The challenges facing the automotive industry when it comes to the EV movement are twofold. The first part is to make cars that offer similar ranges to the gasoline models and the second is to do this at an affordable price. If you are someone who spends all their time in the city and you don’t want to rely on public transportation for your mode of travel, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV for 2017 is a great choice that is affordable and offers you a range that will allow you to enjoy a full day of driving in the city before needing a charge.
The interest with an EV model is what’s power the vehicle and how well will it perform. The Mitsubishi i-MiEV is powered by an AC synchronous permanent magnetic motor that uses a 16 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. This is attached to a fixed reduction gear transmission to give you the drive you need around the city. This motor is capable of producing 66 horsepower and 145 lb.-ft. of torque. That’s not a lot of power, but you don’t need a lot in the city. The range for the i-MiEV is 62 miles which is typically more than you will need in a regular day in the city. You will want the 240-volt charging option at home to give you a full charge in only six hours and a Level 3 station can give you an eighty percent battery charge in only thirty minutes.
Don’t have any misconceptions about taking the i-MiEV to the track for a run; this is a car that is only suitable for city driving and very short stints on the freeway. Even though it has these limitations it is a car that will give you the ability to be on your own schedule and enjoy the world independent of the public transportation system. The drive is enjoyable and will be exactly what you expect from an inexpensive car, but its one that allows you to enjoy the benefit of never needing to stop at the gas station and continually driving a vehicle that produces zero emissions.
I’ve said this is an affordable EV for you to drive, and it is. The i-MiEV starts out at $24,000 and can be upgraded in a few ways to reach a little over $30,000. The beauty of this vehicle’s price comes in when you consider the tax credits you can take advantage of. The federal tax credit comes out at $7,500 and in some states you can add even more to the amount of discounts. California is one notable example where you will enjoy an additional $2,500 in state tax credits to take nearly $10,000 off the total price of this EV.
The i-MiEV comes as one model, the ES. The standard offering for the model include heated front seats, a six-speaker audio system, keyless entry, folding rear seats, a six-way manual adjustable driver-s seat and the Level 3 DC quick-charge port to take advantage of these stations in your area. If you choose to upgrade your i-MiEV you can add a seven-inch touch screen display to give you 3D mapping, real time traffic and directions to points of interest in your area. This system also brings in Bluetooth connectivity, a USB port, steering wheel audio controls, a rearview camera, a map light and rear parking sensors. Overall this upgrade is worth the extra money and will give you an easy way to explore the city you live in.
The interior of this car is exactly what you expect, utility with a purpose. There are no frills and some of the materials are made of plastic, but that’s to be expected with the price of the car. The seats are comfortable and as a hatchback you can easily enjoy the versatility this car offers you. On the outside you see a car that looks like a bubble on wheels, which seems to be part of the charm of the car. The roof is high to give you more headroom and offers a shape that is somewhat cute. If you’re tired of using public transportation this is the car you really need.
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