City of Vancouver Purchases 13 Mitsubishi i-MiEV Electric Cars

More orders may follow

VANCOUVER, Aug. 15, 2012 /CNW/ - In a landmark decision to green its municipal fleet with zero-emission vehicles, the City of Vancouver has elected to purchase 13 Mitsubishi i-MiEV hatchbacks - Canada's most affordable four-passenger all-electric car. The i-MiEV will be used to replace gasoline-powered vehicles at the end of their useful life.  With these replacements, Vancouver now claims the greenest municipal fleet in Canada.

Mitsubishi's i-MiEV certified dealerships have begun delivering cars to the City of Vancouver - all 13 units will arrive by the end of 2012, with the potential of an additional 17 orders in 2013. The City of Vancouver's i-MiEV purchase is the largest of its kind since i-MiEVs launch in Canada in mid-December 2011.

"Vancouver just got a whole lot greener," said Shin Fujioka, President & CEO of Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada (MMSCAN).  "The i-MiEV will support Vancouver's ambition of becoming the world's greenest city by 2020."

He added that when an automobile actually contributes to (and does not detract from) a major city's ecological goals, the world is changing for the better. "The Mitsubishi i-MiEV is Canada's most fuel- efficient subcompact and produces zero tailpipe emissions. Our i-MiEV is also versatile, fun and highway capable with a range of up to 155 km."

Mayor Gregor Robertson said going green is good for business and taxpayers, and supports Vancouver's Greenest City transportation goals.

"By introducing more electric vehicles like the Mitsubishi i-MiEV into our fleet, we're taking proactive steps to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions," said Mayor Robertson. "The 13 new Mitsubishi i-MiEVs will ensure the City is lowering its carbon footprint and saving on fuel costs, while maintaining efficient service delivery across Vancouver."

Vancouver will pool its i-MiEVs among City staff to transport people, materials and equipment to meetings and worksites, fully utilizing its efficiencies, range and 1,430 L (50.5 ft3) of cargo capacity with the rear seats down.  The City plans to install a number of Level Two 240-volt charging stations at City sites - capable of providing an i-MiEV with a full battery charge (from empty) in less than seven hours.

Without ever needing gasoline, or oil and filter changes, and significantly less maintenance requirements due to fewer moving parts, the City can anticipate significant cost savings with the i-MiEVs over time.

Based on the EnerGuide label from Natural Resources Canada, i-MiEV achieves the equivalent of 1.9 L/100 km (city) and 2.1 L/100 km (city/highway). EnerGuide projects i-MiEV's annual energy costs at $449. The average new vehicle is rated at 10.0 L/100 km - requiring $12,600 to fuel over five years. That puts i-MiEV savings at over $10,000 over five years in fuel costs alone.

Since its launch, the zero tailpipe-emission Mitsubishi i-MiEV has made news for its advanced electric vehicle technology, progressive styling and fun-to-drive character.  The i-MiEV is gaining momentum as one of Canada's most popular all-electric vehicles.

Far from a fleet vehicle, most i-MiEV sales have been to consumers.  Fleet deliveries are also brisk with sales to British Columbia's Saanich Police Department, the city of Calgary, city of Toronto, Hydro-Québec, Government of Quebec, Transport Canada, to name a few. Since its launch last mid-December and to July 31, 2012, MMSCAN dealers have delivered 149 i-MiEVs across Canada.

For more i-MiEV information and photos, visit our password free media website, www.mitsubishi-motors-pr.ca.  MMSCAN's unique Electriphobia web-based awareness campaign is available on www.electriphobia.com.

Image with caption: "A Greener Vancouver with Mitsubishi i-MiEVs. Shin Fujioka, left, President & CEO of Mitsubishi Motors of Canada provides Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson with the first deliveries of all-electric Mitsubishi i-MiEV hatchbacks at Vancouver City Hall today. It is the largest-ever purchase of Canada's most fuel-efficient subcompact car which went on sale last December. (CNW Group/Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada, Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120815_C7034_PHOTO_EN_16928.jpg

SOURCE: Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada, Inc.

For further information:

Media Contact:

John Arnone
Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada
Manager, Public Relations
[e-mail]