When it comes to a fully electric vehicle, it is without a doubt that its power reserves would carry the greatest interest among potential customers – will it be able to last long on the road? After all, charging stations for electric vehicles are not exactly commonplace at this point in time, but that does not mean they are non-existent. Arguments concerning long distance electric car trips would continue to dominate conversations of the like minded, but Mitsubishi has opted to stop talking and start doing something about it, where they have teamed up with a consortium that is co-led by Kyoto University alongside a group of Japan-based organizations, who have come together to work on a remote charging solution for electric cars.
The amount of brains in 22 companies and 13 universities, including Osaka University, Kajima Corp., and Omron Corp., should be able to do the trick, don’t you think so? The entire consortium wants to make long-distance electric vehicle charging a reality within the next half decade. This wireless charging capability will involve microwave transmissions, and we do hope that they achieve success sooner rather than later. If you want to know what we think about electric cars, why not check out our review on the Nissan LEAF?
Mitsubishi Electric is releasing 2 new models of its LCD TV “Real LaserVue” series in late May. Both feature a red/blue/green laser backlight for more vivid and higher quality images.
Bluetooth compliant devices can connect to the TVs wirelessly to play music. Both blu-ray disk drive and hard disk (1TB) are built-in. They are capable of recording full HD movies for max 12 hours and 3D content is viewable (3D glasses need to be purchased separately).
To increase viewing enjoyment, Mitsubishi Electric has the following “Raku Raku Assist (Easy Assist)” functions built into the new models: – “Oto Hakkiri (Clear Sound)” function that outputs clear sound even when sounds is turned down low – “Shaberu TV (Talking TV)” where the TV reads aloud letters showing on the screen – “Auto Turn” that controls the angle of the screen by remote control and so on.
LCD-50LSR4 (50 inch) Size: 113.2cm x 81.1cm x 36.3cm Weight: 27.8kg Screen aspect ratio: 16:9 Number of speakers: 10 speakers (4 side speaker, 2 center speakers, and 4 woofers)
LCD-39LSR4 (39 inch) Size: 88.9cm x 67.4cm x 36.3cm Weight: 22.1 kg Screen aspect ratio: 16:9 Number of speakers: 10 speakers (4 side speaker, 2 center speakers, and 4 woofers)
Mitsubishi will drop another LCD monitor ‘RDT198LM’ into the market. As part of the Diamondcrysta series, this non-glare 19-inch TN LED-backlight monitor provides 1280 x 1024 native resolution, 1000:1 contrast ratio, 240 cd/m2 brightness, 5ms response time and 160/170 degree viewing angles. Not to mention, it also comes with two built-in 1W stereo speakers and has D-Sub and DVI-D connectors. Available in black and white color options, the RDT198LM will go on sale from April 24th for unannounced price yet. [Product Page]
Mitsubishi has once again expanded its line of Full HD monitors by unveiling the RDT223WLM. As part of the Diamondcrysta WIDE series, this 21.5-inch TN LED-backlight monitor provides 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution, 1000:1 contrast ratio, 240 cd/m2 brightness, 5ms response time and 160/170 degree viewing angles. In addition, it also comes with two built-in 1W stereo speakers and has DVI-D, mini D-Sub and HDMI connectors. The RDT223WLM will begin shipping from April 12th for around 19,800 Yen (about $200) in black and white color options. [Product Page]
Mitsubishi has released a new DLP projector namely the WD390U-EST. This 3D-ready projector provides 1280 x 800 native resolution, 3000 ANSI lumens brightness, 3000:1 contrast ratio and up to 6,000 hours of lamp life. It also comes with a built-in 10W mono speaker and has a number of connectivity ports including 2x D-Sub, Composite, S-Video, 2x Stereo Mini jack, HDMI and USB Type A. Unfortunately, there’s no word on pricing yet. [About Projectors]
Electric cars generally settle into one of two camps: the outlandish, like Renault’s Twizy, or the discrete, like Nissan’s Note. The Mitsubishi i-MiEV, however, straddles both. Its “space jelly-bean” looks are certainly eye-catching, but they’re also borrowed wholesale from the regular gas-powered version available in Japan and Europe, rather than an EV flourish for its own sake. The i-MiEV is also one of the US’ cheapest EVs, though with prices starting at $21,625 (after tax incentives) it still commands a premium over more traditionally fuelled cars. Can the i-MiEV’s frugal charms win us over? Read on for the full SlashGear review.
Design and Interior
It’s not quite a Twizy, but the i-MiEV is certainly no wall-flower when it comes to Mitsubishi’s aesthetic. The tall, narrow body was intended for snapping down cramped Tokyo side-streets, but it makes for a car that catches more than its fair share of glances while you’re driving. Whether they’re admiring or bemused is unclear.
