UK Police Forces to Employ Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Speed Criminals Rejoice...

While police officers in the States are getting ready to welcome the 2011 Chevrolet Caprice, in the UK the boys in blue -well, at least some of them- will soon be cracking down crime with the help (?) of Mitsubishi's all-electric i MiEV. The five-door micro car was showcased in full police livery at the National Police Show in September and according to the Japanese automaker, since then the company has been swamped with requests from UK Police Forces to trial the i MiEV.

Mitsubishi said that the first production versions of the i-MiEV are set to arrive in the UK in November 2009 and will be on the road in December 2009, with West Midlands Police being the first department to run the all-electric micro car in full operational use.

The four-seat, bubble-shaped i-MiEV gets an electric motor that makes 47kW / 64HP and 180Nm (132.8 lb-ft) of peak torque. Power is delivered to the rear-wheels with Mitsubishi claiming a range of 100 miles and a top speed of 81mph (130km/h).

Certainly not the best choice if you're trying to pursue someone but we gather that the i-MiEV will most likely be used by urban cops for light tasks.

Tokyo '09: Mitsubishi i-MiEV Cargo, an All-Electric Breadvan for the not so Needy

Now that the i-MiEV hybrid has become a production reality, Mitsubishi is exploring other possibilities to expand the city car's range with the world premiere of the i-MiEV Cargo concept at next month's Tokyo motorshow. The pint-size breadvan with the does away with the hatchback model's rear doors while gaining additional cargo space at the back thanks to a newly designed and taller rear end.

The cube-shaped rear compartment measures 1,350 mm wide by 1,180 mm deep and 1,100 mm high and features a flat floor. According to Mitsubishi, it allows every inch of available space to be utilized - not that there's much to go around...

There are no changes to the drivetrain that consists of a 330-volt lithium-ion battery system located under the floor deck and an electric motor that drives the rear wheels and develops an output of 47kW or 64HP and 180Nm or 132.8-lbs/ft of torque.

Peugeot i0n EV: Rebadged Mitsubishi i-MiEV All-Electric Mini to Debut in Frankfurt, Goes on Sale in 2010

Looks like Pug's designers had a much easier task than initially thought when we decided to 'chop' a Peugeot fascia on the Mitsubishi i-MiEV after the announcement on the introduction of the Peugeot and Citroen EVs based on the Japanese mini. In what seems like a five minute job, Peugeot slapped one of its logos on the i-MiEV, changed the alloy wheels and slightly altered the front bumper to accommodate Euro-plates and 'voila': the new Peugeot i0n...

The French automaker, which claims to be the manufacturer with the most "zero emission" electric vehicles sold in the world to this day with models like the Peugeot 106 Electric that was produced between 1995 and 2003, will display the i0n for the first time at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this month..

The European-spec i-MiEV (let's not fool ourselves, that's what the i0n is) is motivated by an electric motor that drives the rear wheels producing an output of 47kW or 64HP and 180Nm or 132.8-lbs/ft of maximum torque that allows the 3,480 mm long mini to achieve a top speed of 130 km/h (80mph).

The four-seater EV has an operating range of 130 kilometers or 80 miles on a single charge of its lithium-ion batteries that can be fully recharged in six hours using a domestic mains power supply. If you use the fast charge system, the batteries can be recharged up to 80% capacity within thirty minutes.

Production of both the Citroen and Peugeot variants of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV will commence in October 2010 with sales pegged to start in Europe towards the end of 2010.

We remind you that the PSA Peugeot - Citroen Group has another ongoing project with Mitsubishi in the form of the Outlander based Peugeot 4007 and Citroen C-Crosser SUVs.

Peugeot and Citroen Announce All-Electric Minis Based on the Mitsubishi i-MiEV EV, Sales Start in 2010

Earlier this year, Mitsubishi and PSA Peugeot Citroen announced that they had signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding collaboration on electric vehicles (EVs) based on the Japanese firm's i-MiEV EV. Today, Osamu Masuko, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors and Philippe Varin, CEO of PSA, finished the deal by signing a cooperative agreement in Paris. The vehicle is to be sold in Europe in both Peugeot and Citroen versions with production planned to commence in October 2010 and sales by the end of 2010.

Mitsubishi launched the new-generation EV i-MiEV in Japan in June, and will begin global sales of the right-hand drive vehicle this year with LHD versions following in 2010.

In Japan, the EV i-MiEV is priced from 4,599,000 Yen (almost $50,00 US / €35,00 at today's rates), or more than double the price of a JDM Toyota Prius that costs 2,050,000 Yen or $22,000.

The all-electric version of the i-MIEV is powered by an electric motor that drives the rear wheels and develops an output of 47kW or 64HP and 180Nm or 132.8-lbs/ft of maximum torque.

According to Japanese automaker, the vehicle's lithium-ion battery pack that can be charged in 7-14 hours delivers up to 100 miles or 160 km of pure electric driving.

It is expected that the PSA group will follow a similar path to that of the Toyota co-developed Aygo, 107 and C1 project with the i-MiEV, meaning that the differences between the Citroen, Peugeot and Mitsubishi models will most likely be limited to the front fascia and the rear end design.

*The Peugeot picture above is a Infiniti Future Cars Photoshop

Mitsubishi Prototype i MiEV Concept Previews Euro-Spec Electric Mini

This is a drawing of Mitsubishi's Prototype i MiEV concept car that we'll see making its debut next to the i MiEV SPORT 'AIR' concept at the Geneva Show which runs from March 3 through March 15. The Prototype i MiEV is in essence a study on a potential European-spec version of the Japanese firm's all-electric mini car that introduces left-hand-drive to the equation.

The latest iteration of the i MiEV also features wider tracks and longer overhangs compared to the right-hand-drive Japanese model that is set be launched in Japan during the summer of 2009.

Even though Mitsubishi has yet to make a final decision as to whether or when the all-electric mini car will be launched in the European market, the company said that it is currently conducting a feasibility test on this concept in the 'Old Continent'.

Mitsubishi to Reveal i MiEV SPORT AIR Concept at Geneva Motor Show

Taking pride of place on the Mitsubishi stand at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show will be the i MiEV SPORT 'AIR' concept, a proposal for a miniature-sized, all-electric zero CO2 emission sports car. As its name suggests, the prototype is based on Mitsubishi's i MiEV, an all-electric version of the 'i' minicar. Details are still scarce, but Mitsubishi did note that the sporty concept with the clear removable top will sport a more powerful electric motor than its citycar sibling.

Mitsubishi to Test All-Electric i-MiEV in Iceland

Mitsubishi has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Iceland's Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism regarding the fleet testing of its all-electric i MiEV minicar. Proposed testing will begin in 2009. In Japan, the zero-emissions i MiEV is currently in fleet testing with seven electric power companies, and is getting for a 2009 market launch in Japan with Europe following in 2010. Based on Mitsubishi's "i" gasoline-powered minicar, the i MiEV adopts an electric motor developing 47kW and a 330-volt lithium-ion battery system located under the floor deck. According to Mitsubishi, a full charge delivers up to 100 miles or 160 km of electric driving.