitsubishi Motors' i-MiEV Awarded with the "Environment Special Grand Prize" at the 25th International Automobile Festival". Earth Times. 2010-03-18. Retrieved 2010-02-08.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference CAR032010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ "Dipping a big toe in the electric wave". The Irish Times. August 11, 2010.