The Wall Street Journal recently took a close look at the Mitsubishi i electric compact vehicle, coming to Skyline Mitsubishi near Denver, Colorado. In the article, this new Mitsubishi was hailed as a great entry level EV.
At first shake, WSJ blogger Jonathan Welsh was impressed by the new price point set by the i-MiEV, with a U.S. MSRP starting base price of $31,125. This compares favorably with Ford's electric Focus in the sub-$40K range and Chevy's Volt at $41,000.
Jonathan goes on to explain, "Its typical driving range of between 60 and 70 miles would make it a good choice for commuting from the New Jersey suburbs to Manhattan. It fits into the smallest parking spaces and has a smaller footprint than nearly every car on the road."1
Everyone has an opinion on how electric vehicles are styled. The Mitsubishi i is no different, with some considering it a minimalist, streamlined design where form follows function while others might find the i-MiEV a rough, even bare-bones design. Either way, this electric vehicle is the most economical, zero-emissions driving solution on the current market.
Speaking of fuel economy, the Mitsubishi i hold the title for most efficient vehicle to date, with a miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) of 112 combined highway/city mileage. The efficiency stems partially from the 63-HP electric motor, powered by a 16-KWh lithium-ion battery. Driving range maxes at 62 miles on a single charge, reaching top speeds of 81mph.
Mitsubishi is setting the mold for electric-car pricing is: begin with a price most are willing to pay. Don't forget, there's a $7,500 federal tax credit available to all who purchase an environmentally friendly car.
source: 1http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2012/05/14/mitsubishi-i-miev-entry-level-for-electric-cars/