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Mitsubishi Chairman Yorihiko Kojima Drives an i-MiEV to Work Everyday

November 6th, 2007 | Posted in: Competitors

We have previously discussed Mitsubishi’s prototype lithium-ion battery powered electric vehicle called the i-MiEV (prior post).

The car was noted to be all-electric with no range extender but be able to drive 100 miles on electric charge and to have wireless recharge capability.

Well here’s a shocker..Mitsubishi’s chairman Yorihiko Kojima reports that he is already driving one of these cars to work everyday.

This certainly gives us pause for thought…Bob Lutz isn’t driving a Volt, because there isn’t one yet (although hopefully there will be a working prototype by year-end).

This must mean Mitsubishi already has a safe working battery pack, and that their plan to introduce these in 2009 might not be so far-fetched.

Source: (Autochannel)

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Posted by: Lyle

55 Responses to “Mitsubishi Chairman Yorihiko Kojima Drives an i-MiEV to Work Everyday”

Scott Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 1:23 pm

100 mile range isn’t large enough for what consumers want in this country. It may be fine in Japan, but not here.
AES Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 2:08 pm

Mitsubishi’s batteries are large format cells made by GS Yuasa:

http://media.mitsubishi-motors.com/pressrelease/e/corporate/detail1626.html

I have no idea what chemistry they are using, though. Regardless, the fact that safe(r) lithium ion batteries exist right in TOYota’s backyard just reaffirms the fact that they are trying to cover up their own inadequate engineering and business decisions.
David Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 2:33 pm

100 mile range, 2 seater, no range extender… sounds to me like Mr. Kojima is driving his own version of the EV-1.
Statik Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 2:57 pm

I’m sure the fact Mr. Kojima drives one to work is strictly PR/advertising…I imagine (much like Tiger Woods and his ‘Buick’) he doesn’t take that thing out on the town on his own dime…unless Chairman of big corporations really love to drive around crapboxes.

If Bob wanted a Volt really bad, I’m sure they could slap one together for him pretty quick.
Neutron Flux Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 3:08 pm

Driving a prototype is not the same as mass producing 100,000 cars and that thing is Butt ugly! I am sure it is aerodynamic but American tastes cannot be completely canceled out regardless of how green you are. People want to be associated with their car, IE taste, class etc. Not bad if your job is driving a Honey Pot truck, but I think after work even those guys have more class than that. If they can bring it in for under $15,000. they might have a market
Oil Jihadi Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 3:29 pm

They might have a market for it in Europe, where gas is the equivalent of $6 - $7 a gallon, and they already drive small little cars that people in America would not consider.

- - -

We all need to consider riding camels:
1. They have 4 wheel drive.
2. They have 4 wheel steering.
3. They have a (somewhat) intelligent autopilot feature not found in ANY automobile.
4. They use a carbon neutral fuel source.
5. They are self replicating; no assembly lines needed.
6. They have a proven record of reliability, even in extreme environments.
7. They are blessed by Allah.

Salam aleikum, my brothers (and sisters).

http://www.oiljihad.org
Now accepting declarations of Jihad against oil, write yours today!
Dave B Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 3:46 pm

If a manufacturer actually produces a 100 plus mile range and is around $30,000…I’ll have to deny GM my business assuming the Volt is not yet available.

And I see a huge market for this EV…the perfect commuter car. And yes, obviously you have to have a gasser for long trips. But try having a cheap vacation on $94 barrel oil.
jrcase Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 4:16 pm

That car defines ugly. I would feel like Mr. Bean driving that thing….. next.
bruce g Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 4:16 pm

Oil Jihadi, #6
I thought camels were quite bad tempered and had a habit of trying to sink their teeth into their owners?

Is this true?
bruce g Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 4:19 pm

jrcase #7
It reminds me of the Fiat Bambina.
Harvest Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 4:19 pm

Dave B, for $30,000 dollars I would hope you would expect something with significantly better range than 100 miles… or at least a lot better looking… or four seats… or a lot of things that this concept of concepts doesn’t have.

