Mass Production of Electric Car Starts

Every 5th of June is a day used by the United Nations to stimulate worldwide awareness of environmental issues and encourages political action. It is fitting that on World Environment Day, June 5, 2009 — Mitsubishi Motors Corporation , unveiled the production version of the i-MiEV new-generation innovative electric vehicle (iEV), describing it as “the pioneer that will open the door to the next 100 years of our automobile society.”

Production is expected to begin at its main plant in Okayama Japan,The i-MiEV will go on sale on the Japanese market in late July of this year. Mitsubishi will be the first world's automaker to mass produce an electric vehicle.



From the Mitsubishi brochure:

"The i-MiEV is a zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) which produces no CO2 emissions while being driven. Even when the CO2 gas emitted at power generating stations is taken into consideration, the i-MiEV generates approximately one-third of the CO2 produced by the gasoline “i” minicar (Calculated in-house based on the average of electric energy frameworks in Japan).

The i-MiEV is powered by a very high energy-density lithium-ion battery manufactured by Lithium Energy Japan*9. The large-capacity drive battery is comprised of 88 lithium-ion cells connected in series and is installed under the floor in the center of the vehicle. This configuration contributes to outstanding handling and stability due to the car’s low center of gravity."