Mitsubishi Plans to Provide Electric Car for U.S.

According to an article in Automotive News, Mitsubishi's president, Osamu Masuko, made the announcement during the annual dealer's meeting held in the City of Sin. The lithium-ion powered vehicle will be made available in Japan first and will then find its way onto U.S. soil. The automaker has been toying with both electrics and hybrid in Japan, and intends to import both in the coming years.

Although the electric-powered model may carry a bit more cache than the traditional hybrid route, we're curious as to what, if anything has materialized out of the Concept-CT that Mitsu debuted earlier this year at the NAIAS. The concept had a 1.1-liter engine, partnered with individual electric motors that fed power to each wheel and, hence, was transmission-less. More development of that concept, which would aid in the R and D of fuel-cell powertrains, may be more forward thinking.

Read "BREAKING: Mitsubishi to sell electric vehicle in the U.S." @ Autoblog

*Update at post #11.

A mitsu electric car eh...I'll take something else. Being a mitsubishi, something might go wrong and I fear I'd end up like this

Edited October 10, 200618 yr by big blue

Mitsubishi needs to look at niches to survive, and if Mitsubishi comes out with the first mass-produced lithium ion car, they can finally have a reason for people to look at the brand.

It'd better be affordable, cuz to have any kind of acceptable range, it's gonna have to be light. Traditionally, light means skimping on some things that drivers often want. Optionally, it means using high-tech (a.k.a. expensive) materials. Too much of either could cause the car to be undesireable, either from an experiential or monetary standpoint. Still, I guess some props are in order for offering it.

Anyone else annoyed that the article made the pointless comparison with a random mitsu concept car, with no mitsu indication that the concept has any bearing on the product in mind?

Mitsubishi needs to look at niches to survive, and if Mitsubishi comes out with the first mass-produced lithium ion car, they can finally have a reason for people to look at the brand.

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I would hope so. Nissan has had their li-ion Altra for nine years now, and it's baffling to understand why it's taking so long.

"The concept had a 1.1-liter engine, partnered with individual electric motors that fed power to each wheel and, hence, was transmission-less."

Interesting concept, indeed. But I imagine there would be a great deal of power loss between the gas engine and the electric motors.

"The concept had a 1.1-liter engine, partnered with individual electric motors that fed power to each wheel and, hence, was transmission-less."

Interesting concept, indeed.  But I imagine there would be a great deal of power loss between the gas engine and the electric motors.

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actually, you lose more mechanically than electrically

A mitsu electric car eh...I'll take something else. Being a mitsubishi, something might go wrong and I fear I'd end up like this

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Well that guy was stupid... In that lot there were Bimmers and others and he chose a Ford Probe.

I wonder if this might spark GM to rethink about what they did to the EV1s.

actually, you lose more mechanically than electrically

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That rules out the one reservation I have about this technology.

Uh, never mind about seeing this in America...

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2006/10/13/mi...-electric-cars/