But then again… if you are just dying to have wind generators in your front grill, this might be the only option.
Edward R Blaha Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 4:19 pm

100 mile range should satisfy 70% of all commuters’ daily needs in North America. This initiative is literally a breath of fresh air for the North American market and auto industry. Once it gain’s traction more competitors will flood the market with better and cheaper designs. The timing is ripe for this event to take place, Oil at record highs and the environment being of great concern, not to mention a much cheaper alternative. Bring it on!
voltman Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 4:23 pm

Why does it have to be so fugly? Seriously, put that performance in a normal looking car and you would have a winner. So dumb.
noel park Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 4:29 pm

Scott, #1:

I can only agree. Not enough range, not enough doors, and not enough seats. It will only be a niche vehicle.

I think that my wife is a pretty typical potential Volt buyer. I tried to get her to consider an Insight. No go, too small and only 2 seats. She is afraid to drive something that small in LA traffic. Gets back to Lyle’s comment about the Escalade yesterday. I tried a Honda natural gas Civic. No go, she wouldn’t go for the 200 mile range and limited fueling infrastructure. I tried an Aveo. Also too small. She would go for a Cobalt. That is her minimum size. I wouldn’t do that because the mileage isn’t enough better than what we are driving now to justify the cost of a new car, higher insurance, etc, etc. Actually, the Aveo isn’t much better.

So, I think that GM has the broadest market nailed with the Volt. It will be small enough to give them a fighting chance at the mileage bragging rights, and big enough to be a viable every day car. I think that the Vue is too big, and thus too heavy. I am not about to buy a 4000 pound plus hybrid. I don’t think that the Ford Escape hybrid is exactly setting the world on fire.

All credit to Mitsu for being in the game, however. I think it’s pretty cute. The way the center of mass is biased toward the front puts me in the mind of the Auto Union Grand Prix cars of the ’30s. Are the mechanical bits and batteries in the back?
Steven B Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 4:31 pm

For real people! If they want to sell a BEV, it definitely can’t look like this. Some people love hybrids but think the Prius is ugly! Wow! Make it look nice and I think my dad would consider one. I’m waiting for the Volt, but this is definitely not aesthetically competitive. If this is just the concept car, then okay. But if they expect to sell these to Americans while they look like that, I just have one thing to say: Damn! That’s just not what we drive.
noel park Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 4:32 pm

bruce g, #10:

Yeah, or the Fiat Multipla. Isetta 600?
Oil Jihadi Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 4:35 pm

Bruce G #9.

Well, yes, those issues have been reported by some camel owners, and I’m sure the dealerships will soon issue a recall and correct the problem.

However, I must point out there are minor disadvantages to all technology, for example solar power is not as efficient during midnight. Hydroelectric power is not as useful in Saudi Arabia as it is in America, etc.

In our quest to save the environment and reduce oil consumption, people must be willing to accept trade-offs.
bruce g Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 4:44 pm

Oil Jihadi #16,

Yes,
I checked Google and they are patient and amiable…and unpredictable…sounds like a Microsoft Operating System..
Jim I Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 5:29 pm

I really want my next vehicle to be electric, but I simply refuse to drive around in a car that looks like a semi deflated beach ball………….

Please get the Volt out soon!!!!

And I’ll bet Mr. Kojima drove that car once and only once, unless he lost a bet with someone.
Rashiid Amul Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 6:58 pm

My 8 year old daughter says it is ugly. She doesn’t like the squished front. I like it but the 100 mile range is insufficient.

Oil Jihadi, is that a one hump or two hump camel?
Hercule Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 8:05 pm

It is the 2-seater, not the range, that is the real problem. Even those of us who would use it mostly for in city or commuting might still need to pick up our kids or take a couple of coworkers to lunch. If it was a 5-seater with the 100 mile range (even as ugly as it is), it might work as a second car.
Van Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 8:08 pm

It would take about 30 KWH to have a range of 100 miles. If the battery cost is $750 per KWH, then the car would cost about $34,000 including the $22,500 battery.

