Higher production capacity for i-MiEV Zero Emissions Car

Mitsubishi has announced that its Joint Venture – Lithium Energy Japan – will soon begin construction on its new factory in Kusatsu, Shiga Prefecture. The JV was founded between GS Yuasa Corp., Mitsubishi Motors Corporation and Mitsubishi Corporation in December 2007 to supply large capacity high performance lithium-ion batteries for the i-MiEV city car.

Lithium Energy Japan had initially intended to make batteries for 2,000 vehicles a year at its main plant in Kyoto. Mitsubishi Motors, however, raised its output target for the i-MiEV in response to higher demand expectations based upon a hugely positive response from the UK and other European markets. Along with other factors, this has prompted the project to build a separate plant to supply the additional anticipated demand.

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has prioritized the development of the i-MiEV for introduction to the Japanese domestic market in 2009 and has confirmed its plans for introduction to Europe in 2010. MMC’s electric vehicle strategy is to become one of the leading car manufacturers of electric vehicles in the world.

Mitsubishi Motors in the UK has requested that a proportion of the first 2,000 Right Hand Drive units be allocated to the UK to support a launch in London in 2009. This is currently being seriously considered.

The brand new plant is scheduled to be ready for next April’s start of production of the i-MiEV all-electric 5-door city car. The plant will initially produce 1 million palm-size lithium-ion cells a year, which is enough to power 10,000 vehicles. An additional investment of more than 10 billion yen is planned by 2012 to add a second plant and doubling output to cope with demand.

Credits: Jarvis