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.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
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