The Mitsubishi I MiEV has been around for a long time, in terms of electric vehicle (EV) history. It has been and still is one of the most affordable EVs, but it also hasn’t been updated in a few years and the competition has had time to catch up. Mitsubishi’s toughest price competition is the Chevy Spark EV at $26,685 MSRP. To be fair, the Chevy Spark EV can only be leased in California and Oregon, while the Mitsubishi I MiEV is available just about anywhere.
The price war
Mitsubishi is upgrading its 2014 i-MiEV ES model with some goodies. It will now come with a CHAdeMo DC fast charging capacity standard. The battery management system gets an overhaul with a warming system, which should squeeze a little more endurance performance. The pack hasn’t changed, with its 88 lithium-ion cells, at 330V and overall rated at 16 kWh. The electric motor is still the 49 kW (66 HP) AC synchronous one, which produces a peak torque of 145 lb.-ft., giving the car a top speed of 80 MPH. And yes, we tested the older generation at that speed on highways.
The good news is that the most affordable EV now will cost you $22,995, with a $850 destination fee. To put this into context, Mitsubishi managed to drop the price by $6,130. Once you factor in the Federal tax credit of $7,500, the 2014 Mitsubishi i-MiEV’s price drops down to an amazing $15,495. If your state includes local incentives, such as California does, you can add another $2,500. In this case, the price drops further down to $12,995. Keep in mind, some states offer a local incentive, as much as $2,500, which brings it right down $10,495. The limited warranty 8-year/100,000-mile, so no more worries about the longevity of its lithium pack.
We’re excited to see the i MiEV coming back with a standard fast charging feature and a much lower price. This bodes well for the future of EVs. It was one of the very first EV on the U.S. market and deserves its place in the history of electric cars. We will be testing it very soon for you.