So that brings us back to what seems to be missing in all these prototypes, the expected cost of the battery.
Oil Jihadi Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 8:42 pm

Bruce #18:

Let us prey GM will not chose Windows as the primary operating system for the Volt.

Rashiid #20:

In order to provide a variety of options to meet the different needs of each consumer, BOTH the one and two hump camels may be evaluated.

Hercule #21:

I agree, being a 2 seater is a serious drawback. I would of assumed they learned from the failure of the EV-1. I hope the Volt has fold down rear seats like the Prius, and a 220V charging option.

http://www.oiljihad.org
Do your part to rid the middle east of evil western influences, by reducing your oil consumption.
Jeff M Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 8:46 pm

Hmm, maybe the color is not overly attractive, and hopefully production versions the consumer will have a choice, but I find it funny that folks are calling it ugly when it essentially looks like (to me) a VW Beatle (bug), and both the original and the new Beatle I believe both sold well in the US market.
bruce g Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 9:06 pm

oil jihadi #23,
Allah help us!,
Im also horrified that SQL Server may become part of the grid management system.
It is easy to say and hard to do..ask your local Telco…

phhhheeewww…..
Jeff M Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 9:09 pm

#23, failure of the EV-1?

How can you call a car that had almost no advertisting/marketing, a long waiting list, leased every one of them they made to happy users, after requiring potential leasee’s to jump through multiple hoops, and pay a relatively high monthly lease price, required literally almost no maint., a failure?

The 1st generation EV-1 did have a big problem with the original lead acid batteries, but once upgraded to the NiMH’s… (the patent for which GM sold to Chevron, talk about conflict of interest…)

More info at http://ev1.org/ or rent “Who Killed the Electric Car?” or read the book “Plug-in Hybrids” by Sherry Boschert.
David Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 9:13 pm

I don’t know what all the fuss is… lots of people have been driving EV in the U.S. already, including those with Li-ion, it’s called the Telsa Roadster.

What I am still laughing about is how Toyota was always trying to shot down the idea of the Volt… and now, oh wait, now they want to make it look like they had this idea long ago.

I love good comedy.
Jeff M Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 9:29 pm

Scott (#1), you sound like you listened to much to the mis-information campaign of big oil and big auto when they killed the ZEV mandate that killed that round of EV’s.

A pure EV (w/out a charging infrastructure that doesn’t exist yet) definitely is not designed to be most households only vehicle. It’s, as has been mentioned, a “commuter” vehicle, or for urban living (in which case, you’d rent a vehicle for the rare times when you are going on a driving trip, just as lots of city dwellers who don’t own a car at all do today).

Part of the problem if psycology… we’ve all been used to driving vehicles where fueling up requires going somewhere to fill it up, not something you’d want to do frequently (possibly every day). However an EV is different… when you park your car at the end of your (driving) day you simply plug it in, and it’s ready to go the next morning with a full tank. I do it every day with my cordless phones, others with their cell phones and iPods, laptops, etc.

This is why range is more important for proponents of hydrogen fuel cell (electric) vehicles… those require filling up outside the home just like today’s gasoline vehicles, and even if you could fill up with hydrogen at all of today’s existing gasoline filling stations, would you want to have to stop and fill up frequently? With a battery (electric) vehicle you aren’t going out of your way, and you aren’t standing around waiting.

That said, as someone else mentioned above, even as a commuter car, only being a 2-seater is likely to be a bigger problem than it’s decent 100 mile range.
Dave G Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 10:51 pm

I wouldn’t buy any EV without a range extender.
mykallb Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 11:14 pm

Anyone take notice of just how many companies recently are trying to show how Li-ion/PEV viable they are?

Interesting…ain’t it?

