Mitsubishi Reportedly Will Double i-MiEV Production Schedule by 2013
By Greg Johnson April 28, 2009
Here's a report that offers evidence that government-provided incentives can help to grow the market for cleaner, more-efficient vehicles.
Mitsubishi Motors Corp. hopes to increase production of its i-MiEV to 30,000 vehicles annually during its 2012/2013 fiscal year, according to a report in the Kyodo News. The Japanese automaker previously said that it would produce 15,000 i-MiEV electric cars during its 2010/2011 fiscal year, according to the newspaper.
Mitsubishi President Osamu Masuko told the newspaper that the anticipated production increase is being driven by consumer response to government-funded incentive programs around the world that encourage consumers to purchase low-emission, fuel-efficient vehicles.
Mitsubishi will launch the i-MiEV in Japan this summer by leasing the first wave of vehicles to corporate fleet operators including the Tokyo Electric Power Corporation utility company and Lawson convenience store chain, according to Global Insight (subscription required), an economics and politics forecasting company.
"Initially, the vehicle is not expected to record good sales volumes due to its higher cost," Global Insight states. "But as volumes increase and the cost of the technology falls, there is expected to be an increase in the number of private buyers taking the plunge, as has been seen with hybrid vehicles in the past."
Global Insight also notes that the Mitsubishi i-MiEV will face increased competition as other manufacturers, including Nissan, introduce their own EVs.
Mitsubishi says the i-MiEV is capable of up to 80 miles of driving between battery charges, and can be recharged in 12-14 hours using a standard 110-volt household current, or 6-7 hours using a 220-volt line. An optional fast-charge system can get the battery up to 80 percent of capacity in 30 minutes.
Greg Johnson, contributor
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