Mitsubishi Motors Corp. unveiled a test car of new electric vehicles Wednesday featuring motors housed in wheels and long-lasting batteries, aiming to commercialize them by 2010.
Unlike conventional electric vehicles, which have motors on the chassis, the Colt EV’s in-wheel motors make it possible to regulate drive torque and braking force independently at each wheel without any transmission or other complex mechanical components, Mitsubishi Motors said.
The Colt EV also adopted lithium-ion battery technology, which offers advantages of specific energy and life over other types of rechargeable batteries, it said. The next-generation vehicle can cruise for about 150 kilometers per charge.
Mitsubishi Motors will focus on developing new electric vehicles for the time being because their development costs less than for electric-gasoline hybrid or fuel cell vehicles. The scandal-tainted automaker has been under a reconstruction program following a series of defect coverups and recalls.
The Colt EV will be on display at the 2005 Automotive Engineering Exposition to be held in Yokohama from May 18 to 20.
Loading...