13/09/2010 11:54
Mitsubishi has become the first mainstream manufacturer to bring an electric vehicle to the global market.
The i-MiEV boasts zero CO2 running emissions and draws all power through a plug, meaning it can travel 80 miles at a cost of less than £1 - a tenth of the price of a similarly-sized petrol vehicle.
Offering a regulated top speed of 81mpg, the new car uses high-density lithium ion batteries produced by Mitsubishi in conjunction with GS Yuasa Corporation.
It takes six hours to fully charge the Mitsubishi i-MiEV through a normal domestic 240V power supply, while an 80 per cent charge can be achieved in just 30 minutes.
The car is virtually silent when in operation and offers standard safety features such as ABS, traction and stability control, airbags and an alarm.
Commenting on the news, Macklin Motors regional director Gordon Close said: "The announcement that the i-MiEV will retail at the same price as the forthcoming Nissan Leaf will help to add some interesting competition to the zero emission car market."
Meanwhile, Macklin Motors is set to open a new Mitsubishi dealership in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire today (September 13th).