Tokyo, November 24, 2023 – Mitsubishi Motors announced that the new Minicab EV, a kei-car class (a vehicle category in Japan for microcars) electric commercial vehicle with a monobox design, will go on sale in Japan on December 21. The Minicab EV two-seater is priced at 2,431,000 yen. The four-seater is priced at 2,486,000 yen, with 10 percent consumption tax included.
The new Minicab EV is based on the Minicab-MiEV, which has sold approximately 13,000 units over the past 12 years. By leveraging the expertise gained through the development and maintenance of the Minicab-MiEV, the new Minicab EV offers an improved cruising range. It also provides enhanced safety and convenience features to answer the needs of commercial customers.
Mitsubishi Motors is responding to the accelerating efforts for decarbonization aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. There is a growing demand for kei-car class electric commercial vehicles from the logistics industry and government agencies. Mitsubishi Motors aims to contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions in the last mile of commercial use with the new Minicab EV.
Product overview
The Minicab EV is a kei-car class electric commercial vehicle with a monobox design. It features a new generation of electric components, including the motor and drive battery. Moreover, they extended the cruising range to 180 km per charge in WLTC mode. The previous model saw an increase of approximately 35 percent. A normal charging at AC200V (15A) takes approximately 7.5 hours to fully charge the battery. So, if you charge the battery after work, it will be fully charged and ready to use when work begins the next day. Additionally, quick charging can charge up to 80 percent of the battery in approximately 42 minutes.
The new electric motor produces a maximum torque of 195 Nm instantly. Even with a heavy cargo load, the vehicle maintains the smooth and powerful driving performance characteristic of an electric vehicle, providing a crisp and stress-free driving experience. Furthermore, they have integrated the new motor and inverter into a single unit to enhance quietness. This allows users to drive early in the morning or late at night with no fear of disturbing others. The price has been kept at the same level as the previous model. Meanwhile, improvements to the cruising range and enhancements to the safety features have occurred.
A new generation of Mitsubishi Motors’ unique EV system
The drive battery capacity has increased by 25 percent compared to the previous model. They integrated the motor and inverter into a single unit to enhance motor efficiency. This integration results in a cruising range of 180 km (in WLTC mode) per charge, which is a 35 percent increase over the previous model.
Safety features
Automakers have adopted active safety technologies, including the Forward Collision Mitigation system (FCM), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Automatic High Beam (AHB), and Ultrasonic Misacceleration Mitigation System (UMS), to enhance safety performance. These technologies are particularly effective when driving forward. The new Minicab EV qualifies for the Safety Support Car S Wide promoted by the Japanese government. This is due to its enhanced safety features.
The addition of Hill Start Assist (HSA) ensures safe and worry-free starting. It prevents the vehicle from rolling backwards when starting on a steep hill.
Convenience features
The rear of the floor console has a power outlet (AC100V, maximum 1500W) for drawing electricity from the vehicle at any time. This allows for the use of electronics and appliances with high power consumption even during disasters or other emergencies.
At the instrument panel, Type C and Type A USB charging outlets are available as factory options. Additionally, they added a smartphone tray for user convenience.
Road performance
Moreover, have improved the damping performance of the front and rear shock absorbers to enhance passenger comfort and decrease cabin sway, thereby reducing the stress placed on the cargo.
Increasing the regenerative power in the B position improves actual power consumption by actively utilizing the regenerative brake.
Official product website for the Minicab EV (in Japanese only):
https://www.mitsubishi-motors.co.jp/lineup/minicab_ev/index.html
News related to Mitsubishi –
