Mitsubishi i-EV registration

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aminorjourney
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Mitsubishi i-EV registration

Postby aminorjourney » Sat Apr 26, 2008 9:46 pm

I've been looking into the Mitsubishi i-EV and have found that the UK website is now accepting details for interested parties.

I think it's probably worth a click:

http://www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/futuremodels/index.asp - The i-EV is at the bottom :)


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Postby aminorjourney » Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:43 am

I took a test-drive on Sunday of the petrol version of Mitsubishi's i. (I guess it's going to get called an i Car unofficially!)

As you may or may not know, Mitsubishi have been working on an electric version, which seems to be out in Japan. There's plenty of videos on YouTube about it. I didn't realise the i had made it to the UK until a few days ago, when I caught a guy at a local parking lot in one. We were both interested in each other's cars (he in my City El and me in his i as I wasn't sure if it was the petrol version or not).

Significantly impressed by the car I saw I headed to our local dealer, who let me do a test-drive. The sales guy was great and let me really just drive the thing without doing any hard sales stuff at me. The petrol version, with a small 650 cc engine, seemed capable enough in town traffic and held it's own on the motorway beyond the legal limit. Steering was precise and despite it's diminutive stature the i held the road without any issues at all.

The petrol version however stank at acceleration from standing, with a horrible turbo lag from standing of about half a second or more. Kickdown was slightly laggy but I'm guessing the electric version won't need that! :) I was really impressed by this car as it seems to be a proper vehicle, without the plastic 'kinder toy' feel of some EVs out there. Granted, I drove the petrol version but I've been assured that the electric one will have identical trim and quality. Would I buy the petrol one? No, the engine was far too noisy on acceleration and I missed the nice quiet feeling you get at lights in an EV or a PHEV and no engine thumping away.

There seemed to be room in the back for two adults as well as plenty of room up front. Height is good in front and back too but of course, being so small, trunk space is limited. It would be enough for a few groceries, or weekend away cases. We have a Golden Labrador and a Border Collie. Suffice to say that were we to buy an iEV we'd be putting the dogs on the rear seat!

On the basis of the ride I'd be more than happy to go test the electric one when it comes out and have made sure I'm on the list. Mitsubishi UK have told me they're looking at the Q4 of this year before they get limited numbers through and at that point will probably start selling them in Q1 2009. I'm a bit disappointed that it's not sooner, as my City El has got some charger-based issues and I'm struggling to carry all my teaching equipment and instruments in it. I'm also really pushing what is to all intents and purposes a small city commuter car to the limit with 200+ miles every week of hard work, 40 miles of which is main A road (60mph+) roads with poor quality surface and speed limits well above what the El can cope with.

Anyway, Mitsubishi now have an iEV registration page for those interested in the car... It seems to be UK only at the moment now and I can't see any mention of it on US sites.

http://www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/i-ev/register.asp If you're a UK resident it may be worth your while to register interest. Perhaps the more who register the faster things will move? Maybe?
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Postby electricvehicles » Mon Apr 28, 2008 1:14 pm

Hi Nikki

Hope the performance and economy figures are better for the electric that the petrol version :o
56 mpg combined driving is really poor for a car weighing so little. My Primera is returning 43 mpg combined driving, is almost twice as heavy as the mitsubishi and seats 5 adults in comfort with bags of boot space :)

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Postby timpootle » Tue Apr 29, 2008 11:43 am

I have registered my interest. The more EVs to choose from the better, I say.
Tim Crumpton

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aminorjourney
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Postby aminorjourney » Tue Apr 29, 2008 1:24 pm

Excellent.

The more of us who register for this kind of thing the better. Registering interest is a big part in persuading companies that there's a market to be made out of EVs. It will also open the door to those who would buy an EV but find the current offerings too slow, small, or 'noddy-car' like.
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MaryRCrumpton
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Postby MaryRCrumpton » Tue Apr 29, 2008 2:16 pm

timpootle wrote:I have registered my interest. The more EVs to choose from the better, I say.


I registered interest too, thinking you wouln't get the chance. Oh well, still good for showing how keen people are :-)

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ChrisB
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Postby ChrisB » Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:41 pm

Registered as well 8)

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Postby clnbrtltt » Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:37 pm

Yep, registered here too. There's even a dealer nearby :o

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timpootle
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Postby timpootle » Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:08 am

The oficial launch was on Monday. I wasn't notified, or invited to order a car. Were you?

I'll be popping along to my local Mitsubishi i dealer, though (Warrington). The car looks really good.

http://blogs.manchestereveningnews.co.u ... riven.html
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Mitsubishi i-EV. Just registered... from Ed. in Plymouth

Postby ex925 » Sat Jan 24, 2009 11:15 am

Hi, folks. As is often the case with me, I have only just noticed this item. Definitely agree with Mary and Tim, best everyone possible register interest. I am about to have a hip replacement, and am seriously considering a new car. For me, performance is no longer an issue, and the range MIGHT be sufficient for 90%+ of our journies. Beyond standard range, maybe a generator, (for extended lunchtimes...?!) or consider a hire-car for those few occasions. That option would be partly cross-subsidised by long-term savings on road-tax, maintenance, and fuel costs. Another idea is to approach "Motability", seeking to persuade them to include cars such as the G_Wizz and the "i" amongst their options, as I expect EVs might answer many disabled drivers' local mobility needs. Right now, I hope to hear from the local Mitsubishi (AND Ford...) dealer pretty soon. I shall put a reminder in my diary for six weeks from now. (That's the projected primary recovery average for tomorrow's operation). And finally, should we at BVS be campaigning to get EVs added to Motability options, perhaps? Our weight of numbers, BVS demographics, etc look good to me for such a venture. What does everyone else think?
All the best
Ed.


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