i MiEV SPORT Electric Vehicle

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation introduced the i MiEV SPORT at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show. Based on the i MiEV, the i MiEV SPORT maximizes the sporty possibilities of the zero-emissions electric vehicle. The high power and environmental performance of its electric motors is claimed to make it an exhilarating drive that delivers superior environmental performance.

Characteristics

	The i MiEV SPORT is intendded to enhance the "driving" image of Mitsubishi's electric vehicles. The car features Mitsubishi Motors' unique in-wheel motors in the front plus S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control) — the company's vehicle dynamics control system — to achieve high maneuverability as well as high levels of both environmental and running performance.

Design

Geometry, metallic materials and body are designed to epitomize the futuristic electric vehicle. Interior lighting, has been carefully thought out, with the use of many blue LEDs suggestive of nature, creating a sophisticated, cutting-edge atmosphere. The interior is sporty and dynamic as a result of the substantial use of mesh materials, while the space, with various natural elements, fosters feelings of both security and comfort.

Packaging

Like the i MiEV, i MiEV Sport uses a rear-midship design in its layout. Making use of the relatively long wheelbase of this platform, a high-capacity lithium-ion battery is installed in the lowest area under the floor, and components including a motor and inverter are arranged beneath the luggage compartment. This layout provides optimal distribution of weight, front and rear, and a lower center of gravity for stability, sporty performance, and a spacious interior.

Body Structure

An aluminum space frame — a combination of aluminum extrusions and aluminum die casting — is light, rigid and strong; helping to improving performance by minimizing weight.
The optimum layout of structural members, including front-side and cross members, efficiently absorbs crash energy in the event of front-end or side collision. In a collision from the rear, EV components under the back seat and rear floor serve as a barrier to ensure the integrity of the passenger compartment. By making use of the rear-midship layout and utilizing Mitsubishi's latest RISE (Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution) body, the concept realizes excellent occupant protection in collisions from any direction, even when colliding with a vehicle of different height or weight.

Powertrain / S-AWC

The system employs a structure consisting of three permanent magnetic synchronous motors. One in-wheel motor is placed at each front wheel; a single motor drives the rear wheels, as is used in the "i MiEV" system. An E-4WD system electronically optimizes the output of all motors. In addition, a new E-AYC (Electric Active Yaw Control) system is employed to directly regulate torque at the left and right rear wheels via an electric motor. In addition to the E-4WD and E-AYC, the S-AWC system integrates ABS and ASC (Active Stability Control) systems, thus independently controlling driving force, traction and braking at all four wheels, for total maneuverability and maximum stability.

Energy Saving Technology/Environmental Technology

Energy-saving environmental considerations are seen throughout the i MiEV SPORT. Effective use of energy is achieved by installing an auxiliary photovoltaic generator on the roof, a power-generating fan inside the front grill, and regenerative braking functions to recover energy when the car is slowing down. Much of the lighting is by bright, power-saving LEDs, including in the rear combination lamps and vehicle interior, and the efficiency of the air conditioning is enhanced by the use of heat-absorbing window glass. In addition, Green Plastic — Mitsubishi Motors' unique plant-based resin technology — is used wherever possible for interior components in another nod to the environment

Specifications

Overall length	3,450 [mm]
Overall width	1,600 [mm]
Overall height	1,400 [mm]
Wheelbase	2,550 [mm]
Track (F/R)	1,405/1,405 [mm]
Seating capacity	2 + 2
Motors	Permanent magnetic synchronous motors Front: In-wheel motors Rear: Single motor
Max. output	Front: 20kW 2; Rear: 47kW
Max. torque	Front: 250 Nm 2; Rear: 180 Nm
Max. Speed	180km/h
Range (10-15 Mode)	200km
Tires	175/40R17

The above post is based on a September 7 press release by Mitsubishi Motors.

Comments

[JD]

Other than an excellent ad for Mitsubishi, this post contains almost no useful information. Is the vehicle slated for release? Is there a projected cost? What on earth is "10-15 mode" so I can understand the range numbers?

[fjh]

Sounds like they focused on the interior driving experience; similar to my VW BEETLE.

I'll never forget my first drive and the exhilaration of the blue lighting, the 360 degree visability; the enveloping bucket seats; the incredible 'sticky' suspension that gave me a feeling of security on drenching wet roads at high speeds---like yesterday!

Who cares what the outside looks like; when you can create this kind of driving pleasure!

[donb]

Energy Saving Technology/Environmental Technology

Energy-saving environmental considerations are seen throughout the i MiEV SPORT. Effective use of energy is achieved by installing an auxiliary photovoltaic generator on the roof, a power-generating fan inside the front grill,

Huh?? Except when stopped or at very low speeds, any power the fan might generate would come at the expense of even more power to the wheels overcoming the drag it generates.

