Mitsubishi's i-MiEV electric vehicle officially headed to the US
By Donald Melanson 
posted April 9th 2009 5:57PM
posted April 9th 2009 5:57PM
It isn't exactly providing a whole lot of details just yet, but Mitsubishi has confirmed at the New York Auto Show today that its i-MiEV electric vehicle will indeed be making its way to the U.S., and sometime "before 2012." Interestingly, according to AutoblogGreen, that delay apparently isn't due to any hang-ups with the vehicle itself (it's hitting roads in Japan this summer), but rather whether battery-maker GS Yuasa can scrounge up enough lithium-ion batteries to keep up with demand. It also looks like the car that eventually hits the U.S. won't be exactly the same as the model bound for Japan and Europe, with the i-MiEV name likely the first thing to go. Of course, there's no official word on a U.S. price just yet, but the car, which boasts a range of around 100 miles on a single charge, should be selling for the rough local equivalent of $30,000 when it hits Europe and Japan.
they should rename it to i-MgAY
God when will these bigots go away?
i really didnt think they could make it uglier than a prius. thank god theres Tesla and FK to the rescue!!!
So if it was tough looking and someone said they should call it the "I-ManE" or something like that, would they be bigots too? Political correctness sucks. I live in Hollywood and there are a LOT of gay people here and there are things they buy and do that are decidedly gay. Observing that a group of people all participate in certain actions or purchase certain things qualifies it to be described as something those people represent. It just seems to me that the OP thinks that an item like this would appeal to the gay community. Whats wrong with appealing to a certain demographic? I'd venture to say that you, sir, are the bigot.
And quite honestly, your hostility towards people with the opinion that certain automobiles are gay is reprehensible.
Is it just me, or are these things WAY overpriced? Seriously. Why do you think our economy sucks so f'ing bad? A bunch of dumbasses will run out and by that P.O.S. instead of splurging the extra $10,000 on and AMERICAN made Volt. Which, by the way, shits on that car in every aspect as far as I'm concerned. Honestly though, all these electric vehicles are way overpriced.
That car sure looks like it's rolling its eyes
I cannot unsee the face
It's...it's an anime car.
So KAWAIIII *_* ^_^_^_^_^_^
/killme
Is it just me, or are these things WAY overpriced? Seriously. Why do you think our economy sucks so f'ing bad? A bunch of dumbasses will run out and by that P.O.S. instead of splurging the extra $10,000 on and AMERICAN made Volt. Which, by the way, shits on that car in every aspect as far as I'm concerned. Honestly though, all these electric vehicles are way overpriced.
Raped by the engadget comment system... Again.
Just 'click' the button once. That usually works.
This car = good
Your knowledge of economics and grammar = bad
I'm not sorry to burst your bubble. Even the first Yugo is a better built car than GM POS. GM blew it after years and years of customer abuse by developing and producing useless, oversize, gas guzzling sub par quality cars. They even destroyed the chance to change the world with the EV cars, because of their greed. GM goes hand in hand with Microsoft, the biggest "me too" company on the planet.
well, if GM ever releases it, that is... they can't even handle cars that they did right (i.e., EV1).
The only problem with the Volt is that GM might not survive and GM won't be making a profit on the Volt, while Mitsu might make a profit on these cars (they saved a bunch of money by using an existing car and not having to do R&D for a EREV system, which is a lot more complicated). So people will just go to the next closest thing. If they have an existing gas car already, they can save $10k and get a car that has more all electric range for daily commuting; not everybody needs the range extender.
And on the price, if you have been following the Volt, you should know the batteries are expensive. That's why these cars are expensive (the Volt isn't cheap either).
Totally, BlurMagic. Way overpriced. Hey, let's all get US electric vehicles! Let's all buy a Chevy Volt tomorrow!!! American cars are the best and they are not overpriced!! Also they are American so they are better because they are American. And they are not too expensive because the prices are not too much. I hate cars from foreigners! Gosh.
