Mitsubishi EV and PHEV Growth To Continue On Road And Track

Mitsubishi remains committed to expanding its range of pure-electric (EV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models.

Speaking with TMR at this week’s Australian International Motor Show (AIMS), Mitsubishi Motors Corporation President Osamu Masuko said the carmaker is on target to deliver eight new EV and PHEV models by 2015.

In Japan, the existing i-MiEV Minicab kei-class van will soon be joined by a trayback i-MiEV Minitruck variant.

Locally, the existing i-MiEV pure-electric city car will be joined by the Outlander plug-in hybrid SUV in the first half of next year.

While the upcoming Mirage light car is also being evaluated for both EV and PHEV variants, Masuko-san said that market forces will determine a production reality for either version.

Masuko-san admitted that EV production is no longer limited by battery supply, but rather the relative value of the Japanese Yen keeping prices high, along with current EV models’ intrinsic cruising range limitations.

“The battery supply we have is sufficient, but unfortunately the sales of pure-electric cars is not [presently] really economic”, Masuko-san said.