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Sunday, 28 November, 2010 1:12 PM

Mitsubishi reveals the "I" electric vehicle at the 2010 L.A. Auto Show

LOS ANGELES -- Mitsubishi Motors renamed its MiEV electric vehicle to be called simply "I." It was introduced on the second media day at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show. The "I" is a five-door hatchback electric car with a range of 100 miles in Japan or 75 miles in the United States. It was launched for fleet customers in July 2009 and on April 1, 2010 for the rest of the public. Sales in the U.S. should begin in November 2011 with a starting price of $30,000, before any state or federal incentives. The "I" is equipped with a 64 hp permanent-magnet motor.

The Mitsubishi MiEV concept was first introduced in 2006. The production version came out in 2009. The name remains the same in Japan and in Europe, however it was shortened to just the "I" for the United States and Canadian markets, powered by MiEV technology.

"This car can be charged three different ways, there's also three different driving modes," said Laura Arbios, a product specialist at Mitsubishi Motors. "You can charge on a 110-outlet, a 220 or a 440 direct current. The 110 gets you a charge in about 12 hours, 220 gets you a charge in about six, the DC gets you an 80 percent charge in about 20 minutes."

The "I" is a completely electric vehicle. It has no on-board charger or gas tank whatsoever. That also means it produces zero emissions.

"The options are the same as all of our other vehicles," Arbios added. "The Navi, the Fuse, those will all be options when it comes to market. It fits four adults comfortably. You should check out the back seat. It's a lot roomier than you think. It's got electric windows, air, heat, things like that, heated seats."

The product specialist says the Mitsubishi "I" is unique in many different ways from its competitors.

"People are talking a lot about the Nissan LEAF," she explained. "That car is a bit larger. Our car is more of a mini, microcar. Size wise, it's a lot smaller even though you can fit four adults. Ours has a 16 kilowatt battery as supposed to the Nissan's, which is 24 kilowatts. The difference is they will get more range, but they also have a bigger, heavier car. On a 110, their battery takes 20 hours to charge, where ours only takes 12. It's a little bit smaller scale. I think it's more easily manueverable. We've got a 15-foot turning radius."

The "I" will be rolled out in three different stages across the U.S. It will be available in California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii in November 2011. By March 2012, the "I" will be on sale in the Northeast. Meanwhile, it will be available for purchase by the entire country at the end of 2012.

The total cost is $30,000 before any federal, state tax incentives. The federal government is offering a $7,500 tax break right now.

The Mitsubishi "I" can be used with the DC fast charge station for an additional $300. That allows the vehicle to be charged up to 80 percent in about 20 minutes. However, those who don't want that feature can subtract it from the total cost of the vehicle.

"You can plug-in while you're at the movie or at the grocery store," the product specialist added. "In about five minutes, you get all you need to be able to do that extra errand on your way home. You don't need a full charge. You just need five or ten minutes on the quick charge and then you can run that extra errand and get home. Then, that's when you get your full charge overnight. It's a pretty easy car to have."

I think the "I" looks cool -- it reminded me of a smart car. The "I" is perfect for short trips to the grocery store or going to work or school. I do not think it is a good vehicle for long distance road trips, simply because there isn't enough space. It is being priced at about the same price as the Nissan LEAF. Look for the "I" at Mitsubishi dealers in about a year or two.