While Mitsubishi showcased a left-hand-drive version of its all-electric i MiEV city car at New York, the Federal Government this week confirmed that the battery-powered vehicle was officially road-legal for Australia.
The i MiEV has satisfied all of the relevant Australian Design Rules to be road-registerable and, while it doesn’t guarantee we’ll see it come our way, it at least paves the way for Mitsubishi to commence volume importation.
“The Mitsubishi i MiEV’s represents a revolution in car design, bringing us a major step closer to ‘emissions free’ driving,” Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Anthony Albanese said.
“The vehicle’s 47kW motor uses no petrol, and as a result produces no emissions while on the road.
“At present, the transport sector contributes 14 percent of Australia’s total greenhouse gas emissions.”
One country that’s already confirmed to receive the i MiEV is the USA. At the New York Auto Show Mitsubishi officially announced that a left-hook version of the car would be sold in the US, and will likely hit the market before 2012.
The US version will also ditch the i MiEV moniker in favour of another badge, but at this stage it’s unclear what the new name will be.
The i MiEV is set to commence fleet sales in right-hand-drive form in Japan this July.
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Great work Mitsubishi.
I hope you are committed to the long term and not fall fowl as other manufacturers have in the recent past. We know we need it from an environmental perspective but I hope the Govt see’s the job potential in fast tracking the building of charging centres in public spaces and shopping centre car parks.
If we must continue the obsession of driving to work because public transport is failing then dont tax the vehicles to a point where we can’t afford them .
Berst wishes for our mutual futures. Steve G
[...] will likely bring its i MiEV battery-electric city car here early next decade, but it appears that German minicar specialists [...]