Mitsubishi's i-EV moving towards production, available perhaps in 2008

While there are electric cars available today, no large automaker is offering one. Mitsubishi might just be the first out of the gate with a plug-in car (not a hybrid) called the i-EV (aka i-MiEV). If sources withing the company are telling The Daily Telegraph in Australia the truth, the small electric car could be on sale as early as next year. Apparently, the electric "i" is off the concept stand and onto the streets as an evaluation vehicle. Mitsubishi has been working on this car for a while (see the collection of links below), so it's not crazy talk to suggest it will be available in 2008.

What kind of numbers might the i-MiEV boast? The Daily Telegraph says a 160 km (100 mile) range and a top speed of 130 km/h (about 80 mph). Standard home charging will happen overnight, but a 3-phase 200 volt 50kW QuickCharger will give you an 80 percent charge in half an hour.

Unfortunately, the Daily Telegraph story is only available on Lexis-Nexis, as far as I can tell, so no link.

Related:

• Tokyo Preview: More official pictures of Mitsubishi's i-MiEV sport
• Tokyo Preview: Mitsubishi i MiEV Sport
• Brits might get Mitsubishi's all-electric i-Miev in 2011
• Mitsubishi delivers i MIEV to Chugoku Electric Power Co.
• Mitsubishi abandons in-wheel motors for electric car, still no plans to bring it to the U.S.

[Source: The Daily Telegraph (Australia)]