A white Mitsubishi i MiEV electric car plugged into an outdoor charging station.

MITSUBISHI

i-MiEV ELECTRIC CAR

i-MiEV: A part of Mitsubishi EV history

On World Environment Day 2009, Mitsubishi Motors unveiled the i‑MiEV (pronounced: 'EYE‑meev'), a compact all-electric car that paved the way for the automotive industry's seismic shift towards mass-produced electric vehicles (EV).

40 Years of Electric Know-How

At the time of its release, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV represented the crystallization of some 40 years of electric vehicle development at Mitsubishi Motors. Designed as a solution to the various challenges the automobile industry faced (then and now), the i-MiEV addressed concerns around environmental pollution, global warming and the depletion of petroleum-based energy supplies.

The i-MiEV. A Small Car With Big Advantages

The i-MiEV has maintained a high profile not only for its environmentally-friendly credentials but also through its visibility in government use in many countries, as well as in taxi and rent-a-car fleets. In addition, the i-MiEV electric car has proven an important vehicle at times of disaster, when gasoline shortages hamper the use of cars with internal combustion engines.

An Advanced Operating System That Thinks Green

The result of five decades of research, Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle (MiEV) technology was an integrated management system that constantly monitored and optimized the flow of energy throughout the car. MiEV technology created smooth and constant acceleration, distributed incoming energy from the regenerative brakes, and continually regulated the output from the i-MiEV's battery.

A Long Driving Range and a Spacious Cabin

The 16-kilowatt battery and compact, rear-mounted electric motor ensured that the i-MiEV's driving range reached up to 62 miles (EPA official range) and offered excellent performance. The electric vehicle's compact dimensions were perfect for city driving, but intelligent interior also resulted in a cabin with space for up to four people.

The introduction of the i-MiEV as Mitsubishi's first electric car also brought several innovative EV features to the market, including the use of advanced lithium ion battery packs and charging through CHAdeMO   and Type1 connections.

The Future of Mitsubishi Electric Vehicles

Amid rising demand for EVs, Mitsubishi Motors is working on the commercialization of V2H (Vehicle to Home) and V2G (Vehicle to Grid) to further develop and promote EVs and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV). Mitsubishi Motors regards this as one step towards pioneering a new age defined by an integrated relationship between the automobile and people, society and the environment.

Crucially, the i-MiEV also accelerated Mitsubishi Motors' research and development into EV powertrains, which led directly to the launch of the Outlander PHEV, an SUV with an innovative hybrid powertrain that combines both electric motors and a gasoline engine.
While the Mitsubishi i-MiEV is discontinued in North America, it remains a positive fixture in the electric vehicle market across Europe and Asia. Mitsubishi Motors continues its extensive collaboration with both private and public sectors in Japan and overseas in developing infrastructure to promote ownership of EVs.

Subscribe to Mitsubishi Email Alerts