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First electric car for sale next year in Japan?

First electric car next year in Japan

The iMiEV, all-electric vehicle by Mitsubishi Motors enters its final phase of tests for marketing in 2009.

The Mitsubishi iMiEV stores energy for propulsion in a lithium ion battery pack that now has twenty to thirty percent more capacity than the last version.

The initial project began in November 2006 and was conducted by the carmaker Mitsubishi Motors and three power companies (Electric Power COmpany): Tokyo EPCO, Chugoku and Kyushu EPCO. Each EPCO had received a prototype of the iMiEV to achieve the first trials on the road. These tests have led to technical improvements of vehicle: the lithium-ion battery installed no longer manufactured by Litcel but by GS YUASA, presumably safer, engine size was reduced by 10%, that of the reverser 30% and the resistance of wheels has been diminished. This has resulted in a distance with a load of 160 km.

The new version of the iMiEV will be tested by five EPCOs, Kansai EPCO and Hokkaido EPCO had rallied to the team. A total of 30 vehicles will be sold to power companies, who will use every day to make final road test that will precede the sale scheduled for 2009 by the manufacturer. These tests will last one year and aim to collect a maximum of data on the operation of the vehicle in different environments for various uses. The participation of Hokkaido EPCO will make it possible to test the iMiEV a harsh climate. Moreover, it is said that officers EPCOs users are more demanding that a consumer lambda. The performance and ease of use will obviously points to consider as a priority, but companies are also investigating the perception of electric vehicles with the public to whether the Japanese are willing to use such cars.

The initial selling price is expected to more than 3 million yen, almost 20,000 euros. Even if aid or financial compensation are planned, it would appear that in a first-time buyers are businesses or government agencies.

In addition, Tokyo EPCO is also working with Subaru / Fuji Heavy Industries to develop another model all-electric, the R1e. The electrician is developing a charging station that allows rapid recharge 80% of the battery cars in fifteen minutes. These stations will also serve on models iMiEV that R1e.

Mitsubishi Motor Company is continuing to refine its all-electric sub-compact car dubbed iMiev (Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle), and plans to begin sales to the general public in the latter half of 2009. The iMiEV is an electric car version of Mitsubishi's i-car, a model on sale in Japan with a small gas engine. Car is similar to some small eco cars for European market- like Smart For Two, Smart For Four, Ford Ka…

Mitsubishi plans to mass-market a small electric vehicle by 2010. As major car companies continue to introduce eco-friendly offerings in the marketplace, second-tier car manufacturers like Mitsubishi are busy playing catch up. “One of the biggest issues facing an automaker today is the problem of the environment,” said Osamu Masuko, president of Mitsubishi. "Being able to come up with solutions to an array of environmental issues or not will decide if an auto maker can survive long into the future."

Sources:
http://www.hybridcars.com
http://www.autobloggreen.com
http://www.naturalnews.com/023212.html
http://www.electric-car-on.net


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