I hada big, detailed response respone tapped out on this POS tablet but it got dumped while posting, from a lost connection. Anywho, I agree with of most of your comment. I see 50-100K annual worldwide maket and 5k NAM, IMO.

80 miles range seems realistic for 16KWh DOD. Is pack 16KWh total? What is the warrantee? 65 miles would be realistic daily range for 80% DOD if 16KWh is pack total.

Didn’t realize 2k production was for rest of ‘09, I thought it was 1st year but the more the merrier. Either way, you are correct Mitsu is in another class production wise and they are producing on their own high capacity line.

2300lbs and 47KW with <9s does not match up vs 3500 and 110KW with @8.5s. Something seems off with the physics.

If not, you owe it to yourself to check out at least 3 episodes (it’s out on video now, no longer on tv).

You’ll see what the future holds vis-a-vis our new masters.

China bought much more here than just access to the US market. They bought the technology that will enable them to compete here. And help them kick GM and the other foreign companies out of the Chinese market. If I were GM, I’d write Hummer off (they can since they’re in bankruptcy), before selling it to a Chinese company for 80 million. They can site miliary applications if they must. No. I don’t blame them for doing it. I blame us for letting them.

For the record, I support free trade between the US and Canada. And Mexico and Europe for that matter. It’s the one way “free trade” we have with Japan, Korea, and now China that I’m worried about. And, China’s the one I worry about the most.

SIdenote: I hate Walmart. As far as I’m concerned, they should be called “the evil empire” instead of Microsoft, since IMHO, they’re much worse. (Of course, I’m not a computer specialist, so there may be things I don’t know about Microsoft….) If any company needs to be unionized, it’s them. I won’t shop there under any circumstances. I think they’re ruining the US. (And, now, apparently Canada.)

“I think the reality is they will sell everyone they can make from now until 2015″

I agree, the car lots are currently stocked with dusty hybrids with EV of all kinds being back ordered.

Car companies, you getting the idea yet? EV and E-REV are instant sellers. ICE @ 30 mpg remain in stock. The new generation wants to drive fast without burning oil. Plug in to Daddy’s garage outlet.

Take the plunge, a full E-REV line for 2012. Cruze, Trucks, SUV, Volt, Mail delivery vehicles, Ambulance, Security vehicles and Off road.

GMAC will need to hire extra people to keep track of deposits.

=D~

iMiev is good for the market but don’t belive ALL of the hype:

-$31K in Japan, not US
-100miles range with 100% DOD 16KWh (160Wh/mile) – No way, Jose
-rated battery cycles?
-47KW motor less than Volt’s average power generator
-2000 is first mass production but Tesla has been producing 25-30/week

Like I started out saying, the iMiev is good for the market but let’s be real about it.
========================

You are probably right about the US price being higher when it comes here….after all everybody upped their MSRP by, er…about $7,500 about 10 months ago, lol. I’d be thinking $34,995ish.

As for the range, the average US tester is getting about 80 miles, the lowest I’ve seen on a full depletion test to stop is at 72 and the high at 87. This, like everything, is at the whim of the driver. No way your getting the 160km/100 mile range, that is rate for the 10-15 Japanese system…unless you are being really anal with your driving, you have no shot.

The production is significant, off a ‘production line’ to start…they are making those 2,000 by year’s end, in 6.5 months. At least 5,000 in 2010, and 15,000 in 2011. The 2010 and 2011 projected numbers are likely on the low side as they just decided to add/fund another plant and expect to be able to double pack output. Worth noting, Mitsu has upped its own production number twice already this past year…so they have a track record of underpromising/over delivering (and on time).

I don’t want to knock Tesla…because I think they have accomplished a lot, but Tesla is really not in the same league/class. Tesla makes a high priced conversion off of a lotus Elise platform by hand with available laptop batteries for 110K a pop, and have only now delivered car #500 since the first one went out in Feb. 1st of 08…thats 17 month it took them. Although you are correct that production now seems to be churning decently…on April 1st they were at #320…and did 180 in the next 2 months. They are like a high-tech, well run/well funded chop shop.

Mitsu is starting out day one producing almost 300/month off a scaleable line, and making their own packs to boot. (400/mth in 2010, and 1,250/mth in 2011)…and making EVs accessible to the ‘common man.’ So, I guess it depends how you define ‘production’

As for the 47KW motor compared to the Volt’s 53 KW generator…the iMiev weighs in at about 2,300 pounds to the Volt’s 3,500. The iMiev 0-60 is billed as under 9 seconds…so not that much difference. (63HP/133 pound feet of torque)

I think the reality is they will sell everyone they can make from now until 2015. They have no one competing against them in 2009, no one in 2010, very few in 2011…and to boot, they are to market at $31K, which is a big chunk cheaper than anyone else is ‘projecting’ their projects to be.

/Mitsu is definitely number 1 in this business today, (with Tesla solidly in second)…and Mitsu is the one to beat going forward
(imo)

“Have you ever been in a Hummer? It is a metal box. The sound system may as well be screwed into a trash dumpster, very metallic sounding.”
___________

It’s not what the Chinese can do with the sound system that I’m worried about. And believe me, your Rubicon Jeep can’t do this.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/hmmwv.htm

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/images/avenger-dvic410.jpg

Have you ever been in a Hummer? It is a metal box. The sound system may as well be screwed into a trash dumpster, very metallic sounding. I would take a Rubicon Jeep Wrangler over a Hummer any day.

Let’s get E-REV rolling.

=D~