You still get four doors, however, and four seats inside – the rear seats fold down individually, boosting the trunk’s compact 13.2 cubic feet of storage to a more useful 50.4 cubit feet – with room for adults front and back. It’s an upright ride with plenty of headroom, though the limited width can mean those in the back sit closer together than usual. Despite the price, the only leather you’ll find inside is wrapping the steering wheel and shifter knob; the seats are sturdy fabric, instead, and adjusted manually not electrically.
Mitsubishi i-MiEV walkthrough:
Given the ostentatious exterior, we’d half expected the sort of swooping, LED-encrusted dashboard that would make a concept car jealous. In fact, the i-MiEV’s interior is surprisingly sober. The plastic top dash panels match the purplish-brown seat fabric for color, with a bulbous central stack topped with a sizeable LCD display above the HVAC controls and finally the gear shifter at the bottom. The latter looks like it could’ve been pulled from any automatic car, with the usual park, neutral, drive, and reverse options, as well as an “Eco” mode a notch away.
In the minimalistic driver’s instrument binnacle the view is dominated by a center gage with a digital speedo in the middle, flanked by a simple indicator which shows how economical or profligate you are with your current driving style. A smaller display on the left shows battery level and current gear; range in miles is shown in another screen on the other side. Jabbing at a small plastic button in the binnacle flips over to distance traveled since your last charge.
It’s functional, for the most part. The plastics in general are somewhat flimsy to the touch, though you at least get air-con, power windows and mirrors, and remote central locking as standard. There’s also a heated seat, on the driver’s side only, which Mitsubishi recommends using instead of cranking up the HVAC on a cold morning, since it’s more power-frugal; alternatively, you can turn on the HVAC (to the last used settings) remotely from the keyfob while the i-MiEV is still plugged into the mains. The touchscreen audio system, complete with Bluetooth streaming/hands-free, a reversing camera, and navigation is comprehensive, though not the easiest to use.
Engine and Performance
The i-MiEV’s motor pushes out 66HP through the rear wheels via a single-speed gearbox, and manages 145 lb-ft of torque. It’s good for a top speed of 81mph, and though Mitsubishi isn’t especially keen to talk performance figures (0-60mph is a 13s affair), the combination of the 1.3 ton curb weight., low center of gravity, and immediacy of electric motors means acceleration is surprisingly eager. The i-MiEV is certainly at its best around town, where the combination of pep off the starting line and regenerative power topping up the battery show their worth, but that’s not to say it can’t handle the highway.
Mitsubishi i-MiEV driving:
At highway speeds, there’s a fair amount of wind noise, and while you don’t get the familiar thrum of a gas engine, you have the whine of the electric motor instead. Side-winds can lead to some uncomfortable buffeting, too. The suspension – taut, given the batteries the i-MiEV must lug – is firm but not unduly so.
Battery and Range
As with all EVs, the big question mark hanging over the i-MiEV is range. Mitsubishi quotes an EPA MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) of 126 for city driving, 99 for highway driving, and 112 combined; total EPA range is 62 miles.
That’s assuming ideal circumstances, of course. In practice, you tend to drive with one eye fixed to the range indicator, alert to how your driving style affects how many miles you’ll be able to do. We found the estimates to be reasonably accurate, though weather more than anything is the big decider. Setting out for town on a particularly cold day and, by the time we’d reached our first stop, the gage had dropped considerably more miles than we’d actually traveled. Mitsubishi does include a single out-of-energy rescue per year for the first three years.
Extremes of temperature are known issues for battery performance, and the i-MiEV tackles one of them as standard. All i-MiEV versions have a cooling fan that counteracts the effect of hot days, but its counterpart battery warmer is only standard on the SE “Premium Package” – $2,790 – or as a $175 add-on.
Charging generally depends on how much juice you have to spare. The i-MiEV can power up from either a 120V domestic supply or, if you have access to it, a 240V supply. A 120V portable charging cable is included to satisfy impromptu recharges while on the move, something which we found takes roughly 20- to 22hrs. A “Level 2″ 240V charger cuts that to seven hours, or if you have access to a “Level 3″ public quick-charger you can take the i-MiEV to 80-percent in 30 minutes.
Mitsubishi includes a total of three warranties with the i-MiEV, covering different aspects of the car. Shortest is the 3-year/36,000 mile New Vehicle warranty, followed by a specific 5-year/60,000 mile powertrain warranty. Finally, there’s 8-year/100,000 mile cover for the Li-Ion batteries, which unlike other car companies Mitsubishi sells rather than leases to drivers. Nonetheless, some degree of battery degradation is to be expected (and isn’t covered by the warranty): you should expect to have 80-percent of total capacity left after 5yrs, falling to 70-percent after 10yrs.
Wrap-Up
Most of the issues affecting the i-MiEV are applicable to every all-electric car. The preoccupation with range, balance of equipment versus saving as much power for actually moving, and the lifespan of Li-Ion batteries are to modern EVs what gas consumption, engine oil, and emissions are to traditional cars.
