My Perfect Automobile » MiEV

Chevy Volt vs. Mitsubishi i-MiEV Lease

Larry Bell — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 16:30:38 +0000

Chevy vs Mitsubishi (pictured; 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV)

Lease rates for Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV electric car are beginning to decrease, in one case to about $170 per month from an Illinois dealer. Within just a few weeks of Nissan announcing a price reduction for its Leaf EV, the lower rates on electric car lease rates have many consumers wondering whether to buy or lease an EV. Further complicating the equation, the Chevy Volt, a range-extended hybrid, is now offering attractive lease rates as well, as low as $269 per month for the popular, award-winning Chevrolet.

Volt vs. i-MiEV Lease: Video

For a quick look at the Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric car, view the clip below, which features a full Consumer Reports review of the EV. While not directly comparable to the Chevy Volt hybrid, the i-MiEV does offer similar financing arrangements in the form of a lease. People who want a range-extended drivetrain will likely opt for the Volt while those wanting an all-electric car might consider the Mitsubishi EV. Interestingly, the Consumer Reports review points out that the i-MiEV’s range is not that much greater than Volt’s electric-drive range. The huge difference here is that the Volt has a gasoline engine as well.

Volt vs. i-MiEV

Chevy Volt’s $269 lease rate is about $200 less than the typical monthly lease cost for other cars of similar value. GM is subsidizing the cost in order to help market the car, making the Volt lease one of the best deals in the auto market today. In addition, Volt drivers save around $110 per month in gasoline expenses, which means the net cost to drive a leased Volt is approximately $160 per month. (That number does not include federal and state tax incentives, because in lease arrangements, the dealer retains the incentives in order to reduce total cost of the lease).

For more about Chevrolet and Mitsubishi vehicles, see the companies’ official corporate websites:
http://www.chevrolet.com
http://www.mitsubishicars.com

Larry Bell

Larry Bell + is My Perfect Automobile’s Genius Author, but we call him ‘The Expert‘. Here is his full Blog: My Perfect Automobile. Larry lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Expert Author. Larry is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars…

Pikes Peak Hill Climb: Unexpected Results

Larry Bell — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 13:19:37 +0000

Pikes Peak Hill Climb

In the most recent Pikes Peak International Hill Climb race, three electric cars finished in the top 15. Some of the EV entrants included Toyota Motorsports Group, Mitsubishi, and Michael Bream of EV West. The event was held last weekend rather than in July because of the Colorado wildfires.

Pikes Peak Hill Climb: Video

You can read thousands of words about the Pikes Peak Hill Climb and never really appreciate the steep, winding course for what it actually is. The following video clip delivers a driver’s-view perspective of the entire climb, complete with all the twists and breathtaking scenery.

Pikes Peak Hill Climb: Winners

The top two overall winners were Rhys Millen, who drove a Hyundai chassis, with a time of 9 minutes and 46 seconds, and Romain Dumas in his Porsche with a time of 9:46. Electric finisher Fumio Nutahara drove a Toyota Motorsports Group EV P002 race car and was the first finisher among EV entrants. The car’s predicted top speed is 150 mph. In the race, his average speed was 70.2 mph, which brought him to the finish line in ten minutes and 15 seconds for an overall placement of sixth.

Veteran driver Hiroshi Masuoka was close on Nutahara’s heels in his Mitusbishi i-MiEV Evolution at ten minutes and 30 seconds. His average speed was 68 mph, which earned him eighth place overall. Despite a car crash during his practice run, Masuoka’s team quickly rebuilt the car’s entire front end and delivered a solid effort.

The third EV to place was Elias Anderson’s NovaKar with a lap time of 11 minutes flat. The NovaKar is designed after Jim Novak’s F600, complete with a 240-horse power electric motor.

For more about how the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is organized, who some of the past winners are, and how to enter the event, see the following information page:
Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

Larry Bell

Mitsubishi i Lease Rate Revealed

Larry Bell — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 00:10:48 +0000

Mitsubishi i-MiEV

Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) has announced lease rates for the automaker’s i-MiEV electric car. The 2012 electric model, which features CHAdeMO DC quick-charging capability and a range of 62 miles, can be leased for $249 per month with a signing payment of $3,498, which comes to a total MSRP of $30,675. Mitsubishi of North America also announced Ally Financial as its preferred leasing provider for the i as well as other cars in the company’s lineup. MMNA oversees more than 400 auto dealerships, and chose Ally in part because of the financial giant’s flexibility in providing auto loan arrangements for customers.

For a thorough review of the electric Mitsubishi model, have a look at the video clip below. Inside and out, the tester discusses every major aspect of the i, often comparing certain features to the Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt for cost, efficiency, and ease of use.

While the car is technically the least expensive of all mass-marketed electric models, the reviewer points out that when all is taken into consideration, this is actually not so. Each upgrade to a higher trim level runs approximately $2,000 extra, so the i can cost considerably more than its initial list price.

