(Photo by viZZZual.com on Flickr)
The planned i-MiEV rollout in July by Mitsubishi Motors Group will only be the tip of the iceberg based on the company’s June 11th press release. The Japanese automaker took time last week to lay out its “Environmental Vision 2020” as well as tease EV fans with plans for five additional EVs by 2013. Mitsubishi conducted this PR blitz to capitalize on buzz about the i-MiEV and press competing automakers for details on long-term EV rollouts.
“Mitsubishi Motors Group Environmental Vision 2020” divides the automaker’s green vehicle plans into categories like Products and Technology, Corporate Activities and Cooperation with Society. The most substantial goal within the plan is that electric vehicles will form at least 20% of the Mitsubishi fleet by 2020. Mitsubishi also wants to reduce carbon dioxide emissions for its entire fleet by 50% and production emissions by 20% of 2005 emissions levels.
Mitsubishi also plans to unveil five EV models in subsequent months to build off the anticipated success of the i-MiEV. The automaker says that it will manufacture 30,000 EV units by 2013 focusing on the Japanese and European markets. The follow-up to the upcoming i-MiEV release is a specially designed i-MiEV for European drivers due summer 2010. Mitsubishi wants to increase the size and performance levels of its EV models with an EV sedan planned for 2011 and a plug-in hybrid SUV for 2013. An electric-powered delivery van is also in the works for summer 2010 to reach out to commercial customers. The fifth EV model proposed by Mitsubishi is a sleeker, performance-minded version of the i-MiEV by fall 2013.
The final piece of Mitsubishi’s EV puzzle is a plan to sell the lithium-ion battery packs used in the i-MiEV to original equipment manufacturers (OEM). Mitsubishi officials project that 8,000 lithium-ion units could be sold by 2011. The automaker’s fortunes in the EV market may be tied largely to its battery production as its EV production levels remain low in the next two years. The 20% EV goal in the company’s “Environmental Vision 2020” document seems too modest for a company ready to tout five new EV models. If the i-MiEV is successful in its fleet purchase stage, Mitsubishi should be more aggressive in its product rollouts to emerge as an early EV leader among major automakers.
