A 200-Mile “Date” with a 2012 Mitsubishi i EV
The Last Journey is the Most Difficult.
It is lots of fun after a stoplight to lightly press the accelerator and silently look at the traffic far behind in the mirror slowly moving from a standstill. The car in drive mode is peppy, with lots of visibility, reminding me of driving a motorcycle (with more room and without the noise). It is an EV and not an economy petrol vehicle. But, I was surprised to reach my destination with only two bars left and the gauge flashing (as if I had not already been keeping my eye on it). I didn’t do the math; I started out with only 4 bars showing and was pushing the vehicle. Afterwards, I pulled away to return, my last trip with the car, and it almost immediately dropped to one bar. I began to consider alternatives.
First, I changed my route. The highway is 7 miles, but city streets made it only a 4-mile trip. 3 bars to come and only 1 available to return did not make me optimistic. Next, I began to practice some simple hypermiling techniques. Lower speed, no AC, slow starts, easy with the foot… and I used a feature of the EV. I used the “E” mode and, to slow the vehicle for a stoplight, shifted again to “B” in an attempt to maximize the regen. I could slow the vehicle to almost a stop without using the brakes. It began to look like I would make it. One bar held until about 6 blocks away, when all the bars vanished. I could walk, but what about the vehicle? Was it to be a perfect date with a disappointing ending? It was a long climb until 2 blocks away, but the vehicle was still moving. I felt every bump and heard every noise. I arrived, then parked the vehicle to give it a final charge, with a sense of gratitude for the experience.
It was the relatively short trip around town that caused problems, due to my poor planning and impulsive actions. This can lead to “anxiety,” not the vehicle. It has a range capability. It has an indicator. Push your luck and you may suffer. I didn’t, because it is all part of the story, the adventure, and I have some capacity to plan and appreciate the limits of my equipment. Will you suffer “Range anxiety?” Most, if not all, depends on you, not the equipment. Based upon this experience, I would now be a bit hesitant to announce some neurotic tendency, because it would say far more about me than the vehicle.
The Road Not Taken
It may have been the perfect date, but am I “in love.” There are dozens of additional things I can imagine doing with the car. I didn’t drive at night or in anything more than a light rain. I would expect winter traction to be good with the vehicle weight, low to the ground. It would make an interesting discovery. What happens with heat and very cold weather? How about loading the car down? This vehicle had an SE package that includes the backup camera (with night vision), GPS navigation system, cell phone bluetooth connections, and the 440-volt CHaDEMO DC charger port (80% charge in 20 minutes). I used almost none of this. And there are an endless series of interesting conversations. Enough adventures to start a book or a song. I will leave you to decide.
The Drive-Through
The Mitsubishi – is a 4-seat economical car you can easily charge from a 120-volt outlet, with the stability and some safety features of a bigger vehicle, but the visibility and acceleration of a motorcycle with climate control. Driving is fun again.
I found the experience of planning for a vehicle charge interesting and not a burden, but the situation could be better. The vehicle shows its non-US roots with a limited level 1 and 240-volt portable charge connection that seems inconsistent with its economical pricing and small battery size. More options for opportunistic charging could make this small battery vehicle a great EV option while charging infrastructure continues to be developed. Use of the vehicle as a household UPS would add value to the pricing with a relatively limited additional cost, especially where solar panels are installed. Too often, the MiEV is not recognized, not distinguished, from a hybrid, and is misunderstood.
I had no trouble planning an extended trip with the vehicle. But it was a lack of planning and an impulsive approach that led to more trouble in the city. Many rental agencies have the Mitsubishi i available, and a new lease arrangement has been announced. This was a great “date” you should experience for yourself. You can then join the growing number of people who can say, “I have driven an electric vehicle.”
Additional Reading:
Photo Credits: BreathontheWind via Flickr, used with permission.
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