Outlook
Mitsubishi has announced that Australia's first publicly available electric car from a big name manufacturer will go on sale for AU$48,800 from August 2011.
In brief
A raft of small changes have been made to the car since it was made available last year to state and federal government agencies, as well as a limited number of companies, including Google. Changes include the addition of side and curtain airbags, electronic stability control, keyless entry, automatic lights and some subtle styling changes.
The car's electric motor generates 49kW of power and 180Nm of torque. That's enough to haul the 1100kg i MiEV to a maximum speed of 130km/h and a cruising range of around 155km. A full recharge of the 330V Lithium-ion battery will take seven hours via the 240V on-board charger, while a DC quick charger can replenish the batteries to 80 per cent capacity in just 30 minutes.
All Aussie bound i MiEVs will also be fitted with rear drum brakes, a tyre repair kit instead of a spare wheel, 15-inch alloy wheels, LED tail-lights, and front and rear power windows. The sound system features an auxiliary jack, USB port with iPod compatibility and Bluetooth hands-free, as well as four speakers up front and none in the back. An optional AVN system adds DVD video playback, 7-inch touchscreen and sat nav with traffic updates.
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