Where the i-MiEV succeeds is in helping make electric travel more affordable. Thanks to federal tax incentives you can have the Mitsubishi for under $22k (before destination and handling); considering only a couple of years ago you’d be looking at twice that for an EV, it shows how far we’ve come in eco-friendly motoring. The i-MiEV is certainly a second car, unless you’re a resolute city dweller, but for low-cost trips around town and room for four in a small footprint, it’s a perky addition to your garage.
Mitsubishi and the electric car is a story that has been well hashed where the Mitsubishi i-MiEV is concerned, but folks who have seen (much less driven it) would know that the i-MiEV is not famous for two things – namely, the looks as well as range. Well, it does seem to me as though there is hope yet with the introduction of the Concept CA-MiEV. Sporting flat-packed, high-density 28kWh lithium-ion batteries which result in a far sleeker design that delivers low drag, the new Mitsubishi Concept CA-MiEV is said to be able to last up to 186 miles on a full charge, which is triple of what the i-MiEV is able to endure.
Mitsubishi has described the Concept CA-MiEV as a “suburban” Electric Vehicle which could possibly last for up to a week for the average European commute. Will it ever make its way from the drawing board all the way to production lines? Time will tell, but chances are many of the developments found in the Concept CA-MiEV itself will eventually make their way to the rest of Mitsubishi’s fleet.
Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV is known for many accomplishments in the electric car world, but long-range driving and staggeringly good looks aren’t among them. Its just-unveiled Concept CA-MiEV solves the former by making at least a token gesture towards the latter. The combination of flat-packed, high-density 28kWh lithium-ion batteries and a sleeker, low-drag shape help the compact car last for 186 miles on a charge, or exactly three times what the i-MiEV could muster. It’s enough that Mitsubishi describes the concept as a “suburban” EV that could last for a week of typical European commuting on one charge. As it’s a showfloor darling, the Concept CA-MiEV naturally stuffs in a lot of technology that’s only sometimes related to the battery: it can charge wirelessly using WiTricity’s magnetic resonance, takes data from smartphones and will email the owner if it’s stolen. Mitsubishi is quick to warn that the car isn’t intended for production, like most concepts, but many of the developments found inside should spread to the automaker’s worldwide fleet in the long run.
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we’re using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.
Hey, we never said our favorite things were practical. This week, Darren tells us why his $125 shoulder bag was worth it, while Jason defends his decision to purchase an 82-inch 3DTV at 2AM (no he wasn’t drunk — we don’t think, anyway). Rounding things out, Jon doesn’t generally like super-sized phones, but he can’t help but enjoy the Galaxy Note II. Read on to find out why.
Mitsubishi Electric has come up with something interesting – a free-form screen car display system which is capable of projecting images on different kinds of screen, be they curve, oval or triangle in shape, in order to match the interior layouts of future vehicles. Basically, this prototype car display system will be powered by an optical engine which is capable of projecting images on curved, oval or triangular screens, in order to suit a wide range of car interiors.
Thanks to its free-form screen, it is capable of responding flexibly to the increasing use of curves and other design features that can be found in more modern car interiors. Apart from that, the inclusion of easy visibility will go a long way in helping to promote driving safety. Mitsubishi Electric made full use of its knowledge of rear-projection TVs and car electronics which are more than capable of withstanding severe operating conditions, delivering high quality and reliability along the way. One thing’s for sure, it would be nice to see some of these free-form displays incorporated into vehicles sooner rather than later as designs get more organic. [Press Release]
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When it comes to a fully electric vehicle, it is without a doubt that its power reserves would carry the greatest interest among potential customers – will it be able to last long on the road? After all, charging stations for electric vehicles are not exactly commonplace at this point in time, but that does not mean they are non-existent. Arguments concerning long distance electric car trips would continue to dominate conversations of the like minded, but Mitsubishi has opted to stop talking and start doing something about it, where they have teamed up with a consortium that is co-led by Kyoto University alongside a group of Japan-based organizations, who have come together to work on a remote charging solution for electric cars.
Mitsubishi and the electric car is a story that has been well hashed where the Mitsubishi i-MiEV is concerned, but folks who have seen (much less driven it) would know that the i-MiEV is not famous for two things – namely, the looks as well as range. Well, it does seem to me as though there is hope yet with the introduction of the Concept CA-MiEV. Sporting flat-packed, high-density 28kWh lithium-ion batteries which result in a far sleeker design that delivers low drag, the new Mitsubishi Concept CA-MiEV is said to be able to last up to 186 miles on a full charge, which is triple of what the i-MiEV is able to endure.
Mitsubishi Electric has come up with something interesting – a free-form screen car display system which is capable of projecting images on different kinds of screen, be they curve, oval or triangle in shape, in order to match the interior layouts of future vehicles. Basically, this prototype car display system will be powered by an optical engine which is capable of projecting images on curved, oval or triangular screens, in order to suit a wide range of car interiors.