When it comes to interior room, the car does a good job with its constraints, considering that weight had to be minimized for purposes of range and efficiency. As you will notice, the reviewer seemed quite surprised that the car did not offer any type of steering wheel adjustment. Instead, if drivers want to change their position in relation to the steering wheel, they are forced to adjust the seats instead of the wheel itself.

After factoring in cost, options, performance, and overall value, the reviewer seems to come out favoring the Nissan Leaf in the all-electric vehicle category.

For more information about the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, see the following resource page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_i_MiEV

Larry Bell

New Secret Weapon for Automakers

Larry Bell — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 01:15:02 +0000

TMG electric race car from Toyota

Much of the competition, especially among Japan’s leading car makers, has shifted from the showroom to the racetrack. Indeed, all major car manufacturers have learned that a victory in a big race can translate directly into higher sales for a specific model. With the latest wave of electric sports cars in races worldwide, many consumers are beginning to demand sleek, fast, electric cars from manufacturers.

Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV is a prime example. The racing version, called Evolution, can reach 60 mph in under four seconds. While that is not realistic for a passenger car, the company plans to use the race version in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb next month to raise brand awareness. Just being in the event gets good press, but a victory would mean huge amounts of free advertising.

One of the secret weapons that electric Mitsubishi race cars have is the lack of a transmission. That way, as the driver of the company’s car at Pikes Peak commented, it is easy to hit top speed without having to worry about shifting. This year there will be no fewer than seven electric race cars in the Pikes Peak event. Of those seven, five are driving for Japanese teams. According to the leaders of Japan’s racing teams, auto companies look at the Pikes Peak and other high-profile events as business opportunities, and unique venues in which to demonstrate that electric cars are not only tough, but can go the distance, literally.

Japanese automakers are well aware that one of the biggest public perceptions working against them is range, and the racing circuit is one place they can overcome the misperceptions about electric vehicles.

Earth Day in NY, with Toyota

Oddly, the biggest challenge in creating effective EV racers is something consumers almost never consider, the weight of the battery pack. In any case, Japanese auto companies are paring down weight and boosting the range of electric race vehicles in order to compete successfully on an international level.

For more about all things Toyota, see the car maker’s official corporate website:
http://www.toyota.com

Larry Bell

Mitsubishi’s Controversial Electric Car

Larry Bell — Sat, 16 Jun 2012 12:27:28 +0000

Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV electric car

Mitsubishi is in a current war of words with one very well known consumer magazine over a so-so review of its electric car, the i-MiEV. After a series of informal tests by the magazine’s employees, they compared the Mitsubishi electric car to the Nissan Leaf, clearly coming down on the side of the Leaf. What further rankled makers of the i-MiEV, the “testing” was rather unscientific, and much of the comparison was a mere quibbling over tiny numerical differences in range.

For example, the testers found their model consistently achieved a range of 61 miles, while the EPA rates the i-MiEV at 62 miles per charge. The same testers were able to get a consistent 75 miles per charge from their Nissan Leaf, but keep in mind that the Leaf costs about $4,500 more than the Mitsubishi model.

In fact, one online respondent to the initial test noted that his i-MiEV regularly gets much more range than the EPA’s rating of 62 miles, or the stated Mitsubishi range of 80 miles. At the time the story had been up for just two days, there were a pair reader comments which noted Mitsubishi EV ranges of 70 miles and 90 miles. Guess what the average of those numbers comes to? Right, the company’s exact, stated amount of miles per charge, 80.

Profile: Mitsubishi i-MiEV

It is easy to see why the makers of i-MiEV take exception to the consumer magazine’s review. While there is obviously no ill will afoot, it appears that, as car makers say, the range of any electric car depends on many factors, so it is difficult to come up with a hard-and-fast number, as in the case of mpg. But even with gasoline efficiency, surely we have all heard the expression, “Your mileage may vary.”

The Leaf and the i-MiEV are dependable electric vehicles, and they each certainly have different strengths and weaknesses. Their manufacturers should be given credit for being out front in the electrification of driving.

For more about Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV electric car, see the company’s official website for the vehicle:
http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/special/ev/

Larry Bell

Meet the New Mileage Champ

Larry Bell — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 18:59:56 +0000

Fit as a fiddle. Honda Fit EV motor

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has just officially named a new mileage champion in the category of electric cars. In the U.S. market, the four big players are Ford Focus Electric, Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV, and the soon-to-be-released Honda Fit Electric. The newest EPA official pronouncement shows Mitsubishi’s electric car at fourth place with a range of 62 miles, respectable in any case. Nissan’s Leaf is rated at 73 miles, and Ford’s electric entry at just three more, with a 76-mile rating. Now, the crown passes to Honda’s Fit electric car, which boasts an 82-mile-per-charge range.

