Mitsubishi Motors May Introduce Plug-in Hybrid Cars

June 19 (Bloomberg) -- Mitsubishi Motors Corp., aiming to be the first mass-producer of all-electric cars, plans to introduce plug-in hybrids as early as 2013 to meet tightening vehicle- emission regulations worldwide.

The carmaker will develop hybrids, which use gasoline engines and electric motors, as all-electric systems aren't efficient enough for sport-utility vehicles and other large models, Tohru Hashimoto, its head of electric-car development, said in a June 16 interview. Unlike conventional hybrids, plug- ins can store more energy after being charged at electrical outlets to provide power for gasoline-free driving.

Mitsubishi and other automakers have boosted investments in hybrid and electric technologies because of tougher emissions rules, including European standards that may come into effect from 2012. General Motors Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp., the world's largest automakers, plan to introduce plug-ins by 2010.

``Like all other automakers, Mitsubishi needs to have eco- cars, while clearing stricter rules and making a profit,'' said Koji Endo, a senior analyst at Credit Suisse Group in Tokyo. The company ``doesn't have enough resources to fund a new hybrid model,'' so it's ``natural'' to base the plug-ins on the all- electric models, he added.

Mitsubishi i - Road Test

It seems appropriate that the car with what must surely be the shortest model name in the history of the motor industry is also one of the smallest on sale in this country. The Mitsubishi i is one of those city cars which comprise a well-defined market segment of their own in Japan, and although these things have never been more than a minority interest in the UK (partly because it's rarely worth the trouble of importing them from halfway across the world) Mitsubishi reckons that demand for this one is far greater over here than the supply situation can cope with.

Part of the definition of Japanese city cars is that they can't have engines larger than 660cc. The i just qualifies, since it has a three-cylinder turbocharged petrol unit of 659cc. This produces a maximum of 57bhp, so it's pretty strong for its size, and although the performance figures don't look terrific the combination of that much power and very little weight make the car quite perky enough in most situations.

The engine and gearbox are in the back, and this gives the i an immediate advantage in town. With the major mechanical components at the other end of the car, the front carries very little weight and the steering is correspondingly fingertip-light; step from the i into any conventional front-wheel drive hatchback and you immediately realise that every turn you make in the latter involves hauling large lumps of metal on to a new course.