Jubei, I would kindly have to ask you to never comment on anything automotive related ever again, because you know absolutely nothing about the automotive industry. GM has not been "abusive to customers" and their supposed oversize and gas guzzling vehicles have been no worse than any other company (aside from the H2, which was a failure from the start). You should really do a bit of research before blowing your load over having the chance to try and bash another American company, you fat sot.
Even GM's electric cars are gas guzzlers.
Though i would agree with you the prices are outrageous. The reason they are overpriced it the batteries they use. The Tesla car used about 10,000 li-poly batteries to get it's 300mpc and 0-60 faster than a Ferrari. That about $6 a li-poly battery, thats $60,000 just in batteries and you wonder why it cost $110,000 dollars. Not only that I am sure that the oil and gas companies have a hand in electric car prices.
Is it me or do this cars suck when it comes to design. I know they have to be light but jesh. Carbon Fiber, Carbon Nano Tubes, Aluminum Polymers, think people, think.
Actually the Tesla uses laptop batteries which are a lot cheaper than li-poly batteries, especially compared to low volume prices of li-poly batteries, since Tesla buys in bulk.
The battery pack of the Tesla Roadster, including all the cooling/safety circuits costs $36k; it's good for 244 EPA miles:
http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2009/02/tesla-battery-pack-replacement-would-be-36000-today-musk-says.html
I estimate for the iMIEV, the battery pack cost is ~$10-20k (at 16kWh the iMiev's pack is ~30% the size of the Tesla's 56kWh, and the price per kWh might be more expensive), so the rest of the car is $20-10k, which should be accurate given the costs of the motor & other electronics and the relatively low volume.
$30k isn't too outrageous a price, though in the future they will definitely have to aim for $20k or less to appeal to the mass market.
Open a "laptop battery" and see whats inside...... smaller single cell li-ion batteries.
Secondly, when the Tesla first came out the batteries were around $60,000. My bad on the type.
Yes I know :P, by "laptop batteries" I was referring to the common 18650 cells, I was just using more colloquial speech.
not bad for 22,500 USD (after government incentive).
Worst. Picture. Ever.
Saw one of these on a FWY in SoCal. It looked SMALLER than a Smart Car. Your coffin on wheels will be making its way to the U.S. sometime "before 2012."
Thirty Grand for another golf cart?
Sheeeeet!!! Is that all there is? high end electric speedsters one one end and golf carts on the other?
I saw a 1940-something Packard on the road the other day. Where I live, there are a surprising number of vintage car collectors. THAT is a beautiful car. Why can't someone make an electric car that is THAT beautiful?
it is awesome. i just saw a similar one on *richwhitesingles.com* u may enjoy more there. So many hot singles are enjoying themselves there...
Unless I get a huge raise in pay I can't see buying one of these overpriced & ugly machines. Really, not all of us consider an auto that will barely get us to Disney & back & sells for $30.000 affordable. GM's Volt puts most of these electric offerings to shame but do the math on a $30,000 auto over 48 months ( (+ finance charges) & tell me who is willing to risk that kind of payment with the economy the way it is.. Wasn't that long ago that no would even entertain financing an auto for more than 48 months, & in fact the additional financing charges really make accepting a 60 or 72 month loan irresponsible.
20K give or take. 'cause that is what the "mass" market can consider affordable !
what doesn't Tesla get !!!?
$100,000+ like wtf is this?
yaya GO GREEN -the only green they like counting isn't the ones the TREE's produce.
The Oil Companies and your TAX-Hungry Governments will decide when, where and for how mu$ch "THEY" will get away with when the day comes that we will "Have to" buy that EV or alternative vehicle.
If you try and build it yourself (no matter how cheap or good) THEY, once again, won't let you drive it ! -get it ?
"They" will also blame you for not going green even though it isn't the consumer's fault.
If you can't afford that then ride a bike until the next ice age my friends.
"...stoopid is as stoopid does..."
what a _________ joke !
-The Average Consumer