Press Release
Mitsubishi Motors in the UK
Thursday, 30 September 2010 – PARIS, FRANCE
MITSUBISHI i-MiEV
~ Icon on a mission ~
Making the best use of the mid-ship architecture of this new urban vehicle, the electric “i” or
“i MiEV” then was announced in October 2006 as a research vehicle powered by a compact
and lightweight motor and high-energy density lithium-ion batteries.
Less than 3 years later, once a thorough development process was completed accumulating
over 500,000 km of testing, the car was launched in Japan as “i-MiEV” in July 2009 first with
fleet customers. Books were then opened for private customers as well, the first deliveries to
this second wave of Japanese clients taking place from April 2010.
The next commercial step starts today in Paris, prior to a start of production at MMC’s
Mizushima plant in October. Deliveries to European customers will then start in 14 selected
markets1 from December 2010, depending country by country.
40 years of EV know-how at Mitsubishi
When announced as an EV research vehicle back in October 2006, the then non-hyphened
“i MiEV” was the outcome of forty years of research and development at Mitsubishi in the
area of electric powertrain.
As a reminder, work on the development and production of EVs started at Mitsubishi in
October 1966, when Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd (In 1970, the automobile division of
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. was spun off to become today’s Mitsubishi Motors
Corporation) was commissioned by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) to build EV
prototypes and conduct testing programs using improved battery technology: an inaugural
EV program that was followed by several others, all laying the foundations for today’s i-MiEV
production car.
Mitsubishi Motors was also one of the first auto manufacturers to recognize the superiority of
the lithium-ion battery over lead-acid batteries in terms of energy and output densities as
demonstrated through the development in 1994 of the Chariot HEV plug-in hybrid, itself
1
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, The UK.
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followed by various and successive testing programs to seek further improvements in
performance, safety, reliability and durability.
Over 500,000 km of thorough testing
With the intention of moving the then “i MiEV” into commercial production Mitsubishi Motors
carried out a number of in-house testing programs where the car sailed through, including
extensive poor surface track, durability and reliability and crashworthiness.
In parallel, i MiEV went through a process of acquiring data through extensive fleet testing
under a variety of climatic and real driving conditions. As an example, in Japan, a year-long
joint proving program with 7 Japanese power companies using 37 development cars was
carried out, covering a total of 300,000 km of testing and everyday commercial use.
The same process was engaged outside of Japan as well. In the case of Europe, 11 cars
were used for a further 200,000 km of testing in a joint effort among Mitsubishi Corporation,
its MC Automobile (Europe) N.V. subsidiary, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation and Mitsubishi
Motors Europe towards European customers, be they corporate or private.
Self (battery)-reliant
In a further step towards making electric vehicles a viable business proposition, on
December 12, 2007 Mitsubishi Motors Corporation joined hands with GS Yuasa Corporation
and Mitsubishi Corporation and set up “Lithium Energy Japan” (LEJ), to develop,
manufacture and sell large-size lithium-ion cells.
Within the LEJ joint-venture each partner brought its own leading know-how:

GS Yuasa possesses advanced technologies in large lithium-ion batteries and is
striving to broaden their applications.

Mitsubishi Corporation intends to enter the battery manufacturing business and
aims to create other related businesses as well.

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation – which had electric cars on the road in Japan as
early as 1971 - is working to strengthen its prominent position in (proprietary) EV
technology.
LEJ (http://LithiumEnergy.jp), plans to ramp up production of lithium-ion cells for use in
powering i-MiEV, enough from a start during FY2009 at its new plant in Kusatsu City Shiga
Prefecture - the world’s first plant dedicated to the mass-production of lithium-ion batteries
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for EVs, and to increase production volume thereafter with appropriate capacity to
accompany the sales development of MMC’s EVs:

2,300 units (= equivalent of i-MiEV traction battery packs) from June 2009,

4,500 units from June 2010,

With the start of production at LEJ’s Kyoto plant the figure should reach 11,000
units,

Lastly, the Ritto plant should allow for a total of 50,000 units from December
2012.
Space saving architecture
As a reminder, i-MiEV is based on the “i” minicar platform where the rear-midship petrol
engine and floor-mounted central fuel tank are replaced with a lithium-ion traction battery
pack, the motor, the inverter and other EV components with only a modicum of modifications
required to turn the petrol “i” into i-MiEV.
This feature allowed the installation of a large capacity high density lithium-ion 88-cell
traction battery pack within the long 2,550 mm wheelbase, i.e. without compromising seating
for 4, whilst lowering the center of gravity of the car (by 65 mm vs. the petrol-powered “i”)
and protecting the batteries in case of a crash. Same for replacing i’s 660 cc internal
combustion engine with the 66.6ps/49 kW permanent magnet synchronous electric motor
and ancillaries which preserved all 227 l of luggage space (extended to 860 l when both rear
seats are folded down – VDA method).
High Capacity / Low costs
EV traction batteries must have high energy density. For that purpose, i-MiEV utilizes LEJ’s
specifically developed high density lithium-ion battery pack, where each high capacity
battery module can fit under the floor.
By design, i-MiEV accepts 2 types of traction battery charging systems:

The “Household Charging System” for anywhere near an ordinary electric outlet, via
the household charger plug located on the right side of the vehicle: using European
230V 1 phase (16A) current, i-MiEV can be re-charged in 6 hours from “Low Energy”
warning. (Actual charging times may vary depending on such factors as air
temperature and power source status).

