Comments on: 2009 Mitsubishi i MiEV First Steer

By: Anthony

Anthony — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 03:00:28 +0000

What’s so futuristic about electric cars? They were around (briefly) when cars were first invented. Now, as for Hyundai: there’s almost an excuse for not having cars at all. Sorry! I retract that! It’s got 4 wheels, goes from A to B, generally does what it promises to do, as would the MiEV. Did someone mention the cost…?

By: Anthony

Anthony — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 02:53:33 +0000

$42000 is the last I read. Go to the Mitsubishi Australia website and ask. They told me they haven’t committed. I’m amazed that companies can make something and not know how much to sell it for. (What’s wrong with a formula like “cost of production X 1.5 = sale price”.) Obviously exchange rates are a factor. I think they’re hoping for some Ruddy incentives to bring the price down.

By: Anthony

Anthony — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 02:45:55 +0000

No, Tata Nano not much, but if you send a letter to K Rudd asking why they won’t import these (and relax the safety rules for this size of car) you get a long-winded response from a minister (via his staffer) saying things like they are committed to building a green car in Australia. (I think that means a 4-cylinder Commodore with metallic lime-green paint.)

By: Anthony

Anthony — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 02:38:46 +0000

Absolutely spot on about price and comparison to a Getz. I reckon it’s about the same. These cars (I’ve read elsewhere $42000 AUD for the MiEV) are for wealthy and famous people to buy and feel good about themselves (while they consume and pollute in other ways and at higher rates). I kind of disagree about the new technology bit. As a kid about 40 years ago I would buy toy cars that had an electric motor and a couple of AA batteries. Also, while they don’t look as nice as the MiEV nor have the range, people have been retrofitting cars with electric motors for a long time. This should be cheap for Mitsubishi. Hell, they own the factory that makes the batteries. I’d be happy if this care were $25000.

By: TDo

TDo — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:46:38 +0000

I think this car would be a wonderful approach to help preserve the environment for generations to come.

Also “Europe” is not a country;

Quote:
“Currently, the i MiEV is undergoing feasibility studies in several countries around the world, including the United States, Europe, Britain, New Zealand, Iceland, Canada, and now Australia.”
Unquote

By: Rodney

Rodney — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:34:32 +0000

I am ready, willing and cashed up to buy one, as soon as Mitsubishi are ready to sell it to me. It would help if I knew the price though.

By: Don

Don — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:17:16 +0000

How important really is the range isn’t the real issue the availability of changing stations? If I can charge the car for 4-9 hours while I am at work this will fix a lot of problems. 160 Km range sounds good but how long before the battery deteriorates and you are getting less?

By: Ian

Ian — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 09:34:39 +0000

85% of Australians dive less than 100km/day so I can’t see why it won’t take off. 160km range is perfect.

By: Doug Falconer

Doug Falconer — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 03:10:57 +0000

Australia’s first commercial electric car is not – as claimed by Mitsubishi — the iMiEV, a converted micro-class petrol car.
It is in fact the Electron, a converted Hyundai Getz that has been on sale in Australia for more than 12 months. The Electron has even become the ministerial vehicle of NZ Environment Minister, Mr Nick Smith.
Eighteen Electrons have already been sold by manufacturer Blade Electric Vehicles, of Castlemaine in central Victoria. Customers include private buyers, Melbourne City Council, the Victorian Government and other city councils.
Hyundai NZ also plan to import 200 Electrons into New Zealand during 2009-10.
“While we welcome moves by Mitsubishi to join the Electron on Australian roads, their car has not had local availability confirmed, nor local pricing. If the rumours are correct Mitsubishi will charge around $60,000 for this micro car,” said BEV Managing Director, Mr Ross Blade.
“This is not bad but our car costs $45,000 and is a full hatchback size, comfortably seating four adults with the full boot space intact, and all the performance and acceleration of its petrol equivalent,” he said.
“Our customers have driven their Electrons for more than 12 months and up to 11,000 km without any problems,” he said.
The Electron comes with a full five year warranty on parts and labour and uses highly durable, state-of-the-art, lithium iron phosphate battery packs and US-made 40 kW electric motors featuring regenerative braking.
When charged on 100% GreenPower – available to retail customers from all electricity retailers – the car becomes a truly zero emission vehicle.