M.
bruce g Says:
November 6th, 2007 at 11:28 pm

As Dave says, It is comedy to see all those Vice Presidents doing a two step dance trying to reposition themselves (Not you Bob).
When the Volt is on the road in three years time people will ask why it wasnt done earlier.
Mark Bartosik Says:
November 7th, 2007 at 12:01 am

The aim of the Volt is to be a general purpose car, with a general appeal.

The aim of this is a commuter car, with a lesser appeal.

Just by being a 2 seater it is a niche car. I don’t have children, but I’m not keen on a 2 seater.

If you can live with just the commuter that’s great.

But some say, have a commuter car AND a gas drinker. That is BAD BAD BAD.

In other words have two cars with one idle for 80% of the time, the embedded cost is too great, as is insurance and registration overhead and capital cost.

Alternatively, have two cars, both used, one battery EV, the other plain old gas. That’s bad because on average petroleum consumption is on average only reduced by 50%.

Best solution have one RxEV as in Volt. 80% of the time no gas is used, the other 20% of the time gas is still reduced. On average about 90% gas reduction.
bruce g Says:
November 7th, 2007 at 12:26 am

Im not sure what a commuter car is or if anyone wants one.
I gave seen very small cars in Rome but then ..they all ride Vespas.
Is there a city where two door bubble cars dominate currently?
domenick Says:
November 7th, 2007 at 6:43 am

Wow. The car in the picture is the i-Miev Sport, not the 2nd gen i-Miev that Kojima-san probably drives to work. The 2nd gen i-Miev looks like this. http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20071026/141413/
hercule Says:
November 7th, 2007 at 7:57 am

#32 Mark comments that having two cars has too great a cost. I assume (please forgive me) that Mark is single. As a married suburbanite with kids, we already have two cars anyway. We have the obligatory minivan (some people have a minivan that is pushed up and shifted slightly which they call an SUV) and we have a sedan. We would need the minivan, which is the car that takes long trips, to have a “range extender”. But the sedan, which is used primarily for a long commute (about 30 miles each way) could easily be replaced with a 100 mile range electric car, since it never needs to exceed 100 miles in one day. If we were going further than that, we would drive the minivan. So we also have the fixed costs of insurance, et al, anyway for the sedan. We would need to fit more than 2 people, because my kids can’t sit in the front seat and I have more than one kid, anyway.
domenick Says:
November 7th, 2007 at 10:47 am

Both the i-Miev and the i-Miev Sport seat four. The i-Miev (on sale in 2009) even has 4 doors.
Statik Says:
November 7th, 2007 at 11:23 am

The two seater is really the i-MiEV’s problem. I myself am looking to be able to haul my family around. The savings coming when you do the math on FOUR SEATS.

I already have a SMART Fortwo (Canada). I wouldn’t replace it for a electric two seater. Here is why: My Cdn version Turbo Diesel gets on average 70-75 MPG and can go for 500Km/300miles…and it cost me 14K. Electric car math with not be able to compete with this for decades. Four seats, totally different story.

2 seats=light and fuel efficient, which makes electric a non starter, because of the gas/diesel alternatives

4 seats/trunk=heavy and gas guzzler, which makes electric a big time winner
noel park Says:
November 7th, 2007 at 11:31 am

domenick, #34 & #36:

Oh, oh, now they’re getting serious.

Thanks for this.
Statik Says:
November 7th, 2007 at 11:34 am

[quote comment="13627"]Both the i-Miev and the i-Miev Sport seat four. The i-Miev (on sale in 2009) even has 4 doors.[/quote]

If they produce a four door in 2009 under 30k that is big trouble for the Volt. As far as I know there is zero chance of a 4 seater electric in North America anytime in the near future.

If they do, I will buy it in a New York minute and never look back to see what Volt is doing. I figure the Volts is at least 3-4 years off in the real world and 100 miles>40 miles.

