Yes, the above prices can be reduced by up to $7,500 with a federal tax credit plus various state tax credits, if available. But even with maximum credits, e-rides are still pricey, especially when their limited driving range is factored in. If the cost has kept you from jumping on the electric car bandwagon, there’s a new offering that might persuade you.

Say hi to the i, the i-MiEV (Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle). Starting at $29,125 before incentives, Mitsubishi has positioned the i-MiEV as the value-priced choice for an all-electric car. With a look straight out of a comic book, the little egg-shaped four-door hatchback can seat four adults—really—and has an EPA estimated driving range of 62 miles with a top speed of 81 mph. While its design will surely turn heads and elicit smiles, the i-MiEV has earned some notable accolades. The Environmental Protection Agency’s 2012 Fuel Economy Guide lists the i-MiEV as the most fuel-efficient vehicle sold in the United States with a rating of 125 city and 99 highway for a combined 112 miles per gallon of gasoline equivalent (MPGe). Additionally, the 2012 Greenest Vehicle List published by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) ranked the i-MiEV the greenest car on the road, placing it ahead of the Civic Natural Gas, which had won the category the previous eight years in a row.

Beneath The Cartoonist Body

The i-MiEV began as a gasoline-powered Mitsubishi i model in 2006 and is classified as a kei (“light vehicle”) car in Japan, a category of small vehicles that receives tax and other incentives. The i layout is rear-wheel drive with a “rear-midship” engine placed just in front of the rear axle, an unusual design in a small car where front-engine, front-wheel drive has prevailed since the 1970s. Like other mid- or rear-engined vehicles, its fifteen-inch wheels have uneven-sized tires—P145/60R (5.7-inches wide) on the front and wider 175/60s (6.9-inches wide) at the rear—to minimize oversteer caused by the rear-biased weight distribution.

Based on the i, Mitsubishi launched the electric i-MiEV to fleet customers in Japan in 2009 and to the wider public in 2010. European deliveries also began in 2010 and in December 2011, the first 2012 models arrived in the U.S.

To make the i-MiEV more appealing to American preferences and meet U.S. crash standards, Mitsubishi lengthened the Japanese and Euro version by 11 inches, increased the width by four inches and nudged the height by a half an inch. In comparison, it is three feet longer than a Smart FourTwo Electric and more than two feet shorter than the Nissan Leaf and Ford Focus Electric.

To convert the gas powered i to an EV, an electric motor replaces the gasoline engine above the rear axle and a battery pack is placed beneath the floor along with a motor control unit. Directing the power to rear wheels is a simple, single-speed fixed reduction transmission that replaces the four-speed automatic.

The water-cooled alternating current, 49-kilowatt synchronous permanent magnetic motor generates a modest 66 horsepower and a more generous 145 pound-feet of torque. Power output may seem a bit light compared to other EVs, but so is the car, tipping the scales at a petite 2,579 pounds. This helps give the car its 62-mile driving range—if you’re easy on the go pedal.

Feeding the motor is a 330-volt, 16-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. Recharging the battery when empty takes about 22 hours using a 120-volt household outlet. The time can be reduced to just seven hours with an upgraded 240-volt Level 2 home recharging unit. And, if there is Level 3 480-volt quick-charging station in the area, an optional quick charge package gets the battery from discharged to 80 percent full in 30 minutes.

The drive system has three driving modes, “D,” “Eco” and “B.” Provided by the gear selector, each is intended to produce the best performance for different driving circumstances. D Mode is the default position and is best utilized on highways and interstates. The Eco mode limits the motor’s output to increase the range of a single charge and the decline in performance in quite noticeable. B mode adds more regenerative braking when the car is coasting to a stop or braking on downhill stretches to more aggressively recharge the battery.

The Cartoon Appearance

My reference to the i-MiEV’s cartoon styling is a term of endearment, not a criticism. Some may look at it as a glorified golf car or an egg-on-wheels. For me, I love the way it makes me smile when I look at it. How many cars can do that?

It starts with elongated headlights—nearly the size of its 15-inch wheels—that flank both sides of a quick falling, stubby hood. Below is a bulbous front bumper with a smile-like intake opening.

The silhouette of this perky little four-door begins in a sweeping arc from the front bumper, continues up the sharply raked windshield and flows to the rear hatch, where it abruptly ends in tall vertical taillights. The arc returns to the front along the underside of the rear doors to the front wheel arches, completing the i-MiEV’s egg shape profile.

