TOKYO MOTOR SHOW: Mitsubishi Concept PX-MiEV II
Mitsubishi's Concept PX-MiEV II SUV is able to switch between pure EV, series hybrid and parallel hybrid modes without blinking an eyeMitsubishi's Concept PX-MiEV II SUV revealed at the Tokyo motor show is not just a contender for the world's most elaborately titled car – it also embraces three driveline principles where others would be happy with just one.
The Ford Territory-like Mitsubishi concept is a going concern that can operate as a pure Electric Vehicle (EV), as a Holden Volt-style series hybrid in which electric motors drive the wheels and a petrol engine feeds the battery, or as a "conventional" parallel hybrid in which electric motors and petrol engine work together, metering out the driveline chores according to the needs of the moment.
Oh, it's a plug-in too, that can be charged via a home power socket.
The Mitsubishi SUV uses two 60kW electric motors, one at the front and one at the rear, and a 70kW 2.0-litre MIVEC four-cylinder petrol engine delivering an almost bewildering range of operating configurations.
Because it can be driven as far as 50km on electricity alone, it can operate as a pure EV in short-distance commuting – without the anxiety of running out of battery charge in extenuating circumstances such as high air-conditioning demand, or running at night with all lights blazing.
Once the battery reaches a predetermined level, the petrol engine kicks in, in series hybrid mode, and brings the central, under-floor battery up to charge.
If the car is bounding down the freeway at speed, the PX-MiEV operates just like your average Toyota Prius, with the petrol engine doing much of the work, assisted by the electric motors when needed. A total cruising range of around 800km is quoted by Mitsubishi.
Similar to the Lexus RX450h SUV, there is no driveline to the rear wheels. The electric motor, working in with Mitsubishi's S-AWC (Super All Wheel Control system) and mounted at the back axle takes care of any 4WD requirements.
The fuel consumption aims of the Concept PX-MiEV II beggar belief: If the press material is correct, Mitsubishi reckons a consumption figure of 1.7L/km is achievable. One would presume the figure is calculated on the basis of many short-distance trips in pure EV mode.
If that wasn't enough, the multi-talented SUV was joined by numerous Mitsubishi alternative drive projects at the Tokyo show, some of which played a power supply role reversal...
Among these were the MiEV House, which has the capability "to supply the electric power stored in its drive battery to houses or other buildings in order to shift overall power usage from daytime peak hours to night, where power demand is much lower to reduce peak consumption."
Then there was the MiEV Café, which is able to supply power to large domestic electrical appliances.
Also on show the MINICAB-MiEV - a totally utilitarian VW Transporter-style EV with a maximum payload of 350kg and a working range as high as 150km. It can be had in 10.5kWh or 16kWh form and uses a single 30kW/196Nm electric motor charged by a 350kg lithium-ion battery pack designed for overnight charging.
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