Mitsubishi's i MiEV electric car makes it to the States, but not to you
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted November 25th 2008 4:34PM
posted November 25th 2008 4:34PM
If you've been keeping an eye on the i MiEV, the word from the street (or, in this case, Wired) is that four of the cartoonish vehicles are on their way to SoCal Edison, where their Electric Vehicle Technical Center will put 'em through their paces, testing not only the vehicles themselves but how they interact with the grid. Not that the car will be selling Stateside any time soon -- until it bulks up enough to pass federal side-impact tests and its range is extended beyond the current 70 miles, it looks like the vehicle will be a no-show at the dealerships. Apparently the vehicle sports a 16-kWh lithium-ion battery and optional regenerative braking mode, and the 47 kW (roughly 64 horsepower) motor shouldn't have any trouble keeping up with city traffic. But on the other hand, the car doesn't fly through the air, play VCDs or impress the ladies -- so what's the big deal, then?
Question is, can it travel at ramming speed?
well, you actually wouldn't want it to with that kind of safety rating
Hey when you pull that thing into the garage, does the garage ask if it's in yet?
Not when you pull it into the exit only door.
I'm really tempted to say "thats what she said"..
Sorry, but I had no choice :(
Patriks7...you ruined that.
Don't worry, baby, I'll be gentle.
No thanks, I am paying 1/2 price for gasoline now...
So you think these electric cars are only about gasoline prices? I don't even want to hear your view on other stuff in this world..
@patriks7
What else would they be about?? I would think the main factors to take into consideration when buying a car are economics, speed, and/or luxury.
Not many people are trying to save the world by buying a 'green' car. They're trying to save money on gas.
@Patriks7-- No, it's about *energy* prices, and until one can find some other form of energy with similar cost/density, gasoline is still the platinum standard. If you think there's no environmental cost to Li-ion batteries--not to mention the lousy economics of generating/transmitting/charging--you're seriously misinformed.
iEye: If you think gas is going to stay cheap, you're wrong.
BJ: Yes, helping the environment is on everyone's agenda. The question is why isn't it on yours? It's almost like you and iEye missed the memo.
I really think iEye is trying to be sarcastic......
I use my electric bicycle and public transportation most every day. The buick GN is for the week-ends in the summer. I have a Cavalier for the winter if it gets bad, it has been sitting outside all spring and summer (except when it developed a leak doing nothing, GM crap)
I would love to own a small reliable electric/hybrid car that is 1) cheap 2) reliable 3) easy to insure 4) can make it through winter when I need it the most.
Unfortunately I cannot see these cars introduced to the mass market anytime soon because the Masses are exactly that "Masses" who can barely walk 2 km without breathing hard. Until idiot consumers realize that they do not need 5 DVD players, automatic door openers, staters, room for 20, 500 HP and a mini fridge in the glove compartment, the industry will not change, and no one will go for these cars, a shame.
@Simon
I think I might have gotten that memo. I'm pretty sure that I 'filed' it with my jury summons.
The sky is not falling.
What, can't read the sign that says "exit only"??
actually, that car is exiting. i doubt it's entering in reverse.
this car is *cute*
did i just say that? OMG im going gay!
why not just buy the Mitsubishi i-car as it stands .. its tremendously economical .. has MUCH greater range and there are already plenty of fuel stations to "re-power" it if you happen to exceed the several hundred mile capacity of a tank .. they're exceptionally safe .. the only problem is you'll have to downsize most of the US population to make them a comfortable transport method.
I want an i. I have seen a couple in the UK, it's only 400 cc less than my current car. Plus I can say I own a rear engined,turbo'd, rear wheel drive car :D
Where on earth will I stash my black friday shit in that thing!?! ... also don't want to get hit in that. instant death
Do you often go shopping and get hit by random cars? Then this car is not for you.
Lol when I first saw the image, I thought it was a screen cap from last night's Chuck.
The Nerd Heard wants their color scheme back.
Impress the ladies??
Those ladies that only go out with guys with hot cars, are not the ladies you want anyways.
Thanks Mom
i live in los angeles. you need a nice car here.
Yah but can it play chrysis?
ROFL (No, literally.... I fell out of my chair)
You win the Internets, sir.
gas is $1.38/gal. I could care less about electric cars
You know...it's hard to consider the merits of that comment when you clearly mean "couldn't" care less
@fryhole
Much as I hate to endorse james' indifferent use of sarcasm, my resident grammar maven tells me that the ambiguity built into the expression "could care less" makes it logically equivalent to "could NOT care less." Doesn't sound right to me, but that's what she says.
i cant wait to buy my own electric car and charge it for free with a solar panel
I can't wait! Electric vehicles are going to be fantastic. And they won't all force us to choose between cool/performance vs green.
I saw an electric trail bike from Zero Motorcycles that ROCKS! Check out the jumps this bike can do - there's vid at their website. Cool, high performance electric cars will follow in time.