Mitsubishi Motors said today that it was reducing the price of its electric car, the i-MiEV, bringing it into line with rival, the Nissan Leaf.
Mitsubishi said the
i-MiEV would cost £28,990 for orders placed for delivery from January 2011. The i-MiEV was previously priced at £38,699. With the recently confirmed £5000 Government consumer incentive, that price will be reduced to £23,990, the company said. The Nissan Leaf, which will also go on sale early next year, will cost £23,350 with the
grant.
As well as significant savings in fuel costs, Mitsubishi said the i-MiEV offered reliability and style, bringing to an end the 'milk float’ mentality of the electric car market.
"The electric vehicle is now a reality, with all our cars being European Whole Type Vehicle Approved," said Lance Bradley, Mitsubishi Motors in the UK’s managing director. "With a Mitsubishi Motors electric vehicle, customers need not compromise in any area."
Mitsubishi begun full production of the i-MiEV is Japan in July 2009, where it has sold over 2,300 units, making Mitsubishi Motors the first manufacturer to mass produce an electric vehicle in the world.
First in electric car market
Bradley said the UK price realignment confirmed Mitsubishi’s global intentions to remain first in the establishment of the early electric vehicle market.
The electric car market is set to pick up next year, when a number of car manufacturers are set to launch a range of electric cars. As well as Nissan’s Leaf, Peugeot is releasing the iOn electric car, while Citreon will release the Ev’ie and Smart will launch the smart ed. All of them are small, compact cars designed for urban driving with a range of under 100 miles.
The cars also promise to deliver significant savings in running costs compared to conventional cars. Mitsubishi said its i-MiEV would cost the equivalent of £144 in fuel costs for 12,000 miles driving – £0.96 pence for a full charge – 16 kilowatt (kW) at an average of 6 pence per kW.
The Coalition Government recently confirmed that it would refund up to £5000 of the purchase price of a pure electric vehicle from January 2011. However, the grant is only secured up to April 2012. The previous Government said it would provide the incentive over three years.
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