Inside, Not So Whimsical

While the i’s exterior is a barrel full of giggles, inside the smiles begin to fade. The interior is rather pedestrian with few creature comforts. There’s no soft-touch materials, center armrest or rear cupholders. As for the gee-whiz stuff, via the unwieldy key fob, the owner can remotely warm or cool the interior while the car is still on grid power, But unlike other EVs and plug-ins, the little Mitsubishi doesn’t have built-in cellular connectivity that can accomplish that function from anywhere by means of smart phone applications and websites.

The i-MiEV does, however, have the bare necessities. Standard equipment, regardless of trim level, includes remote keyless entry; power windows, locks and side mirrors; air-conditioning; a four-speaker audio system with a CD player and an auxiliary jack for iPod connectivity: and a 50/50-split rear seats that fold and recline. Also included is a height-adjustable heated driver’s seat—the front passenger has to make do with a cold derrière on chilly days.

A simple gauge cluster has a centered digital speedometer surrounded half way by an Eco Meter that gives real time feedback—how hard are you accelerating or braking. To the right is a small round gauge with odometer and trip readouts, on the left a battery distance-to-empty readout is similar to a fuel gauge on a gasoline powered car. Controls on the center console are logically placed and knobs for the climate control are the large, easy to operate kind.

The car’s size suggests otherwise, but the i-MiEV easily seats four adults, including tall people, though its narrow width means there’s some touching. Cargo capacity is 13.2 cubic behind the rear seats, 50.4 cubic feet with the seats folded.

A step up from the base ES model to the SE ($31,125 before incentives) adds upgraded seat fabric, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an eight-speaker audio system, fog lights and 15-inch alloy wheels.

Both models offer a $700 Quick Charge Package that adds a DC quick charge port, battery warming system and heated outside mirrors. Available on the SE only is a $2,790 Premium Package that includes the Quick Charge features plus a hard-drive-based navigation system, Mitsubishi’s Fuse hands-free link system, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls and a rearview camera. Of note for the information obsessed, the navigation system does not have a graphic display of the electric powertrain’s operating system.

The i-MiEV has all of the required safety features—six airbags, anti-lock brakes, and electronic stability and traction control systems. While the i offers the lowest price among electric cars and best fuel economy in the U.S., recent National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash tests shows the little Mitsu falls short in safety ratings compared to its main competitor, the Nissan Leaf.

Behind The Steering Wheel

Mitsubishi wants the i-MiEV juiced and ready to go for reviewers, so the little EV arrived by truck at our office. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of vehicles in the press fleet and our driving time was limited to just three days.

Planning ahead, we had mapped out the first day of driving that included errands in downtown Olympia, Wash., a stop at a shopping mall several miles away and returning via the freeway for a total of 48 miles.

Starting out in D mode, the instant torque response from the electric motor scoots the i-MiEV off the line quickly enough for the car’s intended earth-saving mission of commuting duties, but the single-gear transmission means that acceleration tapers off rapidly at around 25 mph. Audible motor whine is quite noticeable under load, but at constant speed it just whizzes along in an almost unaudible way.

After 10 miles, we moved the shift lever to Eco mode. Mitsubishi says the time from 0 to 60 mph takes 13 seconds. In Eco, you can add about four seconds, and when the speed reaches that 25 mph mark, forward motion seems almost glacial. But hey, we were saving electrons and blended well with city traffic.

Thanks to a relatively tall driving position and large windows, the driver’s view of the surroundings is excellent. The i’s body is screwed on tight and there were no squeaks or rattles. The ride comfort is reminiscent of an early 1990’s economy car—a fairly smooth feel on good pavement that turns jumpy when the road gets uneven. The rear suspension will certainly let you know when you connect with an unseen pothole, especially for back seat passengers.

We found the narrow body made it easy to thread through small gaps in traffic while the short length permitted squeezing into small parallel parking spots.

With some unused electrons from day one, an 18-hour overnight charge from a standard 110-volt outlet brought the battery charge gauge to full. For day two, the plan was to operate the car in the B mode as much as possible to see if we could extend the driving range. Hypermilers take note: We drove 69 miles and still had 12 miles of driving range when we pulled into the driveway.

Selecting (downshifting?) B from either the D or Eco position brings an abrupt slowing, but the charge needle goes bonkers. It takes a while to learn, but with the right foot on the accelerator and the left foot modulating the brake, it’s possible to keep up with slow, in-town traffic for several miles. The hardest part to master was acceleration; it is noticeably quicker in B than the other selections.

For day three, we arranged to meet the truck 18 miles from our office to get some freeway miles on the clock. We quickly learned on the first day that merging into fast moving traffic in Eco is not a wise choice. But even in D, when the 18-wheeler in the left side mirror obviously has a light load, getting up to speed seems an eternity.

