When Mitsubishi launches its i electric vehicle in November, U.S. consumers won't get the same vehicle sold in Japan and Europe.
Even in the world of EVs, it seems, the U.S. driving style requires changes. That's why Mitsubishi will come to market with a car that's slightly longer and about 5 inches wider, with wider tires and more interior space.
The changes represent Mitsubishi's effort to give the i better "highway manners," spokesman Maurice Durand says.
"It's a totally different driving cycle," Durand said. "In Japan, everything is stop-and-go in the cities. People don't worry about freeway driving."
Another wrinkle in bringing the i from Japan: While household lines in Japan can take 15-amp charging, some older home wiring in the United States cannot. Mitsubishi is likely to set up the i for 8-amp charging.
That means that charging on a standard household 110-volt line will take 19 to 22 hours, Durand says, which makes installation of a 240-volt charger a virtual necessity.
With the U.S. retail launch about eight months away, Mitsubishi is making several moves to prepare. One of the more puzzling developments came recently, when the name was changed from i-MiEV, which is used elsewhere in the world.
The explanation is simple, Durand says: Americans found pronunciation of the name (EYE'-meev) confusing.
Mitsubishi will begin taking orders this spring. The company has said it wants to price the i below $30,000 (prior to subtracting the $7,500 federal incentive).
The weak yen could hamper Mitsubishi's ability to drop the price of the Japan-built car too low, however. Says Durand: "We're trying to price it pretty aggressively, but there's this thing going on with the yen."
