Electric Mitsubishi EVO

Googer

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
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Lancer Evolution MIEV
with all wheel electric motors



September 28, 2005 The second coming of the oil crisis will yield some very impressive automotive electronic technologies and Mitsubishi is planning to show one of the first that fits into the mouth-watering next-generation electric vehicle category at next month's 39th Tokyo Motor Show. The Mitsubishi MIEV has four high-efficiency direct-drive motors inside its 20-inch wheels, each producing 50 kW of power and 518 Nm torque adding to maximum output of 200 kW (270 bhp). And because this drive system allows precise regulation of power at each individual wheel, it opens the door to creating a vehicle dynamics control system in its ultimate evolutionary form. Mitsubishi will also show the Concept-D:5, a go-anywhere, high-performance concept car that embodies the company's "utmost safety" ideal; and, Concept-X, a concept car with styling that raises the bar on performance car looks and also boasts Mitsubishi's 4WD-based Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC1).

The MIEV is a proposal for next-generation electric vehicles that utilizes to maximum effect the environmental technology Mitsubishi has developed over the years. The offspring of a marriage between such environmental technology and Mitsubishi Motors' sporty characteristics, Lancer Evolution MIEV utilises the advantages offered by the electric powertrain to craft smooth and slippery, low-drag body lines and the styling imparts an aggressive wind-cleaving look to the body. Riding on large wheels and tires, Lancer Evolution MIEV projects a tempting taste of its potent new-age sport driving potential.

The in-wheel motors and the lithium-ion battery system, which is located under the floor to reduce the center of gravity, accelerate Lancer Evolution MIEV from 0 km/h to 100 km/h in less than 8 seconds and up to a maximum speed of 180 km/h. This is a level of motive performance that leaves today's EV's standing.

The foremost feature of the in-wheel motor is that it allows drive torque and braking force to be regulated with high precision on an individual wheel basis without requiring transmission, drive shafts, differential gears or other complex and heavy components. Housing the drive system in the wheels also gives greater freedom in designing the layout.

This will facilitate the conversion of internal combustion engine-powered vehicles into hybrid vehicles without requiring the introduction of complex hybrid power systems. It will also make it easier to provide room for space-consuming components such as fuel cell stacks and hydrogen tanks in fuel cell vehicles. The space-saving benefits of the in-wheel motor also offer exciting possibilities in terms of body design.

The major shortcoming of the EV to date has been its limited cruising range. This is now well on the way to being overcome with recent improvements in battery performance. MIEV uses the lithium-ion storage cell for its main power source, this offering advantages in terms of energy density and life over other types of secondary or rechargeable battery.

...continued with photgraphs.
 

Googer

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
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7
81
This is great, I can install a hydrogen fuel cell in my car and still keep the combustion engine for the times when I can not find any H.
 
Mar 19, 2003
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Sounds kinda cool...I wonder how much the thing could cost to "charge" though, and how reliable it would be...
 

AbAbber2k

Diamond Member
Mar 1, 2005
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Gonna be a while before research produces decent alternative fuel sources. Every ten years they tell us the new technology is only ten years away. :p Electric just isn't good enough for anything aside from commuting to the office. Still, it's nice to see that progress is at least being made.
 

Googer

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
12,576
7
81
I can see retrofit kits coming becasuse of this in the future for all cars.
 

Googer

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
12,576
7
81
Originally posted by: AbAbber2k
Gonna be a while before research produces decent alternative fuel sources. Every ten years they tell us the new technology is only ten years away. :p Electric just isn't good enough for anything aside from commuting to the office. Still, it's nice to see that progress is at least being made.

Not true, electric motors are very fast and powerful. The military made an experimental electric Hummer with motors at each of the wheels and it was twice as fast as the petrolium powered Hummer.
 

AbAbber2k

Diamond Member
Mar 1, 2005
6,474
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Originally posted by: Googer
Originally posted by: AbAbber2k
Gonna be a while before research produces decent alternative fuel sources. Every ten years they tell us the new technology is only ten years away. :p Electric just isn't good enough for anything aside from commuting to the office. Still, it's nice to see that progress is at least being made.

Not true, electric motors are very fast and powerful.

Not powerful enough to replace big rig diesel engines any time soon. Gas/diesel isn't something you just put in the tank of your car/SUV... it's used in a lot of places were electric propulsion is simply NOT viable. Big rigs, aviation, etc... Maybe if they can produce a battery that can store and output enough energy to move a 10 ton load. But I'm pretty sure that HASN'T happened yet. Like I said... there's progress... but the move away from fossil fuels is farther off than most people would like to think.
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
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Originally posted by: AbAbber2k
Originally posted by: Googer
Originally posted by: AbAbber2k
Gonna be a while before research produces decent alternative fuel sources. Every ten years they tell us the new technology is only ten years away. :p Electric just isn't good enough for anything aside from commuting to the office. Still, it's nice to see that progress is at least being made.

Not true, electric motors are very fast and powerful.

Not powerful enough to replace big rig diesel engines any time soon. Gas/diesel isn't something you just put in the tank of your car/SUV... it's used in a lot of places were electric propulsion is simply NOT viable. Big rigs, aviation, etc... Maybe if they can produce a battery that can store and output enough energy to move a 10 ton load. But I'm pretty sure that HASN'T happened yet. Like I said... there's progress... but the move away from fossil fuels is farther off than most people would like to think.
It's all about the torque.

Electric motors are better than Internal Combustion Engines in almost all ways.

The problem, as you say, is the power. Our batteries suck.
 

CtK

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2001
5,135
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that Concept X is really nice, just has to lose the gray plastic in front
 

overst33r

Diamond Member
Oct 3, 2004
5,761
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they said the same thing about the eclipse, the electric motors did not make it to market.
 

BD2003

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
16,815
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The only real drawback I can see about this is that fender benders are going to be engine destroyers....knock one of them out and they all might as well be useless.