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MIEV (Mitsubishi In-wheel motor Electric Vehicle) or MiEV (Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle) (Template:PronEng) is the name given by Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors to its alternative propulsion technologies. It was introduced in the Mitsubishi Colt EV, a Colt-based concept car first exhibited at 2005 Tokyo Motor Show which used a series of lithium-ion batteries to power electric motors located in the wheels. Subsequent electrically powered vehicles have included a 200 kW Lancer Evolution, and a battery-equipped Mitsubishi i kei car which is aimed for introduction to the market between 2008 and 2010.

History

Before developing the first MIEV concept, Mitsubishi built several electric vehicles in the 1990s as they attempted to develop alternative propulsion systems. Development began in the 1970s, and 36 Libero EVs were sold between 1993 and 1996. Their FTO EV broke the record for the furthest distance achieved by an electric vehicle in 24 hours when it covered 2,142.3 km on December 19–20, 1999, and following this success they entered an Eclipse EV in the annual Shikoku EV Rally in 2001, completing over 400 km on a single charge.

Technology

MIEV motors are constructed using an in-wheel motor rotor, an in-wheel motor stator, a rotor bracket, stator bracket and inverter directly behind the brakes. Engine power output is 47 kW and torque output 180 N·m. The batteries can be charged from a standard 15 A/200 V car charger in seven hours and with a three-phase electric power charged in 25 minutes (for up to 80 percent of full capacity). The batteries are located under the floorpan and in the Colt uses 22 Li-ion modules to produce a cumulative 325 V. The design allows for an entirely electric vehicle, or a hybrid using the batteries to supplement a traditional internal combustion engine or a hydrogen fuel cell.

Benefits

According to Mitsubishi, locating the motor behind the wheel offers the company three distinct advantages:

1. It allows for a four wheel drive system without need of transmission, driveshafts, differential gears or other complex mechanical components. Mitsubishi Motors has been one of the few companies to persist in offering 4WD on vehicles other than SUVs since the technology's heyday in the 1980s.
2. Placing the drive system entirely in the wheels allows for greater freedom of design for interior stylists.
3. The space created facilitates the storage of the batteries, allowing for extra modules to be fitted which would offer increased power and range compared to previous electric vehicles.

Vehicles

Mitsubishi Colt EV (2005)

Based on the platform of a Mitsubishi Colt, and first exhibited in 2005, it was the first Mitsubishi EV where mass production and public sales were mooted, with a suggested price tag of US$19,000. The car has a top speed of 150 kilometres per hour and an estimated range of 150 kilometres.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MIEV (2005)

A Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX sedan fitted with four 50 kW motors, it took part in the 2005 Shikoku EV Rally. The Lancer is capable of 180 kilometres per hour, and has a range of 250 kilometres.

Mitsubishi Concept-CT MIEV (2006)

The first MIEV prototype based on the platform and "rear midship" layout of the Mitsubishi i kei car, the Concept-CT is a sport compact prototype, and was first exhibited at the 2006 North American International Auto Show.

Mitsubishi Concept-EZ MIEV (2006)

The Concept-EZ is a compact mono-box prototype exhibited at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show, and designed to showcase the benefits of MIEV technology on the car's interior design. Each wheel is located as close to the corner of the vehicle as possible, and houses a 20 kW outer rotor in-wheel motor. With no central powertrain the floor could be kept low and flat to liberate extra interior space, despite the vehicle's modest height of 1,750 millimetres.

Mitsubishi i MiEV (2006)

Also based on the Mitsubishi i kei car, it was first exhibited at the 22nd International Battery, Hybrid and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Symposium & Exposition in Yokohama. This vehicle was the first where the "i" in MIEV stood for "innovative", as it does not have the in-wheel motors. Instead a single motor drives the rear wheels. MMC provided three power companies with vehicles in 2006 and 2007 in order to conduct joint research to evaluate how fast-charge infrastructure may be developed for EVs. Fleet testing by five power companies was conducted in 2007. The car has a range of 130 kilometres for the 16 kW·h lithium-ion pack and 160 kilometres for the 20 kW·h pack. Top speed is 130 km/h. Known as the i-EV in the German market, it is aimed for public sale by 2010. See the i MiEV web site for more information: http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/special/ev/whatis/index.html

Mitsubishi i MiEV Sport (2007)

The third concept vehicle based on the platform of the Mitsubishi i, and exhibited at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show in late 2007. In-wheel motors made a return in the front wheels, while a single motor powers the rears. Designed to showcase the sporting potential of zero-emissions vehicles, the i's space efficient exterior design was heavily modified into a more aerodynamic 2+2 fastback silhouette. The company's Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system developed for the new Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X was also utilized.

References

1. ^ "Interview With Managing Director in Charge of Product Development and Environment Affairs Group Headquarters, Tetsuro Aikawa", Mitsubishi Motors internally conducted interview, February 2005
2. ^ "Mitsubishi Motors builds new research EV, "i MiEV" for joint research with power companies", Mitsubishi Motors press release, October 11 2006
3. ^ "Mitsubishi Motors to drive forward development of next-generation EVs", Mitsubishi Motors press release, May 11 2005
4. ^ "Mitsubishi Motors to enter Lancer Evolution MIEV in Shikoku EV Rally 2005", Mitsubishi Motors press release, August 24 2005
5. "Plugging into electric dreams", Kevin Hepwork, The Daily Telegraph, September 28 2007
6. ^ "Electric Vehicle", Technical review, Mitsubishi-Motors.com
7. "MMC to display futuristic products at Exhibition of Dream Technologies for the 21st Century", Mitsubishi Motors press release, July 12 2000
8. "Mitsubishi EV Sets New World Record; Covers 2000km in 24 hours", Mitsubishi Motors news release, December 20 1999
9. ^ "Mitsubishi In-wheel motor Electric Vehicle - A next-generation EV", Technical review, Mitsubishi-Motors.com
10. 4-Wheel Drive, Mitsubishi Motors website
11. "Mitsubishi Magna/Verada AWD", Neil McDonald, The Australian, February 7 2003
12. "Mitsubishi unveils electric car for 2010", MSNBC, May 11 2005
13. "Mitsubishi Motors Lineup at 2006 North American International Auto Show", Mitsubishi Motors press release, January 10 2006
14. "Mitsubishi Motors to display Mitsubishi Concept-EZ MIEV concept and new Colt CZC coupe-cabriolet models at 2006 Geneva Motor Show", Mitsubishi Motors press release, January 30 2006
15. "Mitsubishi Motors lineup at 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show", Mitsubishi Motors press release, August 29 2007
16. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=al4p1NLRLtHI&refer=japan
17. "Mitsubishi Motors lineup at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show", Mitsubishi Motors press release, September 7 2007

External links

• MIEV battery pack details

• Alternative propulsion
• Electric vehicles
• Mitsubishi Motors technologies