A representative from Mitsubishi came on campus to promote the first 100 percent electric powered cars Oct. 12.
John Nakamoto, a Business Developer for Mitsubishi, held a lecture-type presentation at room 12 in the Automotive Partners Building to talk about and explain the company’s new, fully electric car, the iMiEV (short for Mitsubishi integrated Electronic Vehicle), and how it runs.
Before the presentation, Nakamoto explained, “It’s been out in Japan for a year and will be released in Europe next month. But as for the U. S, it will be released next year.”
Also, he was mentioning that this isn’t necessarily perfect as a primary car by stating, “It’s possibly great for a second car, but it isn’t meant for numerous long trips.”
During the presentation, Nakamoto gave information that helped people who are interested in the car and how it would work.
Details about the iMIEV include that it is a four-seater with rear wheel drive
An interesting feature about the car is that the engine and battery are placed in the back.
The driving distance of the Japan’s version of the car is usually between 80-100 miles per hour, with top speeds up to 84 mph.
The minor setbacks of the car is the charging.
With charging on your normal house outlet (known as lv. 1/ 120 kw/h) it will take up to 16 hours to charge and will raise your electric bill by 20 percent. Also if you want to go to an electric car charge station, in which will take only 20 minutes to charge to 80 percent from early empty, people in the LA area would have to drive to the nearest one in San Diego.
The upside to the charging is that it is more Eco friendly than a gas powered car.
“If as much people buy this car in Southern California as in Japan, then Carbon Dioxide emission by 50 percent.” Nakamoto stated.
“It’s been selling for a year, and was tested for an additional year, so it is right to expand.”
After the presentation, people in attendance had the chance to view the car and see what it was really like.
Automotive Professor and coordinator of the presentation, Marty Supple stated “[The car] is good, great actually, and very timely. Depending on the price, I would love to get one. We will see [the price] at the LA Auto Show”
For a popular topic like this, It seems that the presentation wasn’t known outside of the automotive department, it seems,
Psychology Major Aldo Lopez stated “I know there was one in the past, which was a Mini Cooper, but not the Mitsubishi. I think I didn’t know because there wasn’t enough interest in it, or or nobody was interested to tell students or doing there jobs.”
Animal science major Isaac Atala would agree with Lopez. “Maybe it wasn’t introduced to the school properly.
“If there was one, I don’t it was announced or publicized properly, and if there was something like that at the school, students should know about it.” Aljean Mathias, Business and Arts Major stated.
On the upside for those who missed it, the American version car will be able to be seen at the LA Auto show on Nov. 19-28.
