We had a show-and-tell of the i-MiEV this morning to the staff. These are the most frequently asked questions.
Q: How far can it go.
A: About 100 km
Q: How fast can it go
A: 130km/hr
Q: How long does it take to charge?
A: About 1 hour per 15km driven. 8 hours from flat.
Q: Where can I charge it?
A: from a 15A power point. These can be identified as they have a larger earth pin than the other 2 pins (normal household power points are 10A)
Q: Where are the batteries?
A: Under the floor.
Q: Where is the motor?
A: In the back under the luggage compartment.
Q: How do I know how far I can drive?
A: The is a 16 pint ‘fuel’ gauge and a trip computer that estimates range left in km.
Q: How much does it weigh?
A: 1080kg
Q: How is B different to D?
A: B provides more aggressive regenerative braking when you lift you foot of the accelerator?
Q: Does it put power back in the batteries when you let your foot of the accelerator or you press the brake?
A: Yes. AC motors in electric vehicles provide regenerative braking.
Q: What if the battery goes flat?
A: Call a tow truck or plug it in.
Q: How much does it cost?
A: We don’t know, they are not for sale yet in Australia. Roche is privileged to be on a special lease program from Mitsubishi for 3 years. As an indication they should be less than USD 30,000 before rebates in the USA.
Q: How much pollution does it cause charging?
A: 1/4 of CO2 compared to ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) equivalent
Q: how much does it cost to run?
A: 1/3 of the cost of an equivalent ICE. 1/9th if charged off peak.
Q: Is it quite?
A: Yes, 5dB lower than ICE. About 1/3.
Q: Is it safe?
A: Yes, it has a 4 star NCAP rating with dual airbags. If fitted with Side and curtain bags, will be 5 star.
Q: Where can I find more information?
A: From Mitsubishi. http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com.au/microsites/i-miev and for more technical details from this presentation http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com.au/microsites/i-miev
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