The i-MiEV (Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle), an innovative 4-seat electric car built on the Japanese i-Car platform with zero emissions, made a recent appearance on August 23 at Boucherville as part of Mitsubishi’s Clean Across Canada Tour.
In fact, the i-MiEV set out from Signal Hill, Saint John, Newfoundland, on August 17, kicking off a 28-day, 7,500 km coast-to-coast drive that will come to a close on September 13, 2010 in Vancouver. Among those greeting its arrival in Boucherville were Boucherville’s Mayor, Jean Martel and Pierre-Luc Desgagné, Hydro-Quebec’s Senior Director of Strategic Planning and Government Relations.
Starting at the end of this year, the i-MiEV pilot project, a partnership between Hydro-Quebec, Mitsubishi and the City of Boucherville, will be the most important Canadian electric car pilot project to date. Hydro-Quebec, in collaboration with the City of Boucherville, will test up to 50 Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric cars under various driving conditions. Over a 3-year period, this pilot project will study the car’s battery-charge performance as well as the overall driving experience and driver satisfaction in order to determine the feasibilty of using this kind of vehicle as a fleet car in the future.
The i-MiEV can drive up to 120 km on a single charge. What’s more, its battery can be charged very quickly thanks to Eaton’s Quickcharge system - exactly how it’s done at the end of each daily trip during Mitsubishi’s Clean Across Canada Tour.
Already available in Japan, the i-MiEV runs on a small, exceptionally energy efficient electric engine with a torque of 133 lb-ft. (180 N-m). The 16 kWh lithium-ion battery allows the car to reach speeds up to 130 km/h. Plus, the engine delivers 64 HP (47 kW) for a curb weight of 1,080 kg.
A smooth ride gets even better with eco-friendly Yokohama prototype tires, yet another one of i-MiEV’s cutting-edge features.
Daniel Lafrance
