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Just an update on the expanded launch of the MIEV in Japan
Mitsubishi now plan to go to an expanded launch in 2009.
2000-2500 cars will be available for purchase by government bodies and by the public.
The retail price is expected to start at 250 million Yen ($25k).(base price)
Direct national rebate( removed directly from the price not a Tax rebate) is 100 million Yen. ($10k). Also Kangawa pref. will also add a rebate of 50 million Yen. So should be available at about 100million Yen($10k). About the price in Japan of the gasoline i-car.

Good Luck
Andrew
(PS Have video of Yokohama EV festival in avi format. Now if I could only figure out how to get single frame JPEG or other I would post some pics:confused:

Hi Andrew:

___Thanks for the update! With all the incentives bringing the cost down to just $10K, it seems extremely reasonable!

___What are electricity rates vs. gasoline prices across Japan? I have read Tokyo is approaching $0.40/kWh and that takes a lot of the incentive out of owning a BEV away even when compared to the $5 - $6 USD per gallon of gasoline prices in a Kei car I would assume. Still though, $10K for a fully featured BEV is a steal!

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Hi Wayne

Very reasonabale price.

Anyway as you may know, Japanese electricity rates are progressive (regressive) the more you consume, the more expensive it gets.
Taking out the fixed charges, day rate is about 15Yen/kWh (about $0.14), night rate is 7Yen/kWh. Thats about 1/8th for 56mpg Prius cost for night rate. Gasoline is now at $6.28/gal when I filled up today.

Still good value
Good Luck
Andrew

Hi Andrew:

___Your night rate for grid charging is very reasonable and would make the MiEV a very affordable solution indeed!

___Thanks for the pricing information on both electricity and gasoline.

___Good

___Wayne

_Thanks for the pricing information on both electricity and gasoline.

___Good

___Wayne

....and I thought you were perfect...:) j/k
That sounds like the japanese know how to handle these fuel issues, maybe they could give the big 3 a lesson in fuel efficiency....one they'll never forget.

You might like this photo, from Mitsubishi Press release, of a MiEV delivered to Kanagawa Pref Police. July 10th, 2008

http://www.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp/publish/mmc/pressrelease/news/detail1802.html

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/4153S_Par_12954_File.gif

Good Luck
Andrew

Some more MiEV related news

Lithium Energy Japan the battery maker for the MiEV was reported by Nikkei to be building a new factory for cell production to coincide with April 2009 release:-

The plant will initially produce about 1 million palm-size lithium ion cells a year—enough for 10,000 vehicles. An additional investment of more than 10 billion yen is planned by 2012, adding a second plant and doubling output.

Lithium Energy Japan had initially intended to make batteries for the equivalent of 2,000 vehicles a year at GS Yuasa’s main plant, in Kyoto, for a wide range of customers. But Mitsubishi Motors then raised its output target for the i MiEV in response to higher demand, prompting the venture to build a separate plant to supply the automaker.

They also quote an April 2009 release date for the MiEV

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2008/08/report-lithium.html#more

Also from the Mitsubishi site are some consumption figures from a MiEV which travelled from Tokyo to Hokkaido, approx 500m for the recent G8 summit (need to scroll down to see the final figures)

http://www.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp/special/eco/miev_journal080704.html

858.7km (536.7m) travelled for 85.65kWh of electricity, cost of 1713Yen ($16.30) with a calculated release of 35.12kg of grid CO2. (Probably mostly highway but not specifically mentioned)

This works out at 10.02 km/kwh or 6.27 m/kwh. It is not clear whether this is AC or DC but the cost calculation gives 20Yen/kwh which is close to the typical daytime charging rate so it is probably AC. The night time rate of about 5-7Yen/kWH needs to applied for separately and is usually restricted to all-electric households.
The CO2 released is equivalent to the CO2 released from gasoline at 120mpg
The comparison for the gasoline i? is at 27mpg, to give 13% of the cost with only 20% of the emissions. Which is cheating a little but comparing with a 54mpg Prius would give 26% of cost for 40% of CO2. Charging at nightime using the nightime rate would give (comparing with 54mpg Prius) 9% of gasoline cost, the grid at nightime is mostly nuclear AFAIK so the CO2 levels would also be lower.

