MIEV: Mitsubishi Electric 4-wheel Drive Concept Car
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 12.10.05
With the Detroit Motor Show just a calendar page away, what alternative transportation concepts will join the Toyota Camry in the race for a new future? One hopeful contender from Mitsubishi will make its world premiere in Detroit: the Mitsubishi Concept-CT MIEV. Developed in California by Mitsubishi's American R&D arm, the CT MIEV(for Compact Technology Mitsubishi In-wheel motor Electric Vehicle) is a 4-door, 4-passenger 4-wheel drive hybrid sportscar technology which relies on high density Lithium Ion batteries to drive in wheel motors at each wheel. The Concept CT MIEV benefits from a technology already in at least second generation development, having shown early successes in a 2-wheel drive version in the Colt model and passing road-testing of a more powerful version of the motor in a 4-wheel drive variation of the Lancer Evolution model. The options this technology could open to designers could really change the way we drive...
For example, having independent power in each wheel allows Mitsubishi to whisper tantalizing rumors about regulating drive torque and braking power independently. Executives have also hinted that a 10-minute charge could suffice to keep the Li-ion battery pack in shape for trips about town. Not clear is whether this implies a full charge or merely enough juice to make it to the nearest proper re-energizing station. What is demonstrated is a range of 250 km (155 miles) and top speeds of 180km/h(112 mph), achieved in the all-electric 4-wheel drive prototype based on the Lancer Evolution model. Mitsubishi is committed to proving this new technology can equal and exceed the performance of traditional gas engine automobiles. We hope they succeed.
The best link we found for a more in-depth look at MIEV is watthead.
This is transforming! No new infrastructure required. Just plug in at home to "fill 'er up", ready for tomorrows commute.
I can envision going on trips with this car; stop for lunch and plug it in at the restaurant's metered outlet. Pay for lunch and your electric refill. Stay at a motel; plug in to the motel's metered outlet and pay for your charge when you pay the bill.
Where to get all the the extra electricity this will require? From renewable resources like solar, wind, wave, biomass, etc.
Mitsubishi's MIEV tech is exciting isn't it. Just about the most exciting news for EVs we've had in a while.
And thanks for linking to my blog. Cheers...
New technology batteries are going commercial next year. This is all starting to look very positive. Take a look at the link on this guy's blog.
http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2005/12/9/1442710.html
The hybrid version is exactly what I had referred to earlier as being the most efficient way to power a car (with a diesel engine burning biodiesel of course) : )
Thanks for the link!
Look what else electric car batteries could do. Act as a national storage battery for renewables that are inconstant, like wind and solar power.
http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2005/12/19/1455214.html
Well, excellent! Bye, bye oil consumption, hello security of supply and no CO2-emissions!
Now we only need a few hundred new nuclear reactors. :)
The important question is how much the in-wheel motor weighs. If it is too heavy then it will ruin the ride and handling of the car- too much unsprung weight. Mitsubishi will know about this so no doubt they've gone to all sorts of trouble to keep weight out of the motor. Does anyone know how much their new motor weighs?
I'm no pro on car handling, but if the motors are in the wheels, but don't spin with the wheels, like disc-brakes for example, isn't that almost a non-issue for handling?
I understand how the motors will be more exposed to shocks and such, though.
how much? when? can it be moded power wise? will it look like that? what r the dimensions?
needs to be faster.
it is my hypot that a wheel in one motion and maganets connected ,and coils on another hub counter spinning on the other will create twice the power. When I put a gear in between the two it will give you twice the rotation. Passing through the powerby brushes
it'll be nice if there is also small hibrid engine (alcohol+15%petrol) about 15-20kw just to recharge batteries everywhere. You know the bio fuel stations will be every 100 miles
Well this may get rid of the CO2-emissions and the oil consumption dealing with cars but you would just be moving the problem to the coal plaints and the other electric producing places... It will take more energy to charge the batters then what the batters use..
The drive system is already proven as more effeicent. Isn't this design just like an EV Mr. Porche worked on 100 years ago?
Even if the electricity is generated in the near-term by petroleum power plants, there would still be efficiencies from the cheaper power transmission costs over the electricity grid compared with transporting energy over the truck/pipeline/filling station "grid".
Less energy lost in transport, spillage, and refining.
Compare costs of converting crude oil to automobile motion via electricity with costs of converting crude oil to automobile motion via gasoline. Probably would still come out ahead.