Mitsubishi has unveiled a new hybrid off-road concept vehicle based on
its i-MiEV electric car.
The PX-MiEV or plug-in hybrid crossover - is based on the i MiEV
electric car but fitted with an 85kW, 1.6-litre engine that can both
power the car and act as a generator for the drive battery.
Mtisubishi claims the car uses just 2 litres of fuel per 100km, which
is roughly half that of the petrol-electric Toyota Prius.
The PX-MiEV uses a new version of Mitsubishi's Super All Wheel Control
(S-AWC), which controls the electric motors to shift torque between the
front and rear wheels when required.
The PX-MiEV concept has a low-speed, EV-Mode, where the battery powers
the front electric motor, which drives the front-wheels. When the
battery level drops, series hybrid mode kicks in: the petrol engine
helps power the wheels. Depending on driving conditions, either front-
or all-wheel-drive will be deployed.
The next driving mode is Parallel hybrid, where the car switches
entirely to petrol power, because it's more efficient than the
battery-powered engines at higher revolutions. If increased acceleration
is required, the battery-driven motors kick in to assist the 1.6-litre
engine.
Like other hybrid cars on the market, the batteries also have the
ability to recharge when coasting or slowing down.
When the car is plugged in to charge, it can be programmed to start
charging through a Wireless Charging Program feature. It can even start
the air conditioner at a preset time, even if the driver isn't near the
vehicle.
Some of the other technologies that are being showcased with
Mitsubishi's Concept PX-MiEV include a power-supply mode, with a power
outlet allowing the use of the car's electricity in the event of a
natural disaster. Or perhaps it's just so you're able to plug in the
toaster when you go camping.
On the safety front, the car is fitted with a camera mounted facing the
driver that monitors their eye movements to determine attention levels.
If the system detects a decrease in driver concentration it issues
audible, visual and vibration warnings, as well as emitting a
distinctive fragrance to alert the driver.
Mitsubishi claims the iMiEV will be able to travel 160km on a single
charge, with a top speed of 130 km/h, and this is said to be unchanged
for the iMiEV Cargo model, though fully loaded it would be expected that
these figures may change.
The iMiEV Cargo, unlike the Concept PX-MiEV, will use a plug-in electric
engine only, producing 47kW and 180Nm of torque.
