The CHADemO Quick Charger can fill an i battery to 80 percent in about 25 minutes. 07/13/2011
Mitsubishi claims that by 2015, it will have at least eight electric and hybrid vehicles on the road. One of these cars is the Mitsubishi i, which runs solely on electricity and has been available overseas since 2006.
The Mitsubishi i, which will be widely available in the U.S. in January 2012, is priced around $27,990, according to Motor Trend. This may seem expensive for an electric car, but don't forget about the $7,500 federal tax rebate, and the money you will save not buying gasoline.
To further encourage drivers to make the switch from gasoline-engines to electric, Mitsubishi recently debuted a solar-powered charging station for electric vehicles (EVs) at its headquarters in Cypress, California. Company executives believe that the technology is gaining ground and will be encouraged further by the development of EV facilities.
"The project will build awareness of solar-power's versatility and efficiency," said Katsuya Takamiya, the president and CEO of Mitsubishi Electric and Electronics in the U.S. "As electric vehicles' popularity grows, we expect to see more charging stations at automobile dealerships, shopping centers and schools, where cars can charge while people work, shop or study."
Up to four electric vehicles will be able to charge at one time, and the station will offer three different charging options. Level one voltage, 110v, takes 22 hours to deliver a full charge to a Mitsubishi i, and the vehicle can be fully charged in six hours with the 220-volt, level two charger.
The charging station also offers a level three CHADemO Quick Charger, which can deliver an 80 percent charge in just 25 minutes for cars that support the CHADemO, such as the Mitsubishi i, which gets roughly 85 miles per charge.