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Mitsubishi’s plug-in electric car, i-MiEV will hit capital city showrooms in August despite no Federal Government incentives or policies in support of the vehicle. Australia will be the first market in the world to take i-MiEV without financial incentives to encourage buyers into the wagon, the first plug-in all-electric car to be released here by any maker.
A CSIRO report has found the federal government stands alone as the only government not to financially support buyers into zero-emission electric vehicles. The report ‘CSIRO Electric Driveway Project: Barriers and Solutions’ also found Australia offered no policies to support electric vehicles (EVs).
An influx of EVs from various makers are expected to arrive in the coming three years. Those policies include the government setting targets for how many EVs they want on the road by certain dates - national targets set by other EV markets such as Canada, Spain, the European Union, Japan, China and the US - as well as recharge stations, allocated parking spaces and direct incentives or subsidies for purchasing of an EV.
The CSIRO report states Canada has a target of 500,000 EVs by 2018, the US 1 million by 2015, European Union 1 million by 2014, Japan 5 million by 2010 and China to produce 10,000 by 2011. The report shows Australia has no national technical standards for EVs unlike Canada, the US, EU Japan and China and no safety standards unlike Canada and the US. There are no regulations for reductions in exhaust emissions.
“Our government is somewhat tired at present, focused on carbon pricing ... and a lot of things are getting off the radar screens,” said Mitsubishi Motors Australia vice president of corporate strategy, Paul Stevenson. “We continue to talk to government and we have a few issues to say the least,” he said. “Australia is really lagging in terms of electric vehicle policy.”
Government inaction is frustrating the Japanese maker. “Confidence in new technology is vital,” said Mr Stevenson. “That’s why we are releasing i-MiEV to market without Government incentives or policy.” He said a report released this week revealed carbon emissions from cars would have been cut substantially in 2010 if Australians had made ‘greener’ car purchases.
The second-generation four-seater i-MiEV will be sold in selected Mitsubishi dealers in all Australian capitals from august as ‘just another vehicle’ on the showroom floor. “Buyers will come in, make their purchase and drive it away ... like any other vehicle,” said Mr Stevenson. “This is a step into the motoring future.” i-MiEV will sell for around $50,000. Mitsubishi have set an modest sales target of five cars a month.
Features on the second generation i-MiEV include active stability control and traction control, addition of side and curtain airbags, auto lights, keyless entry, engine immobiliser and a new feature that automatically turns off battery power in the event of a crash.
The release of the car will mark a new era for Mitsubishi in Australia. By 2015 all Mitsubishi cars will have electric/hybrid options, including family cars, SUVs, Pajero 4WD and workhorse Triton. “This step marks the electrification of the whole range,” said Mr Stevenson.
The i-MiEV started as the Japanese K class I car and was adapted over to plug-in electric and has been on sale in Japan for the past two years. The issue for electric plug-in cars is the cost of the 200 kg battery packs - in the case of i-MiEV currently around $33,000 each. With economies of scale and new battery manufacturing plants underway the cost of batteries is expected to drop by 70 per cent by the year 2015, reducing the cost of the i-MiEV accordingly. At the same batteries by 2015 are expected to have 33 per cent more power, increasing the current 155 km range.
The i-MiEV will come with a 10 year vehicle warranty and five year battery warranty. Mitsubishi say the battery life will be at least a minimum of 10 years, at which time the power will have dropped by around 20 per cent, reducing the vehicle’s range. Some 110 i-MiEVs were last year leased out to Australian fleet operators - government departments and private enterprise - with no battery issues arising. The car has a top speed of 130 km/h (speed limited). The motor 49 kW of power and 180 Nm of torque. It does not have a gearbox or clutch and to reverse the motor is run backwards.
i-MiEV has a four star ANCAP safety rating. The Green Guide to vehicles sold in Australia gives i-MiEV a 10 out of 10 rating for greenhouse emissions and air pollution. Mitsubishi said Australia was an ideal market for the EV being one of the most urbanised nations on earth. Data showed most driving trips were under 100 km, well within the i-MiEV’s range. Each Australian house was, in effect, a charging station with each having the ability to re-charge i-MiEV batteries overnight.
“I think of the i-MiEV as the same as a mobile telephone,” said Mr Stevenson. “At first they were large and bulky with short battery life. Now they are small and we re-charge them at home. The i-MiEV is no different. Mitsubishi say the i-MiEV is similar to plasma TV sets and mobile telephones with the early adopters paying for the technology until economies of scale kick in. |
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