The “Quick Charger System” for speedy charging - where utilities, power companies,
municipalities or corporations have installed quick chargers. There, i-MiEV can be
connected via the Quick Charger plug located on the left side of the vehicle: using
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the three-phase 200V 50 kW Quick Charge System, the car can be recharged from
zero to 80% of its total charge in about 30 minutes (Actual charging times may vary
depending on such factors as air temperature and power source status).
New Tech
Beyond the sophisticated traction battery pack and “MiEV Operating System”, i-MiEV’s new
tech powertrain includes:

Motor (power unit)
i-MiEV uses a high-efficiency compact and lightweight permanent magnet synchronous
electric motor specially developed for the vehicle.
This unit generates maximum torque from low engine speeds (180 Nm – 0 to 2,000 rpm) to
deliver powerful response (66.6ps/49 kW) and a seamless driving experience. When the
vehicle slows down the regenerative braking system causes the motor to operate as a
generator, the energy recovered being stored in the drive battery.

Transmission
i-MiEV uses a lightweight and compact single-speed reduction gear transmission, exploiting
the high low-end torque inherent to the electric motor and eliminating the need for complex
gear shifting mechanisms as found in internal combustion engine powered vehicles.
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Mitsubishi Motors in the UK
On-board charger
i-MiEV comes with a compact, lightweight on-board charger that allows the traction battery
to be charged using a domestic AC line (voltage depends on the country).

DC/DC converter
The DC/DC converter is used to charge the 12-volt auxiliary battery and power electrical
equipment. It is integrated with the on-board charger in a single unit to reduce size and
weight.

Inverter
i-MiEV ’s motor is driven by an alternating current. The inverter converts high-voltage direct
current from the traction battery to alternating current and supplies motor with the power
required to drive the vehicle.

“MiEV OS” operating system
In this respect, Mitsubishi’s “MiEV OS” (or “MiEV Operating System”) - an advanced
integrated vehicle management system into which the company has poured its wealth of
know-how gained from decades of electric vehicle R&D - has provided the kind of high
performance and reliability that befits a new-generation EV. “MiEV OS” has been awarded
"2009 Japan Automotive Hall of Fame Car Technology of the Year" by the Japan
Automotive Hall of Fame, a non-profit organization.
“MiEV OS” gathers data and information from all the major EV components to provide
integrated management of the car’s performance. This advanced management system
constantly monitors battery status and the energy recovered from the regenerative brakes
while regulating output to ensure smooth and powerful acceleration from a full stop. As a
result the system optimizes and minimizes energy consumption to deliver the most
appropriate actual on-road performance.
Real life
The first volume electric car in series production from a major manufacturer, Mitsubishi
Motors’ i-MiEV is not only a beacon of MMC’s engineering abilities but also a real life
proposal for modern mobility:
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Mitsubishi Motors in the UK
Living:
Meant to be driven and used just as “normally” as a traditional ICE-powered car, iMiEV is a compact runabout which seats 4 within a short 3,475 m footprint, with the
added bonus of 4 large doors, a real trunk (227 l of luggage space - extended to 860
l when both rear seats are folded down – VDA method) and a tight 4.5 m turning
radius

Driving:
In addition, Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV adds range (150 km – “New European Driving Cycle
“protocol), real life performance (top speed governed at 130 km/h2, swift
accelerations thanks to the 180 Nm of torque available from standing start), ultra-low
well-to-wheel emissions3, superior quietness and low level of vibrations to its
potential customers.
When driving, the man-machine interface is materialized through two devices:
o Combination meter instrument cluster:
It includes 1) an energy usage indicator that presents a visual display of
power consumption and energy recovery status, 2) an energy level gauge
that indicates how much remaining power there is left in the traction
battery, and 3) a cruising range indicator that displays an estimate of how
far the vehicle can be driven on the basis of average power consumption
over the last few kilometers.
o Shift selector:
Similar to the one of a traditional automatic gearbox, to accentuate the
“regular car” feeling, it offers the usual P (Parking), R (Reverse), N
(Neutral) and D (Drive) normally found with an A/T.
In addition, i-MiEV also features two specific positions:
2
3
Where legal
Depending on respective energy baskets, i-MiEV’s “well-to-wheel emissions will differ by country, depending on the
composition of the respective energy basket. For instance: France (11 g/km), the UK (66 g/km) or Germany (73 g/km).
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
B (Brake) which Increases the regenerative brake force (for
downhill driving).

C (Comfort) which reduces the regenerative brake force (for
suburban driving).

