The battle for electric car sales cranked up a notch last night with the announcement by Mitsubishi that their forthcoming i-MiEV will be available for £28,990 rather than £38,699 as originally planned – equivalent to a 25% reduction! Even better news for motorists is that with the confirmation by the Government of its electric car incentive, customers will only have to pay £23,990 to get their hands on a i-MiEV.

Lance Bradley, Mitsubishi Motors in the UK’s Managing Director asserted that:

“The i-MiEV will remain first in all respects. We have been first in almost every aspect of the UK’s EV market for the last 2 to 3 years and we’re not going to give up that position easily. The electric vehicle is now a reality, with all our cars being European Whole Type Vehicle Approved. With a Mitsubishi Motors electric vehicle, customers need not compromise in any area.

What is more, our car is perfect for urban driving. It has been designed deliberately as a small, compact, true city car with the ability to nip in and out of traffic and park in the tightest of spaces.”

With over 2,300 i-MiEVs already operating the Japanese manufacturer is confident that the electric car will prove to be a ultra reliable new addition to roads in the UK when it is officially launched on January 1st 2011. The i-MiEV has been proving its reliability and usefulness in the UK since 2007, and has been involved in official government end-user trials since mid-December 2009 with customers in the Coventry and Birmingham area. Some of the key findings of the trial are highly relevant to prospective purchasers of the i-MiEV.

As well as the price reduction, the ultra-low running costs of the i-MiEV are a key advantage over conventional-powered cars, with additional incentives including:

• Only £144 fuel costs for 12,000 miles driving (£0.96 pence for a full charge – 16kW at an average of 6p per kW)
• Low servicing costs and downtime – only approximately 4 working parts compared to over 300 in a typical internal combustion engine
• Exempt from road tax
• First year capital allowances for fleet vehicles
• Zero benefit-in-kind company car tax
• Exempt from London Congestion Charge
• Free parking in some London boroughs and cities such as Milton Keynes
• Expected high residual values due to high demand outstripping supply for several years to come

Lance Bradley continues:

“These are exciting times for the motor industry in the UK. This is the biggest change in the automotive industry since it began some one hundred years ago, so to be able to offer our zero emissions car for this price is a truly great achievement.

We are aware that, by their very nature, any new technologies always command a premium, which has been true for anything from plasma televisions to cars. Others make price claims and estimations, but we have a real vehicle that is available now and is proven in the real world.”

With Mitsubishi’s price cut no doubt influenced, at least in part, by the Nissan LEAF it looks like many motorists seriously interested in an electric car will have a tough choice on their hands in 2011.

Let us know what you think about the news in the comments box below.

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Japanese car buyers are reaping the rewards of government subsidies for environmentally friendly cars.

The subsidies, which are due to expire at the end of September, helped sales of new vehicles in the country climb by 12.9 per cent during July to 486,606 units.

The Toyota Motor Corporation saw its sales shoot up by 19.1 per cent during the month thanks in large to the Prius Hybrid; while Honda enjoyed a 13.3 per cent jump partly based on the popularity of the Fit sub-compact and the Step WGN mini-van. Meanwhile, the Demio sub-compact helped boost Mazda’s sales volume by 25.3 per cent.

According to the Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, automakers are now stepping up their marketing activity to urge customers still driving old vehicles to buy new ones before the subsidies expire.

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The Mitsubishi i-MiEV has got off to a flying start in Australia where there are three times as many applicants to lease the electric vehicle as there are models available at this point.

Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited has announced members of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV Foundation Group, which includes organisations that have successfully applied to lease one of the electric vehicles when the shipments first arrive in Australia later this month. Members include: Department of Climate Change; Department of Environment; Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government; New South Wales Government; Queensland Government; South Australian Government; Victorian Government; City of Adelaide; City of Brisbane; City of Gold Coast; City of Marion; City of Sydney; NRMA; RAA SA; Better Place; Carsales.com; ChargePoint; Energex; Energy Australia; Ergon Energy; ESCO Energy Solutions; ETSA Utilities; GE Custom Fleet; Google; Hume Building Society; Leaseplan; Mitsubishi Australia Limited; Ozgene; Rock Constructions; Roche Products; St George Bank and Western Power.

Now the company will become the first volume production manufacturer to market electric vehicle technology in the country with Mitsubishi announcing that 40 vehicles will be available in initial shipments. Reported applications however, have exceeded 100 vehicles.

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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.

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A letter from a consortium of carmakers warns the UK government that a failure to confirm electric car subsidies will jeopardise the switch to greener cars, reports The Guardian.

According to the national newspaper, Mitsubishi, Nisssan, Peugeot and Citroen have written a joint letter to the business secretary Vince Cable and transport secretary Philip Hammond warning that "without the incentives, the UK will become a significantly less attractive market" to the electric car manufacturers.

It reads: "As businesses, we will target the markets that provide the best environment for selling our vehicles. The emergency budget made no specific reference to supporting low-carbon vehicle incentives and has therefore left our businesses uncertain of the government’s position."

Last week Transport Secretary, Philip Hammond said that it is likely that there would be a grant for buyers of electric and plug-in hybrids, although he could not confirm if it would match the £5,000 promised by the former Labour government (see story).

The companies, which all plan to launch mass-market electric cars in the UK by next year, said the vehicles were of "critical importance" to the growth of new green jobs. Accordingly the climate and energy secretary, Chris Huhne, has said such posts were central to government job-creation plans.