My gut says Volt will beat Mitsu to the street. Time will tell. I would only put even money on Mitsu’s even being sold in the US 2-3 years from now…company is in trouble.
domenick Says:
November 7th, 2007 at 12:01 pm

I think most of the people here will like the styling of the Volt much more than either of the i-Mievs. It’s a huge market out there with many niches, I’m sure the Volt will do just fine regardless of any BEVs from Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, or Miles Automotive.
David Says:
November 7th, 2007 at 12:18 pm

No one should look at the i-Mievs seriously at this time. There has neen NO mention of a planned price range yet and NO mention of the intended battery life. This is NOT apples to apples so why even compare the Volt with an imaginary car?

The Volt, as planned, will have:
1) 40 miles electrical range.
2) 120V recharge within 6-7 hours.
3) under $30,000 with batteries.
4) ten year life planned for the batteries.

In the i-Mievs can get 100 miles on a charge then they have a lot more batteries on board then is possible for anywheres near a $30K price tag. If they can get ten years out of the battery then they need to announce it. For now, this car is “vaporwheels”.
Oil Jihadi Says:
November 7th, 2007 at 12:49 pm

Jeff #26:

The very thought of GM choosing to not profit from a vehicle is laughable. “Who killed the electric car” might as well be a Michael Moore “documentary”.

California’s ZEV mandate was flawed from the beginning. Just because some liberal politicians come up with a dream doesn’t mean it can be economically achieved.

GM exists to make money, and if they chose to not market the EV-1, there is a simple explanation: the vehicle sucked.

You should submit to logic… (and Allah)

Death to oil
Mark Says:
November 7th, 2007 at 1:50 pm

I found the following on Mitsubishi’s web-site:

“Mitsubishi Motors is now fleet-testing the MiEV (Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle) in cooperation with Japanese power companies, and plans to launch the vehicle in the Japan market in 2010.”

I don’t know how this is any more of an imaginary vehicle than the Volt. Right now, both companies plan to introduce to their home markets in 2010. A lot can happen to either product between now and then.

From what I’ve seen on the web, the MiEV is a 2-door with four seats (”2+2 seating”), which is no less room than many small cars aleady on the market. So why is this one “too small”?

I’d like GM to be first to market because I have always driven GM cars myself. But I am glad that more than one company is actively working. It gives all of us more choice.
RB Says:
November 7th, 2007 at 8:34 pm

I like it.
Doug Korthof Says:
November 8th, 2007 at 4:37 pm

“…it is reported that these hydrogen Volts would have to be leased as their cost will be quite high…”

GM said the same LIE when they leased the EV1, then destroyed all these “high cost” excellent oil-free cars.

They ran just as well when they were CRUSHED as they did when new. GM lied, GM cheated, GM even charged us for “scratches” on the EV1 it crushed.
Harvest Says:
November 8th, 2007 at 5:34 pm

Legally, GM couldn’t continue to lease the EV-1 without offering multiple layers of support, from maintenance plans to part inventories. These are all expensive. Even if GM let EV-1 lessees purchase their cars, they would still be held liable for any potentially harmful defects found in their product.

From a legal and liability standpoint crushing the EV-1 was the only option for GM. If you have to blame somebody, blame trial lawyers.
Jeff M Says:
November 8th, 2007 at 5:59 pm

#46 (Harvest)… then explain how Toyota, after similiar pressure from leasee’s, ended up selling some of their Rav4-EV to the lease holders?

And why bother charging leasee’s for scratches on their EV1’s when they were taken back if they had no choice but to crush them?

Speaking of which, there are some recent youtube videos of Rav4-EV owners stating they are still getting 100 miles on a charge, even after 5+ years and 71,000 miles, on the original NiMH batteries.
kert Says:
November 22nd, 2007 at 5:19 pm

The price for MiEV HAS been announced. Its $25K. Read some news.
SO, four seater BEV, 100 mile range, $25K price, based on a crash-tested existing gas car, that actually sells already well in europe. Ship date, 2009.
I say, its a winner. I’d buy it.
And no, the picture above is not the MiEV that is under discussion, the picture is of Sport I MiEV which is purely just a concept as of now.
Jimmy Says:
November 22nd, 2007 at 6:07 pm

kert,

You are free to buy this car if you think it works for you. The majority of us are going to wait for the Volt.
Jeff M Says:
November 22nd, 2007 at 6:18 pm

#49 (Jimmy)… not sure where you get your data that the “majority” are waiting for the Volt. A given that you’d expect users of this site to be biased that way, but I still assume most folks will keep their options open.