Safety:
As with all MMC vehicles, i-MiEV has been designed with a high standard of active &
passive safety, including the specifics of its powertrain:
-
i-MiEV features MMC’s patented “RISE” design meant to integrate and
interconnect structural elements for an active protection of the passengers during
an accident. This design brings dramatic advances in multi-directional impact
safety performance, dispersing energy loads during front, side and rear crashes
and controlling distortion.
-
The high voltage system traction battery pack is located inside the body frame –
itself within the wheelbase – and is further protected by a well-crib frame against
damage from any direction of impact.
-
The rear combination lamps use fast-illuminating LED emitters for the tail and
stop lamps, making these lamps more instantly visible to following vehicles while
also cutting power consumption.
-
Further standard safety measures include 6 airbags (driver + passenger + 2 x
side + 2 x curtain) as well as Active Stability Control.

Cost of ownership:
Translating the EV experience in financial terms, i-MiEV’s energy costs are minimal.
In Europe and taking France as an example, a complete charge costs about € 2,00:
just as low as the overall running costs of the vehicle, EVs being freed from the
maintenance constrains of internal combustion engines and their transmission
system.
Furthermore, Mitsubishi Motors plans to set the price (car + traction batteries) of the
European-spec i-MiEV to around €33,000 – €35,000 (or equivalent) so that the final
cost to the customer after government incentives (where applicable) remains under
€30,000 (or equivalent) in a majority of the countries it is to be sold in.
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Last but not least, MMC will offer a specific 5 year – 100,000 km warranty on all EV
components.
From Japan to Europe
Whilst essentially the same car as the i-MiEV sold in Japan since the summer of 2009, the
EU-spec. version has been further developed 1) to add a left-hand-drive version for
continental markets and 2) to comply with local regulations, including:

Larger front bumper & newly-designed rear bumper,

New lightweight aluminium wheels,

Rear fog lamp,

Larger outside rear view mirror,

Immobilizer,

ISO-FIX child seat anchors,

9-inch brake booster,

Active Stability Control (ASC),

Side & curtain airbags,

Large head restraints,

Seat belt warning lamp,

Day-time running lights,

Specific left-hand drive developments (dashboard, wash-wipe & HVAC4 systems,
etc)
Timeline
As a reminder:

October 1966: Start of EV R&D at Mitsubishi

October 2006: “i MiEV” research vehicle revealed

December 2007: “Lithium Energy Japan” battery joint venture announced
4
”Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning” – i-MiEV’s climate control system features air conditioning with an electrically
powered compressor and a heating system which circulates warm water heated by an electric heater. The control dial provides
six-step manual adjustment of both cooling and heating temperatures. The system reduces power consumption by minimizing
occasions when both cooling unit and the heater operate together.
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
July 2009: i-MiEV goes on sale in Japan (fleet customers)

March 2010: Establishment of CHAdeMO association5

April 2010: First deliveries of i-MiEV to private customers in Japan

October 2010: Start of production of EU-spec. i-MiEV

December 2010: Start of sales in 14 selected European countries (depending per
country)
Major Specifications (Subject to final homologation)
IV i-MiEV specifications
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHTS
Overall length
mm
3,475
Overall width
mm
1,475
Overall height
mm
1,610
Wheel base
mm
2,550
Front mm
1,310
Rear
mm
1,270
Minimum ground clearance
mm
150
Interior length
mm
1,790
Interior width
mm
1,270
Interior height
mm
1,250
Curb weight
kg
1,110
Gross vehicle weight
kg
1,450
Seating capacity
Persons 4
Track
PERFORMANCE
Electric energy consumption
Wh/km
135
Electric range (NEDC)
km
150
Minimum turning radius
m
4.5
(NEDC)6
5
6
*http://www.chademo.com/indexa.html
NEDC stands for New European Driving Cycle. Official electric energy consumption and single charge drive range according
to ECE R101. The driving style, road and traffic condition, environmental influences and vehicle condition can in practice lead
to consumption and drive range figures which may differ from those calculated with this standard.
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POWER PLANT
Model
Y4F1
Rated output7
kW
35
Max. output8
kW/rpm
49/2500 - 8000
Max. torque
N･m/rpm 180/0 - 2000
TRACTION BATTERY
Type
Lithium-ion batteries
Voltage
V
330
Battery energy
KWh
16
TRANSMISSION
Final gear ratio
6.066
STEERING
Type
Rack and pinion (electric power steering)
SUSPENSIONS
Front
McPherson strut and coil spring
Rear
3-link de Dion
BRAKES
Brake system
Vacuum brake booster
Front
Ventilated discs
Rear
Drums
Brake booster size
9-inch
TYRES & WHEELS
Tyres
145/65R15
Front
[Low rolling resistance tyres]
175/55R15
Rear
Wheels
[Low rolling resistance tyres]
Front
15"x4.0J aluminium alloy
Rear
15"x5.0J aluminium alloy
ENDS
For further information, images and video content please contact the
Mitsubishi Press Office on 01285 647 200 or see www.mitsubishipress.co.uk
Andy Wertheim, General Manager - Press and Environmental Affairs, [email protected]
Shona Lawrence, Press Officer – Product Affairs and Events, [email protected]
7
8
Corresponds to "Maximum 30 minutes power", certified in accordance with ECE R85.
Corresponds to "Maximum net power" certified in accordance with ECE R85.
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