Where we stand: July 2010
Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has been in the news after striking a deal with Transport for London to bring four i-MiEV electric vehicles to the nation’s capital (see article). The company has also furthered its collaboration with PSA Peugeot Citroen with the expectation that a new electric light commercial vehicle will be developed (see article).
However, despite being one of the first major manufacturers to bring an electric vehicle to the market, Mitsubishi has not always been an embracer of green technology having primarily made its name in the UK with larger models such as the Mitsubishi Outlander and Mitsubishi Shogun.
Mitsubishi today
Mitsubishi was rocked in 1997 by the economic downturn in south-east Asia where it had a strong presence. It saw customer demand plummet and this prompted an aggressive restructuring programme. Mitsubishi struggled for a long period without new investment and in 2006 the Mitsubishi I kei Car became its first new vehicle in 29 months. It reported its first profitable quarter in four years in the third quarter of 2006 and returned to profitability at the end of that year.
Though recently debuting its greenest SUV in the UK in the form of the Mitsubishi ASX, much of the company’s green car efforts have focused on its i-MiEV (based on the I kei car) all-electric mini car with a lithium-ion battery tucked underneath its floor.
The car has a range of 80miles and a top speed of 80mph. It was launched in Japan in late July, 2009, with Mitsubishi expecting sales in the region of 1,400 vehicles by March, 2010, and then to around 5,000 vehicles in the following 12months. The Japanese government is offering subsidies on the vehicle as high as Y1,390,000 and its overall price was slashed in April 2010 as a direct reaction to Nissan announcing the launch of the LEAF electric vehicle (see feature). In the US, sales are expected to begin in 2011 with prices targeted below $30,000.
Here in the UK, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV featured as part of an electric vehicle trial in December, 2009, and is part of the Coventry and Birmingham Low Emission Vehicle Demonstrators (CABLED) programme in the Midlands. Sales to the UK public will begin in January, 2011, with the vehicle priced at £38,699 (see article and feature) although the launch is expected to coincide with the government’s £5,000 Plug-in Car Grant if it goes ahead. The i-MiEV is also expected to be sold in Europe as both the Peugeot i0n and the Citroen C-ZERO (see article).
Greenest models on sale:
The following are the greenest models of all Mitsubishi cars available now in the UK:
Mitsubishi ASX – Greenest Model: 2 1.6litre petrol with combined mode fuel consumption of 47.1mpg and CO2 emissions at 135g/km.
Mitsubishi Colt Three Door – Greenest Model: 1.3 CZ2 ClearTec Manual with combined mode fuel consumption of 56.5mpg and CO2 emissions at 119g/km.
Mitsubishi Colt Five Door – Greenest Model: 1.3 CZ2 ClearTec Manual with combined fuel consumption of 56.5mpg and CO2 emissions at 119g/km.
Mitsubishi i-MiEV – Greenest Model: An electric vehicle with zero exhaust emissions and a range of 80miles on a single charge.
Mitsubishi Lancer Four Door – Greenest Model: 1.5 MIVEC SE Manual with combined mode fuel consumption of 44.1mpg and CO2 emissions at 153g/km.
Mitsubishi Lancer Hatchback – Greenest Model: 1.5 MIVEC GS2 Manual with combined mode fuel consumption of 42.8mpg and CO2 emissions at 156g/km.
Mitsubishi L200 Double Cab – Greenest Model: 2.5 DI-D 4WD 4Work Double Cab LB Manual with combined fuel consumption of 34.0mpg and CO2 emissions at 218g/km.
Mitsubishi L200 Club Cab – Greenest Model: 2.5 DI-D 4WD 4Life Single Cab Manual with combined fuel consumption of 34.9mpg and CO2 emissions at 215g/km.
Mitsubishi Outlander – Greenest Model: 2.2DI-D Duro Manual with combined mode fuel consumption of 40.4mpg and CO2 emissions at 185g/km.
Mitsubishi Shogun LWB – Greenest Model: 3.2 DI-DC Equippe Manual with combined mode fuel consumption of 35.3mpg and CO2 emissions at 212g/km.
Mitsubishi Shogun SWB – Greenest Model: 3.2 DI-DC Equippe Manual with combined mode fuel consumption of 35.3mpg and CO2 emissions at 211g/km.
Mitsubishi Shogun Commercial – Greenest Model: 3.2 DI-DC Warrior Commercial Manual with combined mode fuel consumption of 35.3mpg and CO2 emissions at 211g/km.
Mitsubishi tomorrow:
Mitsubishi has outlined plans to cut the cost of its electric vehicles by around 30 per cent by 2012 (see article) and has also revealed plans for two more models based on the i-MiEV:
- Mitsubishi i-MiEV Cargo – Extending the i-MiEV with a generous amount of rear space, the i-MiEV Cargo is aimed at corporate users and self-employed operators in particular. It measures 1350mm wide by 1180mm deep by 1100mm high and features a flat floor and cube shaped luggage compartment at the rear.
- Mitsubishi Concept PX i-MiEV – The Mitsubishi i-MiEV will soon have a plug-in hybrid version in the form of the Concept PX. It returns fuel consumption in excess of 140.9mpg and greatly extends the range of the i-MiEV with a 1.6l DOHC MIVEC gasoline engine which can power the front wheels as well as work as a generator. It made its debut at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show.
