Mitsubishi Motors Philippines collaborates with DoE, Meralco on Electric Car evaluation

MANILA, Philippines - Mitsubishi Motors Phils. Corp. (MMPC) announced last week an Electric Vehicle (EV) cooperation agreement with the Department of Energy (DOE) and Meralco, which mainly covers the use of Mitsubishi Motors’ zero emission electric car, the i-MiEV (i-Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle), for evaluation and demonstration purposes. 

MMPC will be the first car manufacturer to bring in a pure electric car to the country.

This collaboration will entail MMPC lending demo cars of i-MiEV to both DOE and Meralco for the purpose of studying EV’s behaviors and performance when utilized in Metro Manila in various conditions, and also to examine the impact to power systems when an EV is charged. 

The outcome of the evaluation will enhance the understanding of EV’s and determine the requirements to support the vehicles’ charging infrastructure. It will also be a preparatory step toward the possible future introduction and create greater public awareness of electric vehicles.

The ceremonial turnover was staged at the 2nd Electric Vehicle Summit 2012 held in Meralco Multipurpose Hall last week wherein MMPC President and Chief Executive Officer Hikosaburo Shibata presented to DOE Secretary Jose Almendras, and Meralco President Manuel Pangilinan the first i-MiEV unit to be used under this EV cooperation agreement. The theme of the summit was “Mobilizing the Region in Electric Vehicle Promotion and Development.” 

MMPC was also invited as a resource company to the EV Summit to provide an overview of Mitsubishi Motors EV business being at the forefront of EV development   

“This collaboration project is just timely given the various challenges the automobile is facing today which includes environmental pollution, global warming and the rising cost and depletion of petroleum-based energy supplies,” Shibata said.

“We are pleased to be the first auto manufacturer in the Philippines to collaborate with DOE and Meralco to evaluate the potential role of electric vehicles in the society and also addressing environment issues,” he added.

The EV Summit is part of the continuous effort of the government, NGO’s and private sectors to promote and develop green vehicles such as electric vehicles in response to the significant environmental and economic demands. 

Organizing the summit were the Department of Trade and Industry, Manila Economic and Cultural Office, Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines, Meralco, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities and Partnership for Clean Air.

Launched by Mitsubishi Motors in 2009 as the ultimate eco-car, the i-MiEV poses a solution to the various challenges the automobile faces today including environmental pollution, global warming and the depletion of petroleum-based energy supplies. Aside from being environmentally friendly, the i-MiEV is also very economical since the cost per kilometer to drive the i-MiEV is one third of a comparable gasoline vehicle. Cost per kilometer can drop of up to one ninth of that of gasoline depending on the cost of electricity.

Charging the i-Miev is very convenient since it can be charged anywhere with an electric power outlet. It can be charged using a normal 220-volt outlet or a quick charger. It takes about 7 hours to charge on a 220-volt and 30 minutes for the quick charger to charge up to 80 percent of battery capacity once the battery is almost empty.

With its zero carbon dioxide tailpipe emissions and minimal “well-to-wheel” generation of carbon dioxide, the i-MiEV makes a valuable contribution to climate protection which also made it to be the recipient of the “Environment Special Grand Prize” at the 25th International Automobile festival in Paris. 

The i-MiEV is now selling in many countries around the world including Japan, Europe, Hong Kong, Australia, Estonia and in the U.S. and Canada. Mitsubishi Motors has sold around 4,000 units in Japan and has exported over 10,000 units.