New car news

07 July 2011 - 13:00

Mitsubishi i-MiEV hits showrooms in August

It's official: The Mitsubishi i-MiEV is going to be the first mass-produced electric car available to the Australian public when it goes on sale next month. You can almost hear the trees rejoicing.

The i-MiEV was previously only available to government and fleet customers, at a price that would be difficult for the general public to stomach. The diminutive four-door cost over $70,000. That's a lot of money for a car smaller than a Suzuki Alto.

However, the i-MiEV for the people now comes with a far more reasonable price, but it's still far from cheap. The electric pioneer will retail at $48,800 before costs. That's more than the most expensive Prius, and more than twice as much as the most efficient fossil-fueled vehicle, the Ford Fiesta Econetic.

Still, the i-MiEV is likely to become the next big fashion statement in the environmentally conscious streets of the inner city. Anyone who wants to show off their eco-credentials would look like a mere environmental poser in anything less than a fully-electric i-MiEV.

This tiny little commuter has a 47kW electric motor with a 130km/h top speed. Once the 160km range has been exhausted, it takes 7 hours to charge to 100% from a regular 15-amp household plug.

We're all for electric commuter cars such as this, but $48,800 seems steep for such a small car. One for the trendsetters, perhaps.

The i-MiEV has happened then, but what about the alternative fuels that never made it?