Electric Cars Mitsubishi

The electric car battle is getting hotter, as Mitsubishi introduces the i-MiEV electric car along the Pacific Coast states in late 2011, with nation-wide rollout in 2012. With a base price of $27990 for the basic model, it will be the least expensive electric vehicle after credits and rebates are figured in. For an extra two grand you get fog lamps and 15-inch aluminum wheels.

Add another $2790 for the SE Premium level, which provides a leather steering wheel and navigation system, plus the DC fast-charger port. The fast-charger makes life a lot easier, since it can charge the lithium-ion batteries to 80% in only half an hour. This is the same fast-charger that is optional on the Nissan electric car.

Another useful upgrade on the Mitsubishi i-MiEV is the cold-zone package, which keeps the lithium-ion battery pack warm in the winter and includes heating for the exterior mirrors. The base price for the Mitsubishi electric car does not include a $720 delivery charge, and the company is already taking orders for the car. The MiEV is already on sale in Costa Rica, a country which welcomes eco-friendly technology.

The four-door Mitsubishi electric car is priced about five thousand dollars less than the Nissan Leaf, which is already on the American market. With it's four wheels located in the far corners of the vehicle, the Mitsubishi MiEV has plenty of room for four adults plus a small trunk and can run for about 85 miles on a full charge.

Mitsubishi is also offering the Minicab-MiEV, an electric minivan which so far is only available in Japan, where it began testing in October, 2010. The Minicab-MiEV may be coming to America soon.