Mitsubishi’s published top speed of 81 mph shouldn’t be taken as a target, but more an assurance that you can reach and maintain 65-70 mph if your regular route includes a few miles of freeway or interstate. Do note that higher speeds quickly draws juice from the battery, especially if the route has hills, as mine did. When I pulled into the parking lot that driving range had diminished to 33 miles.

The EV For You?

If you want a battery-electric car and a 62-mile driving range works for you, the 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV ES is the cheapest game in town at $31,125 before incentives. However to insure that you have the maximum driving range everyday, i-MiEV, or any other plug-in vehicle require a 240-volt home recharging unit. So, add perhaps another $2,000 to $4,000, or more if major electrical work is required.

Bear in mind that this is an economy subcompact car and will ride and handle like one. If road surfaces are generally rough where you live, the satisfaction of driving emissions free could quickly get old. Also, if you absolutely must be connected while driving, forget about the i-MiEV.

If you think the features on the uplevel SE model are more of what you want, you should compare it to the Nissan Leaf. The Leaf’s base price of $35,200 is just $435 more and it has a longer driving range, can seat five and has wireless connectivity for smart phone apps.

Our take is, if we still lived in Seattle we wouldn’t hesitate to open the checkbook for an i-MiEV ES. It delivers more than enough driving range for my wife’s former magazine editing job and for the daily errands that an average couple makes throughout the week.

The statement this car makes is, electric vehicles are ready for the world, but is the world ready for electric vehicles?

Prices are manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) at time of publication and do not include destination charges, taxes or licensing.

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One day soon your electric car could be your backup house power as well as your means to getting to work – and if a research center called “M-tech Labo” just opened by Mitsubishi in Japan has anything to say about it, that’s exactly where things could be headed.

Following lessons learned by its MiEV project, and investing heavily in future electrified vehicles besides, Mitsubishi Corporation, and its automobile and electrical divisions are working further along the lines of proving a smart grid whereby the large batteries in its EVs would be fully capable of two-way energy flow.

According to Gas2.0, the lab – “Labo” is believed to be short for “laboratory” – is running under supervision from the Tokyo Institute of Technology, and already at work trying to implement the mobile electricity storage concept, with Mitsubishi’s Nagoya Works facility being used to conduct the experiment.

If you’ve been following EVs, you’ve probably seen similar stories before. The intention is to determine whether EV batteries can help to regulate uneven power in an already maxed-out grid. Mitsubishi’s goals would include not interfering with drivers who wish to actually use their cars.

In Japan, energy storage is said to be especially an issue. There, land space is at a premium and bulky, stationary charging stations aren’t seen as an economical solution.

Talk is also of adding renewable power generation, and Mitsubishi is giving the research a year to determine viability of a new “eco city” that could be developed on smarter energy usage now being pioneered.

If the research pans out, EVs could add to a power grid network to store, exchange and balance out energy in Japan, with ability to adapt lessons learned elsewhere in years to come.

Gas2

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This week the first shipment of 2012 Mitsubishi i electric demonstrator vehicles were received for East Coast dealerships at the Port of Baltimore and said to represent its the debut for “most of the eastern seaboard.”

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Mitsu’s little EV returns 112 miles per gallon equivalent (energy usage), the highest of all vehicles sold in the U.S.

This is among the many selling points Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is making regular use of for its plug-in commuter which is also known as the iMiEV and has already successfully been on sale in other markets.

“With so many vehicles sold in different parts of the globe, Mitsubishi’s 100 percent electric-powered vehicle has a proven record of reliability, safety and ease of use,” said MMNA President & CEO Yoichi Yokozawa.” And as the number 1 selling electric vehicle (EV) in Norway, the Mitsubishi i should have no problem adapting to American households in the cold-climate northeast corridor.”

Mitsubishi also notes the i is “the most affordably priced” EV sold in America, and like others in its class, is eligible for $7,500 in federal tax credit plus state and local incentives where applicable.

The i is the first of several advanced alternative-fuel production vehicles that the Japanese auto manufacturer plans to introduce in North America over the next few years.

Suggested prices for its two versions (prior to subsidies) are $29,125 for the ES model, and $31,125 for the SE model. Mitsubishi’s Web site has much more info.

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Although for the better part of a decade the Honda Civic Natural Gas was ranked the greenest car on the road by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), this year it was upstaged by a new contender, Mitsubishi’s all-electric i.

