Drive Report: 2010 Mitsubishi i-MiEV Electric Car Page 2

By John Voelcker

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With a tiny turning circle and a very low center of gravity—because the battery is mounted so low—the i-MiEV handled perfectly in quick urban cut-and-thrust driving.

Claimed maximum speed for the i-MiEV is 81 mph, though high speed cuts range. Mitsubishi quotes about 100 miles of range on Japan's test cycle, 75 miles on the more aggressive US cycle.

Urban runabout

So can we imagine US buyers snapping up the i-MiEV? Yes, absolutely. Sure, it's small. But so is the 2009 Mini Cooper, and so is the 2009 Smart ForTwo.

The i-MiEV's clever design, attention to detail, and solid powertrain could make driving on grid power—and plugging in at night—as routine as picking up the kids after school.

Right now, in Japan it's pricey: more than $40,000, at least $15,000 of that offset by various tax government tax breaks.

Here in the US, the first several years' worth of i-MiEVs would qualify for a $7,500 Federal tax credit, plus further credits in certain states.

The i-MiEV would be much cheaper to operate, though, with electric power costing just 3 or 4 cents for each mile against 15 cents per mile run in a 20-mpg car on $3/gallon gasoline.

Will it come?

The present i-MiEV is built only as a right-hand-drive car, which suits just Japan, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. More importantly, the car was never designed to meet US safety or equipment standards, so it cannot legally be sold in North America.

Mitsubishi America's David Patterson, senior manager of regulatory affairs and certification, said the company is seriously considering whether to certify the “i” for sale in North American markets.

We think the Mitsubishi i-MiEV makes as convincing a case for electric cars as the 2009 Tesla Roadster's jaw-dropping performance does, from the complete opposite end of the vehicle spectrum.

Right now, the i-MiEV is the world’s most polished four-seat, zero-emissions production car. With entries on the way from Nissan, Chevrolet, Ford, and others, it may not hold that title for long.

But after years of primitive, plastic EVs from under-funded startups and importers, it’s great at last to drive a “real EV” that's now in production from a genuine automaker.

Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric car - rear - December 2008

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Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric car - side - December 2008

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