The below link has more photos,
http://www.jevc.gr.jp/evtc2008/photo.html

Good Luck
Andrew

I will add some link details of the battery for the iMiEV here
Mitsubishi originally started EVs using batteries from Litcel, which is Mitsubishi/TDK JV small battery company using batteries said to be based on 50%-50%, LiCo(x)Mn(y)Ni(z)O2 (LCMN) and LiMn2O4. For the MiEV they changed to batteries from GS-Yuasa, LEV-50
which are now solely available from Lithium Energy which is a Mitsubishi/GS-Yuasa JV.

GS-Yuasa Link to tech reports

http://www.gs-yuasa.com/us/technic/

LEV-50 battery report
http://www.gs-yuasa.com/us/technic/vol5/pdf/05_1_021.pdf

There is no mention of the chemistry in this report in either Japanese or English but said to be based on an earlier LIM series which again there is no mention of chemistry.

LIM series
http://www.gs-yuasa.com/jp/technic/gsnews/no62_2/pdf/062_2_05.pdf

The operating voltage of the LEV50 is 3.7V whilst the LIM is 4.1V which looks like LiMn2O4 based battery. The only other large scale Li ion battery that they produced is a EX25A which has a 3.7V nominal voltage for which the chemistry is LiCo(x)Mn(y)Ni(z)O2 (LCMN)

http://www.gs-yuasa.com/jp/technic/no1/pdf/001_1_025.pdf

This is a product announced in 2004 but is no longer on their product list, so may have morphed into the LEV50.

Good Luck
Andrew

Just an update of what looks to be the final MIEV version which will go on sale in July. It was on display at the opening of a new Mitsubishi Tokyo showroom by CEO Masuko

http://jp.reuters.com/article/jpEnvtNews/idJPJAPAN-37183920090326

Good Luck
Andrew

Just an update that you might find of interest from a TEPCO Tokyo Electric Power company press release (Japanese, May 28th). The release shows the "switch" livery for the MiEV and Stella "plug-ins" to be added this year. 310 vehicles will be spread around TEPCO retail outlets in Tokyo, Kanagawa and Saitama aswell as some electricity generating plants. Something to watch out for if you happen to be in the Kanto area of Japan. They will also install 43 of their in house developed rapid chargers at their retail offices. Of the 8500 commercial vehicles owned by TEPCO, they will replace 3000 with Electric vehicles.

http://www.tepco.co.jp/cc/press/09052601-j.html

link to PDF of livery design
http://www.tepco.co.jp/cc/press/betu09_j/images/090526b.pdf

BTW MiEV will officially be launched at the end of July with 2000 vehicles. Also recently announced battery plants give them capacity to produce 30,000 vehicles per year by 2011.

Thank you for taking the time to post all this information Andrew, I always enjoy reading about what going on in Japan.

Mitsubishi officially started production of the i-MIEV on June 4th at its Mizushima Plant. In a ceremony before 2000 guests and employees ,initial production of 200 vehicles per month for 2009 was announced. Deliveries to commercial customers will begin in July.

Mr Kase, Factory Head said "Finally the opportunity for Mizushima to change automobile history has begun."

http://autos.yahoo.co.jp/news/detail/0/125420/

Good Luck
Andrew

Mitsubishi also announced a price of 4.59million Yen (approx $45,000) with government refunds of 1.5million Yen, the price is 3.0 million Yen ($30,000). Expect to sell 1400 cars.


http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20090605-00000096-reu-bus_all

I suppose the price seems high but as this is only for fleet customers there is a high premium. Production costs for 2,000 per year batteries are still high ($15k per battery), should drop to $10k per battery at 10,000 packs per year. Still a long way to go on price.

Best of Luck
Andrew

Subaru Stella Plug-in EV was also announced this week, even though it has only a 9kWh battery, the announced price was 4.725 million Yen. They will produce only 170 this year.

Good Luck
Andrew