[The Anonymous Poster]

10-15 is the Japanese version of the US EPA test cycle. Usually the 10-15 numbers will be higher than EPA numbers due to a slower average test speed.

[David Stone]

Donb
Not necessarily. If the fans were creating more drag than without them, e.g. they were put on the roof or doors, then that would be true.

But remember, they are in an area that completely blocks the air anyway. Normally the air would hit the front and goes into the engine compartment, slowing the car down.
Here, it turns the fans on the way, causing no drag increase, since it is just something else on the way into the compartment where it is completely stopped anyway.

[cov]

So does *anyone* know when the darn thing is going to be available for purchase...?

[James]

I that that the EV technology is amazing and much needed in today's oil world. I read an article on ultracapacitors (www.ultracapacitors.org). I think they are the wave of the future with EVs.

Great site.

[Cameron]

Well if it's being shown at a motor show, chances are it's still in the concept car category, hence no release date yet. If it was going into production I'm sure they would have stated it as a production car.

Mitsubishi is currently still testing their electric cars under the MIEV name, which they've been working on for some time now.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIEV

[Simon Fuller]

"a power-generating fan" - what a drag, now we have to explain to another generation of idiots that putting a fan on a electric car just does not work. It might work if the fan popped up from the body work during braking, but the extra weight of the fan and components and the power used to 'pop' the fan in and out of the body work would surely negate any power generated. You might as well put a fan on a yacht. The weight of the solar panels would possible cause more power loss than they will ever generate.

There is some Mitsubishi engineer laughing at his stupid corporate bosses ... :-)

[Lisa P]

A nice car is good to drive on. The quality can be satisfying regardless of its sales price. Have you ever heard of “holding a city for ransom?” It’s when a pro sports team threatens to leave a city unless they get a payoff of a big fat chunk of change from the city in which they play, usually in the form of a new stadium. Some examples in baseball, recently, are the Dodgers, the Boston Red Sox, and a particular team from New York that nobody likes to mention. (I do NOT mean the Mets.) These teams are threatening to pull out and leave their homes for greener pastures unless the cities they call home shell out for a new stadium, which may bring in loads of new fans to the seats. (People should instead get paid to go to a Yankees’ game, but that’s only one man’s opinion.) These new stadia are financed not by the teams, but by you and me; the taxpayers. According to a USA Today story, you get a sense of how large these costs are. According to Gary Thorne, the Yankees already have received $942 million in tax exempt bonds, and are looking for another $366 million of these bonds. It’s all financed by the citizens of New York State, and now others are starting to take notice. The Congressional Subcommittee Chair Dennis Kucinich (D – Ohio) says that this kind of ransoming is a “transfer of wealth from the taxpayers to a few wealthy owners.” If you value sports as much as many of us do, it may seem like a necessary evil, but Congress wants this to change. As it applies to financing, it doesn’t seem fair. If you take out payday installment loans, do you expect someone else to pay it back for you? No, and neither should the owners in baseball. We can only hope that someone puts a stop to this system of robbery before the fans that keep the game going can’t afford to follow their favorite sports and teams. Click to read more on payday installment loans.

[Lisa P]

A nice car is good to drive on. The quality can be satisfying regardless of its sales price. Have you ever heard of “holding a city for ransom?” It’s when a pro sports team threatens to leave a city unless they get a payoff of a big fat chunk of change from the city in which they play, usually in the form of a new stadium. Some examples in baseball, recently, are the Dodgers, the Boston Red Sox, and a particular team from New York that nobody likes to mention. (I do NOT mean the Mets.) These teams are threatening to pull out and leave their homes for greener pastures unless the cities they call home shell out for a new stadium, which may bring in loads of new fans to the seats. (People should instead get paid to go to a Yankees’ game, but that’s only one man’s opinion.) These new stadia are financed not by the teams, but by you and me; the taxpayers. According to a USA Today story, you get a sense of how large these costs are. According to Gary Thorne, the Yankees already have received $942 million in tax exempt bonds, and are looking for another $366 million of these bonds. It’s all financed by the citizens of New York State, and now others are starting to take notice. The Congressional Subcommittee Chair Dennis Kucinich (D – Ohio) says that this kind of ransoming is a “transfer of wealth from the taxpayers to a few wealthy owners.” If you value sports as much as many of us do, it may seem like a necessary evil, but Congress wants this to change. As it applies to financing, it doesn’t seem fair. If you take out payday installment loans, do you expect someone else to pay it back for you? No, and neither should the owners in baseball. We can only hope that someone puts a stop to this system of robbery before the fans that keep the game going can’t afford to follow their favorite sports and teams. Click to read more on payday installment loans.

[CML Pro Sports]

Great read for the day !

[Manhattan Air Specialists]

The potential of this kind of intelligent consumption is tremendous. It is also vital for large scale roll-out of renewable energy as well as being economical and just good sense with conventional energy!