I'm not sure is that $22,500 quoted is a guess on the part of the author or an actual price stated by Mitsubishi? Mitsubishi i-MiEV Aims to Undercut Nissan Leaf EV's Pricing | Sustainability | Fast Company When Nissan announced last month that its upcoming all-electric Leaf will sell for $25,280 after federal subsidies, it was almost like a challenge to other automakers--we dare you, Nissan seemed to be saying, to sell a quality EV at such a low price. Think City recently rose to the challenge with its $30,000 EV, and now Mitsubishi is actively undercutting Nissan with the i-MiEV, set to hit U.S. streets in 2011. The i-MiEV will cost approximately $22,500 after a $7,500 credit--that's cheaper than the average Prius. Mitsubishi's entrant into the EV arena has a range of 80 to 100 miles, a top speed of 81 mph, and a charge time of 7 hours with a 220V system. In comparison, the Leaf has a range of 100 miles, a top speed of 87 mph, and a charge time of 8 hours with a 220V system. At first glance, it looks like the two vehicles are on even footing. But Nissan announced its pricing plan first, and got the lion's share of attention for unveiling the first reasonably-priced mass-market EV. Not to mention that the Leaf is sleeker (in our opinion) and has room for five passengers compared with the four-seater iMiEV. We'll also be watching to see if the i-MiEV matches up in the features category when it is released in the U.S.--the 2011 Leaf will offer Sirius/XM satellite radio capabilities, Bluetooth connectivity, and energy-efficient LED headlight, among other amenities. In any case, this probably won't be the last we hear about affordable EVs. Now that Mitsubishi and Nissan have revealed their offerings, it's only a matter of time before other major automakers follow suit.
The i-MiEV appears to be a much smaller car. Also for comparison one would want to know the acceleration performance of the two cars. And the dates one can actually buy one. The Leaf will be available in limited numbers at the end of this year, and in greater numbers a year after that. When will the i-MiEV be on dealer lots in the U.S.? The Leaf home charging station will cost another $2,200 installed. Will the Mitsubishi plug into a standard dryer plug, or will it require a dedicated charger? So many differences before the MSRP really makes sense. But of course, the more EVs are available, the better. I like the looks of the Leaf better, and the prospects of getting one sooner, but I hope the i-MiEV becomes available and is a success.
i kinda discounted it as well due to size. but have not seen one in person. the Leaf Size is excellent and i would pay the extra for the space.
First, why do we talk about $25K car i.e. post rebate, but $2,200 charger, pre rebate ? There is a 50% rebate on the charger, so it should be around $1.1K. I think the charger will be needed for Mitsu also. I don't think the included charging cable will be for the 220V plug. I'm sure there will be after-market chargers for 220V - with the needed J1772 connector. May be Monster cable will make one ;-)
Since the SAE-J1772 seems to be pearched to become the new standard for charger heads, Mitsubishi will cripple itself if it doesn't follow suit. If the i-Miev is to compete in the U.S. (if ever a release date is even shored up) they'll HAVE to be less. Who'd pay more for a much smaller car?