Electric cars are also central to Government plans to cut the country’s carbon emissions to meet legally-binding targets.

Cutting the grant for electric cars would hit of Nissan’s all-electric Leaf model. The carmaker is currently planning to manufacture its electric Leaf model at its plant in Sunderland from 2013. Currently around 4,000 people are employed at the North East factory.

Mitsubishi will retail its i-MiEV electric car model in the UK from January 2011-when the grants were scheduled to be introduced. Peugeot and Citroen likewise will introduce their electric car models from next year, both of which based on the i-MiEV.

The Government has still yet to confirm details of potential grants for electric cars and refused to comment on any timescale for incentives to the sector.

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The two companies have already a pretty extensive history in collaboration, with the forthcoming Citroen C-Zero and Peugeot i0n both based on the Mitsubishi iMiEV.

Now this collaboration has been extended with the news of a new feasibility study to be carried out by the two parties with the expectation of a new all electric light commercial vehicle being developed.

The study will centre around the development and supply of electric powertrains and will include an analysis of battery packaging.

There is no news yet on whether the light commercial vehicle will be based around an existing model or whether the partnership will collaborate on an entirely new vehicle. At TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk we speculate that it would make sense to develop a new platform for any commercial application to minimise any loss of space that housing numerous battery packs would bring.

As always, more information when we get it.

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As efforts continue to make London the electric vehicle capital of Europe, Transport for London has added four Mitsubishi i-MiEVs to its fleet.

The four vehicles are partly funded by the Government’s Low Carbon Procurement Partnership and is the first step in an effort to bring 1,000 electric vehicles to the city’s fleet by 2015. Most of the vehicles will be used by the Metropolitan Police Service. 

Increasing the number of electric vehicles in the fleet is just one part of a plan to boost electric vehicle numbers to 100,000 by 2020. In addition, 1,600 charging points will be installed across the capital during the coming year with the aim of having 25,000 points in place by 2015. The hope is that the average Londoner will be no further than a mile away from a charge point at any time.

Later this year, a London-wide brand for electric vehicles will also be launched so drivers can identify where a charging point is located. There will also be a new website that provides a one-stop service of information on electric vehicles and charging points.

As electric vehicles have no direct emissions, this should lead to improvements in air quality and reductions in climate change emissions. According to estimates, 100,000 electric vehicles could reduce London’s carbon output by nearly 500,000 tonnes over the next 10 years, saving 100,000 tonnes of nitrogen oxides and several tonnes of PM10 emissions too.

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Renault-Nissan isn’t the only car manufacturing powerhouse capable of setting up electric car agreements around the world, as Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has now proven.

The Japanese car manufacturer has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Danish government that will see the i-MiEV electric car break new ground in Denmark.

Under the terms of the agreement, the government will consider introducing the i-MiEV into its fleet in or after 2011 while also conducting electric vehicle promotional activities and implementing new infrastructure. The move is part of a national policy of environmental conservation initiatives that include electric vehicle related tax incentives. 

Currently, Mitsubishi sells the i-MiEV in Japan and Hong Kong but it has also signed agreements with several governments around the world including those in Ireland and the Principality of Monaco.

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See the resemblance (picture below)? If you thought the vehicle in question was an extended version of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV then you’re not far wrong.

In fact it is the Like from the Mitsuoka Motor Corporation – a five-seat electric vehicle that is based on the i-MiEV.

Mitsuoka Like.

The Like has a total length of 3,570mm, which makes it 175mm longer than the i-MiEV. The company has expanded the rear seat so it has capacity for two people rather than three and there also modifications to the exterior design, such as the addition of metal-plated bumpers.

The vehicle will be shipped from August and priced at Y4.28million – that’s Y300,000 more expensive than the i-MiEV. However, with the Japanese government subsidy in place, its price is reduced to Y3.14million.

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Six of Mitsubishi’s all-electric i-MiEVs have arrived in the North East of England to take part in the next stage of groundbreaking low carbon vehicle trials taking place in the region.

As part of the Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme (LCVPP) run by Cenex, two cars will become part of the fleet at Gateshead Council, two at Newcastle City Council, one at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council and one at Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.

The i-MiEVs arrive in the region following the successful Green Vehicle Congress 2010 event that was held by Cenex in Gateshead in March, and will form the next phase of the ‘Smart Move’ trial, a major part of the collaboration between Cenex and Regional Development Agency One North East.

Robert Evans, CEO of Cenex, said: “Cenex is pleased to continue our collaboration with One North East on electric vehicle deployment via this extension to our joint Smart Move project. The i-MiEV deployed in the Smart Move project will provide valuable learning concerning electric vehicle acceptance and future market development.“

Mitsubishi Motors’ Managing Director, Lance Bradley asserted Mitsubishi’s commitment to making the UK a leader in EV technology and infrastructure when he said: “We are delighted that these forward-thinking local authorities will be able to experience the i-MiEVs in their everyday operational use.

“With a range of 80 miles, a top speed of 81mph, as well as minimal servicing and running costs and ample cabin space, it will prove that electric vehicles can be utilised without compromise in an organisation’s fleet,”  he added.

The delivery of these new electric vehicles to the North East follows the first part of the Cenex ‘Smart Move’ trial which involved all four of the local authorities now using the i-MiEV and gave hundreds of drivers the chance to drive an electric car through placements in vehicle fleets and at public test drive events. One of the key findings of a report into the trial found that vehicle fleets like those at local authorities could provide a successful early market for electric vehicles.

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