Japan's Mitsubishi Motors aims to launch i-MiEV electric car in 2009

The i MiEV for fleet monitoring. TechOn!

"TOKYO (Thomson Financial) - Mitsubishi Motors Corp, Japan's fifth-largest car maker, aims to launch its i-MiEV all-electric compact car in 2009, a year ahead of schedule, company president Osamu Masuko said Friday. The car will be powered by a high-capacity lithium-ion battery." Forbes.

"Mitsubishi Motors Corp has presented its "i MiEV" electric vehicle, which will start field drive tests (fleet monitoring) in fiscal 2007, at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show. With improvements given to the predecessor model that the company has been testing in advance, this new model has approached closer to commercialization, Mitsubishi said.

Along with the lowered noises from the motor and the inverter compared with the predecessor, Mitsubishi said it reduced the motor weight by 10% and the inverter mass by 30%, while maintaining the motor's maximum output and maximum torque. The motor and the inverter are products of Meidensha Corp. The motor's maximum output is 47kW and maximum torque is 180N·m."

More details at TechOn!