Plus if another plug-in RxEV, which both the Volt and this one is, beats the Volt to market by 2 years, those needing to replace their cars in that time frame can’t wait, and it would be silly to buy a new conventional internal combustion vehicle to hold you over for the Volt.

Of course even if this one comes in priced at $25k in the USA, it also comes down to what volume they plan to have with that 2 year lead… it may be relatively small volume that won’t meet the demand, so the mass market is going to have to wait anyways for someone like GM and the Volt planning to produce 60,000 in the 1st year alone, and from the sounds of it, only going up from there.
Jeff M Says:
December 13th, 2007 at 4:56 pm

Van (#22)… actually it looks like it’s going to have only a 16kwh (same as the Volt) to get that 100mpg.

More info from http://www.evworld.com/article.cfm?storyid=1352 which also includes a small video clip of the editor of that site getting a test ride in the i-MiEV, and 6 more pictures.

It’s only a 4 seater (not 5 like the Volt), though is a 4 door.

Destined for the Japanese market in 2009, and maybe England. Doesn’t look like any plans to put it into the US market.

Has a 47kw permanent magnet synchronous electric motor mounted in the rear (I assume this means it’s rear wheel drive?)

Has a lithium-ion battery pack consisting of 22 large format modules developed by GS Yuasa Corporation in Japan. The 330-volt system has an energy capacity is 16kWh

it weighs 1,080kg (2380 lbs) and has a top speed of 130km/h (80 mph)

The car can be recharged using normal household current at 100 volts (taking approximately 14 hours to recharge), 200 volts (7 hr recharge time) and 3-phase 200 volt. In the latter case, it would take only 30 minutes to recharge the vehicle to 80 percent SOC (state-of-charge) using a Quick-charge system. The charger is built into the vehicle

And obviously no range extender.

And the picture Lyle has above is
Jeff M Says:
December 13th, 2007 at 5:02 pm

Opps, hit the submit too soon before I finished the last sentence…

And the picture Lyle has above is of a different concept car. The one heading for the Japanese market in 2009 is well past that if they are giving test rides and looks nothing like the concept.

And no pricing info, cycle and/or shelf life of the battery, etc was in that article.

80mph max also may be tough for those of us with a lead foot
kert Says:
December 13th, 2007 at 5:07 pm

The pricing info is available in other articles, check google news and AutoBlogGreen on MiEV

Just to confirm: yes its RWD, as its based on its already shipping gasoline RWD “I” counterpart, reportedly very popular in England.

There are plenty of videos on YouTube up on it as well, query on MiEV.

I also stumbled upon an article which gave pretty good technical details on motors, inverter and batteries used, along with photos of them on display.
kert Says:
December 13th, 2007 at 5:08 pm

Oh, and Mitsu has stated 10-year warranty on the batteries as well.
Ed Says:
January 11th, 2008 at 6:13 pm

You are free to buy this car if you think it works for you. The majority of us are going to wait for the Volt.

The majority of you are going to wait and wait and wait for the VOLT.

Mitsubishi has a set production date and the Volt doesn’t even have a mule working yet.

I am an EV customer. Give me a pure EV. Low maintenance costs. No ICE motor to service. No oil changes.

40 miles is great for 70% of all people (Volt fans) but 100 miles is way to short. I don’t want to use an ICE peroid.

Just my thoughts.

Mitsubishi Chairman Yorihiko Kojima Drives an i-MiEV to Work Everyday

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