Many of the "environmentally friendly" cars at the New York International Auto Show were concepts only, scheduled to hit the market in "2011" or, you know, never. Not so Mitsubish's iMiEV, a fully electric car that the company brought from Japan for the first time for journalists to test drive. The car's gas using (but efficient) cousin, the i-minicar, is already on sale in Japan, and the company plans to introduce the electric version to Japanese audiences in 2009.
Yesterday we got to test-drive the iMiEV around midtown Manhattan. The car was everything an electric car should be: quiet, fun and very easy to use even though it was a Japanese model with the steering wheel on the right (wrong) side of the car. Did we mention how quiet it is? So quiet. The car looks tiny on the outside but is fairly spacious on the inside: a company spokesman said that if it ever were to be sold in the United States Mitsubishi would probably make it wider. He also called it a "clown car." Here's hoping that Mitsubishi will bring the circus to the US soon.
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By geohay at 9:48 PM ON 03/20/08
I want one now! i can't wait until they bring a viable electric car to the US.
By Dan Biwee at 11:06 AM ON 03/21/08
I want on too!!!
I hope someone brings a small electric to the US without 'supersizing' it for the more obese.
Bring on the clowns!
By coonass at 9:31 AM ON 03/27/08
I hope MIEV's quality and reliability are better than the two conventionally-powered Mitsubishis I've owned and sent to the junk yard with blown engines over the years. I am a Subaru convert. Those people GET it - you have to have a car that works ALL the time. Still driving my '91 Legacy Wagon and loving it.
By Tree Hugger at 1:53 PM ON 05/24/08
My husband and I have a Prius and a VW that runs on Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO) gleened from restaurants. WE WOULD BE THE ALL ELECTRIC TOMORROW IF IT WAS AVAILABLE. SOMEONE HAS TO TRY TO SAVE THE PLANET! GREAT GOING MITSUBISHI!!!
By Lesli at 12:09 PM ON 07/05/08
I'm 83 and want my next car ro be all electric. So please hurry as I don't have that long to wait
By david hicks at 6:00 AM ON 07/09/08
This car will end the Dirty smelly cars that we have today.
Just hope that the oil companies do not crush it
that is what happens.
I own a Prius as near as i can get to a electric car at the moment.
I would pay a premium for a electric car if there was one.
By Tom Mitchell at 12:31 PM ON 07/17/08
With the price of gas going up every day this is what the future is and should have been a long time ago
I hope that the US will allow this kind of tech to come into our country soon. Just imagine if they would have let this tech be used 20 years ago We would be in a much better world
Did you know that the 1st electric car was the Detroit Electric car 100 years ago? and if we had let that tech build instead of gas cars we would probably have propetual power by know
JUST THINK NO POWER BILL NO GAS PUMPS
By Arthur P at 10:13 PM ON 07/31/08
I deliver newspaper early in the morning, I wonder if the range is affected if you use headlights. I wish I can test drive it. I drive my car 35 miles a day mixed city and freeway driving 6 days a week.
By Ruben at 10:22 AM ON 08/12/08
they say you can drive 160km and i dont think the lights would make a big difference