As one automotive expert noted, every improvement in range is a new target for the next automaker to beat. This healthy competition is a win-win for consumers and car manufacturers alike. Consumers have more choice and the car companies get better media coverage for electric cars each time the range number goes up. In a strange twist of fate, Honda’s new 82-mile range benefits all electric car makers, since consumers will start looking at EV’s as practical, real-world options when it comes time to purchase a new vehicle.

Range champ Honda Fit electric car

With all the media coverage the Honda Fit is receiving, one fact is often left out, and it is perhaps more important than the new, higher range number. Namely, Honda’s electric Fit features one of the smallest battery packs in the industry, with a cubic mass approximately 15 percent smaller than either Leaf or Focus. The smaller size means lower cost and much quicker charge time. The Fit can charge in a 240-volt hookup in only three hours.

The EPA’s miles per gallon equivalent rating for the Honda Fit is 118, with a yearly average fuel expense at approximately $500.

For more about the Honda Fit electric car, see the special website the company has set up for their new EV:
http://automobiles.honda.com/fit-ev/

Larry Bell

Electric Car Will ‘Race to the Clouds’

Larry Bell — Tue, 22 May 2012 18:29:31 +0000

Mitsubishi Evolution

With an eye on the future of electric car development, Mitsubishi will enter two vehicles in the upcoming Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, also known as the “Race to the Clouds,” a grueling endurance trek up the famous mountain. This year, the company will use its famous i-MiEV Evolution, which will be driven by one of the world’s most acclaimed race names, Hiroshi Masuoka, a two-time, and consecutive, winner in the Dakar Rally.

Besides the Evolution, a modified production class Mitsubishi i will also be entered in the race, that model driven by another famous racing name, Beccy Gordon, a recent winner in the Score International Series. Gordon commented, “I’m really happy to be able to drive the Mitsubishi i in the Pikes Peak race and am looking forward to giving it my best in an electric car, the type of vehicle that is set to become a major player in motor sports in the future.”

The Evolution is quite a piece of work, featuring a tube chassis and a carbon fiber body, for both safety and weight reduction. The car has one motor which propels the front wheels, but two which provide power for the rear. Masuoka will be the team’s manager this year. He is employed in Mitsubishi’s Product Strategy office. A quarter century ago, he began his legendary racing career, posting his first Dakar finish in 1987. A living legend in Japan, Masuoka had this to say about the famous race: “Given the tough driving conditions that Pikes Peak is known for, I’m really keen to show people that electric vehicles are capable of gutsy performance and excellent handling in addition to their superior environmental performance.”

i-MiEV Air on display at a car show

Notably, both of Mitsubishi’s drivers alluded to the growth of electric racing as a sport in and of itself. Only a decade ago, one had to look far and wide for a significant international racing event that included electric or hybrid vehicles. Now, it is difficult to find a race that does not feature some type of alternative fuel car.

For more about the race:
http://www.usacracing.com/ppihc

For Mitsubishi’s corporate site:
http://www.mitsubishicars.com

Larry Bell

Capital Mitsubishi MiEV, MPGe9 What?

Larry — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 19:43:59 +0000

We visited the Capital Mitsubishi Dealership in San Jose to check out the new MiEVs they have in stock for purchase. They have several to pick from by the way. You won’t have to wait a long time to take delivery! Aside from how cute they are and fun to drive, I found out some interesting information about the car that I wanted to pass on to you.

The eco-friendly heart of the Mitsubishi is an integrated management system called Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle (MiEV) technology. The result of four decades of research, the central MiEV operating system constantly monitors and optimizes the flow of energy throughout the car.

The result is an incredible blend of performance and economy in any driving condition. MiEV technology creates smooth and constant acceleration, distributes incoming energy from the regenerative brakes and continually regulates the output from the battery. MiEV is an automatic copilot that ensures all systems are “green”.

So, What Does MPGe(9) Stand For?

MPGe stands for “miles per gallon equivalent.” It’s a new ranking system developed by the EPA to measure the efficiency of electric/alternative energy vehicles, much like “miles per gallon” explains the efficiency of gas-powered vehicles with a simple number.

So what does our EPA-leading 112 MPGe9 rating tell you? It’s rather good news. It means that the energy present in one gallon of gasoline (if you converted that gallon into electricity) can send the Mitsubishi i a whopping 112 miles. That’s not only astounding, it’s the reason why they scored first-place honors in the EPA’s annual Fuel Economy Guide for 2012. And it’s all thanks to the super-efficient MiEV operating system.

I believe it to be a remarkable vehicle for the right family situation and would seriously consider it as a second car for my needs. (I can’t seem to break free of the Tesla campaign I have been on lately as my primary choice.)

Larry Judkin

Larry Judkin + is My Perfect Automobile’s General Manager, but people call him Lar’. Here is his full Blog: My Perfect Automobile. Larry lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Co-owner of My Perfect Automobile. Larry is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars…