Official Mitsubishi i-MiEV Thread

[mwalsh]

Comparably equipped, the price of the "i" is too close to the Leaf, I suspect.

I agree. That's where I think my analogies of the types of buyers who might still choose the i over the LEAF ring the truest.

 

[SanDust]

Nice review. I think this will appeal to a lot of people, especially given its low price. I disagree about wanting the higher trim level. This is a basic car for going to the grocery store. No reason for a NAV or a fast charger or much of any other upgrade. Keep it simple and cheap and it will sell.

This car might have the lowest cost of ownership of any car available in NA. Plus it's cute.

The EV niches are being filled.

 

[Coffee_Slurry]

Nice read. Looks nicer (to me) than the narrower Japanese version.

How fast is the internal L2 charger? (kWh)

 

[mwalsh]

How fast is the internal L2 charger? (kWh)

3.3kW. And it only takes juice at 8 amps, which is why you're looking at ~7 hours for only a 16kWh pack.

 

[planet4ever]

How fast is the internal L2 charger? (kWh)

3.3kW. And it only takes juice at 8 amps, which is why you're looking at ~7 hours for only a 16kWh pack.

Those numbers don't compute. 8A * 240v = 1.9 kW. Even if the rate were not to slow at the end, 1.9 kW * 85% * 7 hours = 11.4 kWh. That would be only 71% utilization of the 16 kWh pack, which I guess is possible, but I can't see getting anywhere near 100 miles out of that.

Surely the 8A limit applies only to 120v charging? 12A seems more feasible, though even with that I don't see how they could claim to have a 3.3 kW charger, since 12A * 240v = 2.9 kW.

Ray

 

[mwalsh]

Surely the 8A limit applies only to 120v charging? 12A seems more feasible, though even with that I don't see how they could claim to have a 3.3 kW charger, since 12A * 240v = 2.9 kW.

Let me look back through my notes...I could be confused.

 

[mwalsh]

Mitsubishi is doing a drive tour with the i. You can check it out and take it for a short drive. Locations updated on their FB page here:

http://www.facebook.com/iMitsubishi?sk=events" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[edatoakrun]

Good Mitsu article, with implications RE the DC infrastructure and battery life, for us.

My #1 question for Nissan? Is using DC to charge past 80% (easily avoidable) the primary behavior we want to limit for longer battery life?

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1067070_dc-quick-charging-mitsubishi-says-you-can-do-it-every-day" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If you're considering a Nissan Leaf optioned with Level 3 DC quick-charging, you've probably been told, as we have, that you shouldn't make too regular a habit of getting a quick charge. Doing it daily, or even a few times a week, is probably a little too often.
But the answer from Mitsubishi officials, regarding the quick-charge option on the new 2012 Mitsubishi i, is quite different.

“We expect a daily quick charge not to have a significant toll on battery life,” said Bryan Arnett, manager of EV product strategy for Mitsubishi Motors North America.

According to Arnett, the company has expected that its batteries will retain 80 percent of their original charge after ten years—and that includes a consideration that the battery might be frequently quick-charged. It would be bad if the battery were to be quick-charged every time, he said, but not in the context of extending range midday, between overnight charges.

80 percent charge, in 20-30 min

As we experienced again in our recent First Drive of the U.S.-spec 2012 Mitsubishi i (or i-MiEV), it's nice to know that quick chargers can pinch-hit, in about the time it takes to grab a quick lunch. According to Mitsubishi, DC quick-charging will bring battery charge from zero up to 80 percent in just 20 to 30 minutes (with most of that variability linked to battery temperature).

The Leaf can be charged to 100 percent if you're willing to wait an hour or more, but Mitsubishi has limited the charge the battery pack in the i can get from quick-charging to 80 percent—thus avoiding the heat-related worries that cause the process to slow as you near a full charge (and can reduce the battery's life)....

 

[Herm]

Everything you want to know about the iMiev

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/10/imiev-20111010.html#comments" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"Mitsubishi estimates that after 5 years, the capacity of the Main Drive Lithium-ion battery will be approximately 80% of its original capacity. After 10 years, the capacity should be approximately 70%. Other factors that can adversely affect battery capacity over time include frequent driving using aggressive acceleration/deceleration, repeated frequent use of the quick charger, and vehicle operation/storage in extreme temperature environments."

 

[planet4ever]

Everything you want to know about the iMiev
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/10/imiev-20111010.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A most detailed article indeed, but it didn't answer the question I asked here earlier. The charging times quoted match those of the LEAF exactly, yet the battery has only 2/3 the capacity. So is the charger limited to something like 2.2 kW? Or is the charging system very, very, inefficient?

Ray

 

[mwalsh]

Everything you want to know about the iMiev
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2011/10/imiev-20111010.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A most detailed article indeed, but it didn't answer the question I asked here earlier. The charging times quoted match those of the LEAF exactly, yet the battery has only 2/3 the capacity. So is the charger limited to something like 2.2 kW? Or is the charging system very, very, inefficient?

Ray

Sorry, I still don't have an answer to that. I have been told previously though that the charger is 3.3kW.

 

[Herm]

A most detailed article indeed, but it didn't answer the question I asked here earlier. The charging times quoted match those of the LEAF exactly, yet the battery has only 2/3 the capacity.

Let it go Ray.. I find it fascinating that battery capacity degrades to 80% in 5 years and then down to 70% in the next 5 years.. that is a very gradual degradation. You could probably improve on that by only charging to 80%, perhaps.

 

[mwalsh]

i commercial - 'Welcome to the New Normal'. Apparently Mitsu set Normal, IL, up with 1000 of these little cars:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG0kOoWaOtQ[/youtube]

 

[TRONZ]

That is VERY cool!

 

[redLEAF]

This makes a lot sense as a Mitsubishi car mfg. plant has been operating in Normal, IL since '85. Kudos to them to taking the initiative on something of this scale -- did you notice the color of the EVSE pictured, looked like a Leviton. Looks like Central IL beat the rest of the state for a full scale distribution of EV's (and they weren't LEAF's)!

 

[DaveinOlyWA]

so the rumor that it will only have a 8 amp charger is just a rumor then? because that would account for the charging times

 

[mwalsh]

so the rumor that it will only have a 8 amp charger is just a rumor then? because that would account for the charging times

Not a rumor, at least not for 120v charging. Still don't know about 240v.

 

[JPVLeaf]

Love the commercial!

No pokes at BEV competition (Leafs).
No pokes at the EREVs (i.e., the Volts).

Just a brilliant Marketing idea.

i commercial - 'Welcome to the New Normal'. Apparently Mitsu set Normal, IL, up with 1000 of these little cars:

 

[Boomer23]

Love the commercial!

No pokes at BEV competition (Leafs).
No pokes at the EREVs (i.e., the Volts).

Just a brilliant Marketing idea.

i commercial - 'Welcome to the New Normal'. Apparently Mitsu set Normal, IL, up with 1000 of these little cars:

+1

Really a clever idea.

 

[JPVLeaf]

More on Mitsubishi's "Normal" marketing concept:

http://www.insideline.com/mitsubishi/i-miev/mitsubishi-to-test-evs-in-central-illinois.html

Just the Facts:
•Central Illinois will be the first U.S. location to test a fleet of Mitsubishi's i MiEV electric car.
•Mitsubishi has committed to supplying 1,000 i MiEVs to the Bloomington-Normal communities by 2014.
•Charging station maker Eaton Corp. is working with officials in Normal to develop a citywide charging network to be installed this year.

NORMAL, Illinois — Mitsubishi is expanding its operations in the central Illinois town of Normal, and the area's movers and shakers are responding by giving the automaker a place in the heartland to sell its upcoming i MiEV electric city car.

San Francisco, New York and Chicago might seem like better places in the U.S. for the little four-seater designed with narrow, parking-restricted Japanese streets in mind, but the Bloomington-Normal metro region just southeast of Peoria is first to climb onboard the i MiEV bandwagon.

The automaker and the Bloomington-Normal Electric Vehicle Task Force announced this morning that Mitsubishi has committed to supplying 1,000 i MiEVs — all built in Japan, not Normal — to the twin communities by 2014.

Mitsubishi North American President Shinichi Kurihara told an audience of community leaders in Normal this morning that the company will supply at least 300 of the cars to dealers in the region each year until the commitment is fulfilled.

As part of the Bloomington-Normal program, the task force and officials in Normal — home to Illinois State University — have vowed to work to help educate residents about electric-drive vehicles and to install an EV-charging network to facilitate use of the vehicles. In advance of the arrival of models designed for the U.S., the city of Normal also has agreed to lease a pair of European-specification i MiEVs starting next month and make them available to local organizations for test-drives.

Charging station maker Eaton Corp. is working with officials in Normal to develop a citywide charging network to be installed this year.

Additionally, the task force is developing an "http://www.EVTown.org" Web site to serve the region as a one-stop EV information and shopping center.

The Bloomington-Normal EV Task Force said it also is asking other automakers to partner in the region's "EV Town" initiative.