On ACEEE’s 2012 Greenest Vehicle List, the Mitsubishi – still known in other markets as the i-MiEV – scored a total of 58 points, placing it ahead of the Civic Natural Gas, which had won the category the previous eight years in a row. The Civic tied for second place with Nissan’s all-electric Leaf, followed by the Toyota Prius Liftback and Smart ForTwo.

Out of the top 12 vehicles listed, half were hybrids. Besides the Prius and Insight, the others were the Honda Civic Hybrid (ranked 8th), Lexus CT 200h (ranked 9th), Toyota Camry Hybrid (ranked 10th), and Honda CR-Z (ranked 11th).

According to ACEEE lead analyst Shruti Vaidyanathan, “It’s increasingly obvious that automakers are fully invested in providing consumers with the widest possible array of vehicle choices.” Yet Vaidyanathan also said that “earning a spot on the ‘Greenest’ list is proving to be a real challenge for automakers, given the variety of vehicle technologies on the market and the proliferation of highly efficient conventional vehicles. Just using the latest technology does not guarantee a top spot.”

Nonetheless, as far as the mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive Mitsu i is concerned, its maker has every reason to be proud – the car scored the highest number of points since the Greenest Vehicle Awards began in 1998 with a combined city/highway fuel economy equivalent rating of 112 miles per gallon. This ranks it higher than any other vehicle currently on sale in the U.S.

“Even taking into account the emissions generated from the electricity used to power [the i],” said Vaidyanathan. “it still handily outscores other vehicles on the market today.”

ACEEE

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Earlier this week we saw how a startup electric vehicle maker dropped out of business saying support for the market is weak, but don’t try telling that to Mitusubishi.

The far-more deep pocketed company said it will push up plans for nationwide roll out for its four-door electric i from an originally planned December 2012 nationwide roll out to June 2012.

The plug-in commuter will be here six months sooner perhaps in part because it is six thousand dollars less than a Nissan Leaf while offering only 11 miles less EPA estimated range (62 vs. 73).

Mitubishi reports its dealers have said they are receiving requests for the i and perceived demand around the U.S. was enough to prompt the company to update its schedule.

Last month the car began selling in Hawaii, California, Oregon and Washington, and while new to the U.S., Mitsu has already sold 16,000 units overseas where it is known as the i-MiEV.

The i, will start at $29,125 which makes it a value leader compared to the 2012 Leaf which goes for $35,200.

If factoring in a $7,500 federal subsidy, outlay for the Mitsu could be around $22k, and this is before miscellaneous other incentives that may be regionally available.

So the price is attainable for more people, but in question is how many would want to make the Mitsu their one and only car?

Mitsubishi says the i is ideally a second car, but we know intrepid EV enthusiasts have been known to say “phooey” to that assumption already, having purchased the limited-range Leaf as an only car.

Reports are that limited range or not, EVs can be used as a primary car, especially for those with shorter daily drives. An internal-combustion rental car is an option for infrequent longer trips for some of these early adapters.

Regardless of that discussion, the overall positive news for EV enthusiasts is significant competition is coming in, and more is yet to come.

Mitsubishi said it will also start selling an electric version of its Mirage compact in Japan in 2013, though it hasn’t set a date for U.S. sales.

Offerings also by Chevrolet and Ford – Spark EV and Focus Electric respectively – are on their way, with the Ford being first, and plans for the Chevy yet to be announced. Besides these, more EVs are expected to enter what is now a tiny but growing market.

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This week Mitsubishi announced a few details about its limited-production U.S electric minicar due in November, including that it will be the lowest-price, highest-MPGe EV yet available.

The “i” is what Mitsubishi is calling the $27,990 “wide body” version of its EV, and just 2,000 will be made available for the North American market.

You may have read of other electric and petrol iterations of the car also known as the iMiEV in Japan and elsewhere, but Mitsubishi said it is taking the cautious route for year one in the U.S.

As it is, the all-electric North American version of the tiny city car earned a respectable 126 MPGe (mile per gallon equivalent) in city driving, and 99 MPGe on the highway (112 MPGe combined).

Utilizing a 16-kWh li-ion battery, and capable of 81 mph top speed, the rear-wheel-drive commuter will weigh a few hundred pounds more than the approximately 2,400-pound Japanese version.

This is still several hundred pounds lighter than the larger bodied Nissan LEAF, which Mitsubishi does not consider a head-to head competitor.

To test its range, the i was put through the “LA4” driving cycle which simulates aggressive driving and operating in higher ambient temperatures with the air conditioning on. The cycle covers approximately 7.5 miles and includes numerous brief stops to mimic in-town driving as well as starts and stops for traffic signals.