By: Lazybones

Lazybones — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 03:08:59 +0000

I’ve just heard this car has been given the green light to drive on Australian roads. So will this be Australia’s first EV?

By: SKYSTAR AIRPORT SERVICES AUSTRALIA NOW TOLL DNATA

SKYSTAR AIRPORT SERVICES AUSTRALIA NOW TOLL DNATA — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 17:04:10 +0000

Brilliant technolagy and subatance, these cars will be considered cool by the people who think japanese technolagy is cool. Like Lloyd Port-Lewis, who after waiting for nearly two years still hasnt met me in the carpark so i can show him whats what, the monday watching Jeremy clarkson opinionated then tuesday repeating jeremys opinions as if they are his own, freak. The car is brilliant.

By: Lazybones

Lazybones — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:59:39 +0000

“The future is looking good! ”

Yes it is, but the last few electronic devices i purchased have moved away from Li-Ion onto Li-Polymer.This is good news because battery technology seem to improve in jumps of about 50%. Given that option of either smaller size of longer life!

Frank, thats 46Kw in a car thats smaller than a Barina, 700kg lighter than a Falcon with almost half the torque of a Falcon. Also the range is extended through regen braking.

So unless your going to drive flat out with very little braking. IE on a race track, then you’d be right. But for normal driving you would get close to the expected range.

By: Frank

Frank — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 04:04:02 +0000

If flat out gives just 46kW, i suspect your foot would be planted quite often…

Its like asking a Commodore or Falcon driver how often they rev past 2000 rpm.

By: Simon

Simon — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 04:53:22 +0000

Frank, when do you drive any car/motor flat out continuously??

By: Frank

Frank — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:12:06 +0000

16 kWh battery, driven flat out by a 46kW motor = 21 minutes battery life.

To make the range of 160km you would have to cruise at 40 km/h for four hours.

I think a more accurate range is one 60km round trip per day.

By: Simon

Simon — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 22:54:23 +0000

Li-ion is not “old tech” – its the way of the future. Scientists and engineers are overcoming the problems of slow charging and battery decay.
The future is looking good!

By: Lazybones

Lazybones — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 22:24:00 +0000

“Carlos, batteries are expensive, period. Its got nothing to do with production volume, they are just expensive due to the exotic materials”

Yes but the price will reduce overtime, due to improvements in the technology and mass production. As you already pointed out Li-ion is old tech. Then keep in mind the car companies have R&D costs to recover for all these new EV’s.

For Tesla the replacement battery is about $35K USD, with a 7 year/100,000K life. But the car is $110 USD. So even without the battery its 75K Car, given its based on a Lotus that retails for $50K new, its still an expensive car.

By: Simon

Simon — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 11:14:51 +0000

Break through in battery technology:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/sto.....514848.htm

When this is commercialy available electric cars will be suitable for the majority of motoring.

By: Carlos

Carlos — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 07:37:10 +0000

Tom, at Greenbushes in WA, we have more Lithium than you can poke a stick at. I stand by my original assertion. Batteries are expensive because we’re making them in dozens, not millions.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 03:51:35 +0000

Carlos, batteries are expensive, period. Its got nothing to do with production volume, they are just expensive due to the exotic materials they use and how labor/time intensive they are to produce. Its not some petroleum company conspiracy that makes them expensive. Thats why we haven’t had battery powered cars in the past (commercially successful ones anyway), because its just very expensive.

Remember, batteries and electric motors aren’t some new invention, they are older than the internal combustion engine itself. We’ve had Li-ion batteries since the early 90’s, yet only now has the consumer desires shifted enough for the supposed environmental benefit of EV cars to overcome the increased cost/reduced versatility.