Mitsubishi's electric-car model rush

Electric and plug-in hybrid power is on the verge of going mainstream.

Mitsubishi Australia is planning a raft of pure electric and plug-in hybrid models over the next five years — including plug-in versions of its most popular models, the Lancer sedan and ASX and Outlander soft-roaders.

Proving that the technology can be applied to all vehicle types, there will even be plug-in hybrid versions of the next generation Pajero 4WD and Lancer Evolution performance sedan — such as the development EVO pictured here.

The new president and CEO of Mitsubishi Australia, Genichiro Nishina, who began his four-year term here eight weeks ago, said: "The i-MiEV is just the beginning of Mitsubishi's electric vehicle strategy.

"We will be launching eight new electric powered vehicles by 2015; this includes the introduction of several hybrid vehicles over the next 12 months and we will be seeing many of these vehicles here in Australia in the future."
 
There could also be a pure electric or a plug-in hybrid version of Mitsubishi's next generation Colt small car, due on sale late next year.

A plug-in hybrid car has an electric as well as a petrol motor, but typically can achieve between 20km and 50km of petrol-free driving before the petrol motor kicks in. Pure electric cars have between 150km and 200km of driving range.

Plug-in hybrid technology means that medium-sized SUVs can still do the school run, potentially using not a drop of fuel.

"Australians won't need to compromise on the type of vehicles they want," said vice president, corporate strategy at Mitsubishi Australia Paul Stevenson. "In the Mitsubishi showroom of the not-too-distant future, choosing an electric or plug-in hybrid car will be like choosing between petrol or diesel. This is just another option in our range."

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