A conservative estimate Mitsubishi is promising is “real world” range of 62 miles (100 km), and under the EPA’s LA4 cycle, the car is actually rated at 98 miles.

The company said it worked to improve travel distance, and attributes the 98 mile range to software upgrades and a revamped regenerative braking system, which delivers a 20-percent efficiency boost.

“We feel that with the combination of capability, affordability, and high level of efficiency offered by the 2012 Mitsubishi i will be prove very appealing to consumers considering EV transportation”, said Yoichi Yokozawa, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America.

Although Mitsubishi considers it a “second or third vehicle,” for most Americans, if one factors in a $7,500 federal tax credit, it will at least be priced competitively compared to the few other EVs yet launched at $20,495, and boasts a long list of standard amenities.

Included are energy-efficient electric air conditioning with micron filter, speed-sensitive Electric Power Steering (EPS), driver seat heater and LED rear combination tail lamps.

Advanced safety features include dual-stage supplemental front air bags, driver and front passenger seat-mounted side impact supplemental air bags, roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags for front and rear-seat outboard passengers.

Does this sound like a fair bit of safety built in? It was considered necessary for this small car testing the waters in the demanding North American market – and there are more safety features besides, including Active Stability Control (ASC) with Traction Control Logic (TCL), 4-wheel Anti-Lock Braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD), Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), high voltage cut-off system and an Approaching Vehicle Audible System (AVAS).

All this technology will come standard on every Mitsubishi i.

Press release: Mitsubishi

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In recent years, automakers have used major auto shows in Detroit, Tokyo, Frankfurt and Geneva to unveil their latest whiz-bang green car technologies and concept cars. Few of those so-called “game-changing” vehicles will end up in the dealership showroom in the next five or ten years—but the presence of next-generation hybrids, city cars, and clean diesels gives a signal that automakers are inching in a greener direction. The presence of electric vehicles in New York signals the same intent by carmakers to offer gas-free all-electric cars in the United States.

Nissan says it will launch a commercially produced electric car for fleet buyers in the U.S. in 2010 and for retail customers in 2012. If Nissan delivers on this promise, it could be the industry’s first manufacturer to bring an all-electric car to the mass market (since the demise of EVs a few years ago). “We think there’s a future and a customer base for electric vehicles,” said Larry Dominique, Nissan’s Nashville-based vice-president for product planning.

The company will show the hip, box-shaped Denki Cube Concept, which is capable of traveling 100 miles per charge and can reach a top speed of 75 mph. A recharge of the Cube’s lithium ion batteries should take about 8 hours. A Nissan official said the company’s new electric car would be “premium-priced, but not out of reach.”

Subaru will show its Subaru R1e two-seater, which is capable of driving at speeds up to 65 mph with a range of up to 50 miles between charges. The company will use the New York show to announce its planned deliver of two R1e vehicles to the New York Power Authority for evaluation. The Subaru R1e employs fast-charge lithium ion battery technology that allows a charge to 80% capacity within about eight minutes, without compromising the batteries capacity or longevity. Limited vehicle range and long charging times have been an obstacle to widespread market acceptance of electric cars.

The Mitsubishi all-electric i-MiEV has been making the rounds at auto shows for a number of years, and will show up again in New York. The iMiEV Sport drive system uses three permanent magnetic synchronous motors. One in-wheel motor is placed at each front wheel; a single motor drives the rear wheels. This time, the EV version will be accompanied by a gas-powered variant that may be more imminent. Unlike the electric car concept, the gas-powered i-minicar is a production model that has been selling in Japan since 2006.

Mitsubishi has previously announced that the all-electric i-MiEV will be mass-marketed by 2010. Having developed its own large-capacity high-performance lithium ion battery—in a joint venture with GS Yuasa Corporation—Mitsubishi is confident that the technology is ready for prime time.

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The four-seater i-minicar utilizes a lightweight aluminum chassis. It is powered by a three-cylinder 64-horsepower gas engine, combining a turbocharger with variable valve timing to achieve approximately 55 miles per gallon. Top speed is approximately 90 miles per hour. Though highway-capable, the ‘i’ is ideal for city driving with its concise overall length of 133.7. inches—28 inches longer than the Smart ForTwo and a foot shorter than the Mini Cooper—and a tight 13 foot turning radius. ABS and Electronic Brake Distribution come as standard safety features.

American consumers thirsty for greener car alternatives may want a definitive answer on when the i-minicar and/or i-Miev wil be introduced in the United States. But that question is not likely to be answered in New York or anytime soon.

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