Mitsubishi i-MiEV 2011 Review

Price Guide (lease only): $1800pcm approx.
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): Metallic Paint $NCO
Crash rating: TBC
Fuel: Electricity
Recharge (volts/amps): 240/15
Claimed range (km): 160
Also consider: Nissan LEAF... eventually

It's been four months since Mitsubishi's all-electric i-MiEV joined the 50-plus-strong Carsales Network fleet. It's ostensibly a part of the Japanese firm's trial of EV (Electric Vehicle) technology in Victoria but make no mistake we've put our own hand in our pocket. Like around 100 other users Australia wide the Carsales Network is paying for the privilege of being an early adopter.

So far, the four-seat plug-in hatch is living up to expectations. Indeed, overall we're pretty taken with our Electric Dream.

Excusing its silent running, i-MiEV drives pretty much like any other superlight hatch, and in many instances better. It's smooth, easy to operate and offers a surprisingly natural road feel aided primarily by the battery-powered car's low centre of gravity and rear-wheel drive dynamics. Steering is a little light-on for feel, but is direct and uniformly weighted.

But rather than take the word of Carsales Network's experienced road testers, i-MiEV has been made available to a wider group of staff who've provided a lay person's opinion on the car's performance and liveability, with vastly different reports noted where range is concerned. We've also taken the decision to let a lucky reader live with the iMiEV for a few months – more on that later...

Mitsubishi claims that with careful driving 160km range can be extracted from a single charge. To date, the best results (achieved by our Melbourne road test crew) were in the vicinity on 105km, while other staff members unfamiliar with economical driving practices and EV technology range nearer to 75km.

Of course environmental factors can also contribute substantially to any reduction in range with i-MiEV's batteries needing to supply ancillary items in addition to those that propel the car itself. Notably, rain and cold weather impact greatest on the available distance with the heater and demister drawing large amounts of electricity, a combination worsened by the use of wipers and headlamps.

"Wet weather saps power and range. Driving home with wipers, lights and demister reduced [the available] range from 93 to 67km," wrotes one staff member in i-MiEV's log. "By comparison, the return trip [in dry weather] saw the range improve from 65 to 82km."

[Ed; check out some of our other staff comments below]

It's not magic; i-MiEV can in fact generate its own power thanks to regenerative braking and 'B' (or Brake) mode in the car's transmission. Bypassing 'D' (or Drive) and 'ECO' (or Economy) modes, the car's engine is used to generate power to charge the lithium-ion batteries, which can contribute as many as 3km to the car's range on a single, sustained application.

Back in the garage, i-MiEV takes between six and eight hours to achieve a full charge, depending how empty the 'tank' is. It may seem excessive, but when many people leave their car parked in a garage overnight anyway, is of little consequence.

We've installed a simple 15 amp/240V point in our Carsales HQ garage and charge the car by day. This is a situation that many workplaces might replicate in the future. Though we've eschewed a smart charging station that would give us exact electricity costs and other stats, that's also an some users might take.

As small as it is, i-MiEV's egg-shaped body provides similar levels of accommodation to any regular light hatch, even if it is only built for four. Clever packaging of the car's battery packs beneath the floor allows ample leg and headroom throughout while many who have driven i-MiEV also compliment its visibility and higher-than-hatch-average driving position.

On the downside, oddment storage and cargo capacity are quite limited. i-MiEV also fails to offer a cargo cover meaning any valuables in the boot are left in plain sight.

As noted above, if you're open-minded about alternative fuels and drivetrain systems, the Carsales Network is offering a chance to live with the Mitsubishi i-MiEV as a guest reviewer. As Australia's first road-registerable electric vehicle it's a unique opportunity, and we'll even throw in a new Apple iPhone4 packed with $100 worth of pre-paid data for you to keep. All we expect in return is some regular intelligent feedback.

Sound like you? Then here's the deal: simply click on this link www.carsales.com.au/electricdream and tell us in 25 words or less why you're the perfect applicant for the job. Good luck!