Mitsubishi’s Minicab-MiEV, the second model in the company’s new EV lineup, will debut on December 8 at dealerships in Japan.

The tiny white van market is steadily going electric. Mitsubishi’s Minicab-MiEV, the second model in the company’s new EV lineup, will debut on December 8 at dealerships in Japan. The body and chassis are derived from the CD model in Mitsubishi’s popular Minicab series of commercial vehicles. The battery, motor and MiEV OS integrated vehicle management system are the same as in the i-MiEV 5-door hatchback.  

The rear-wheel-drive Minicab-MiEV will offer a choice of two battery sizes – a 10.5 kWh battery with a range of 100 km, and a 16.0 kWh version with a range of 150 km. The battery is located under the floor and the motor and inverter are located under the cargo compartment, yielding a cargo capacity (350 kg plus two people) about the same as that of the gas-powered Minicab.

As on the i-MiEV, the driver can choose from three modes – normal mode, energy-saving mode, and a mode in which the regenerative brake bias is increased. The Minicab-MiEV comes with a 200V AC (15 amp) cable. A 100V AC (10 amp) cable and a quick charging connector are available as options. Prices start at the equivalent of around $31,000. Mitsubishi has set a sales target of 4,000 units for the first quarter of 2012.

Image: Mitsubishi