Article Comments - 2010 Mitsubishi i MIEV Plug-In Electric First Drive

33 messages, Last post on Jun 16, 2009 at 8:45 PM

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First Drive: 2010 Mitsubishi i MIEV Plug-In Electric - First Impressions: It's quick enough to win the race at city stoplights, but what about cruising range?(more)

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#31 of 33 Good article... by iluvmysephia1 Jun 09, 2009 (10:55 pm)
elgatoloco. I agree with you and to me the only good solution automotively is utilizing an all-electric powertrain. BYD of China states that on their Honda Accord-sized car there are some 14,000 moving parts interlocking and working together and friction-bearing, etc. But their new e6 only utilizes about 2,000 parts. It does not require rocket science to build them, but, and it's kind of a big but, we do need some lawmakers to step up and get behind the building of re-charging centers. Replies to this message: elgatoloco (Jun 11, 2009 7:20 pm)
#32 of 33 Re: Good article... [iluvmysephia1] by elgatoloco Jun 11, 2009 (7:20 pm)
Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Jun 09, 2009 10:55 pm) I think that re-charge (or battery-swap) centers will be a natural progression in the era of EV's. However, I'm not too crazy about the idea of some dumb ass lawmakers (politicians) sticking their self-serving noses into the mix. They can do a heap of good by just standing back out of the way and letting the free market go to work. Just speculating here, but I think that the companies that produce EV's might want to consider having their dealers jump in right up front. It would most likely require evening and weekend hours for some employees but if a dealer could offer charges or swaps to their customers as they go around on their daily commutes - or cross country - that would be a serious incentive to purchase that particular brand of vehicle. for instance: "Free Swaps for One Year" something like that. Independent companies would most likely pop up also. Kind of like the numerous engine oil change / battery / brake centers that have proliferated so much in the last 20 years. Of course that would depend on how universal in style the batteries themselves were. I know that companies are already talking about a universal plug for re-charging. Patents would probably decide whether or not a one-size-fits-all battery would ever exist. I'm sure the politicos would want to get in on that debate. Just think of the money involved there! In 10 years the battery companies could be the new oil companies.. The oil companies and their station owners have a shot here as well. They already have the infrastructure. Shell Oil could just add a small extension to their thousands of stations, put in a "Swap Tech" and voila, no more relying on selling cigarettes and potato chips to make a profit. Heck, maybe it will be so simple some day that the customer could swap it themselves! Self service, what a concept! I'm not sure how it will all turn out, just as long as OPEC takes it up the ass it'll be fine with me.
#33 of 33 elgatoloco... by iluvmysephia1 Jun 16, 2009 (8:45 pm)
agree on what you're saying. I called the new Mitsubishi dealership in Tucson to talk about the new i-MiEV. I asked if I bought the new i-MiEV from them could I go to their dealership to charge up? The salesman said he didn't know the answer to that question yet. Kind of what I figured. We are way out in front of the general public, we car nuts. But it would sure be a big carrot to me if he would've just said, "Sure you can!" "No problem. And, if you like, you can also get free Snickers bars and Coca-Cola on Saturdays while we change your earl." "Hey, check me on that! These things don't need their oil changed, do they?" It's gonna take some time.