Geneva 2013: CA-MiEV “suburban EV” concept proves Mitsubishi isn’t dead yet

By Stephen Edelstein Published March 6, 2013

When Suzuki pulled out of the American car market, Mitsubishi starting looking like the next likely candidate for a death sentence. The Japanese carmaker has a small lineup of dated designs, flanked by the outstanding Lancer Evolution and the underwhelming i-MiEV. However, the 2013 Geneva Motor Show brought good new from Mitsubishi in the form of the CA-MiEV electric car concept.

The “CA” stands for Compact and Advanced, which is fitting, because this concept is an advancement over the production i-MiEV. That car’s maximum range is 62 miles per charge, but the Geneva concept has a 186-mile range.

Recommended Videos

Mitsubishi calls the CA-MiEV a “suburban EV,” as opposed to the city-friendly i-MiEV. The company claims it has sufficient range for roughly one week of driving for the average European driver.

Giving the CA-MiEV that extra range is a 28-kWh lithium-ion battery pack (compared to the i-MiEV’s 16-kWh unit) and an 80-kW motor that is also an inverter and charge unit.

As in a Tesla Model S, the battery pack is completely flat and mounted under the floor. That should free up interior space in this compact EV, and Mitsubishi says it also leaves room for a plug-in hybrid’s range-extending internal combustion engine.

Tech features include remote starting and energy monitoring, and the ability to upload maps from a smartphone to the navigation system. The car can even send an emergency e-mail if it’s stolen or involved in an accident.

The egg-like styling of the i-MiEV remains, but Mitsubishi gave the CA-MiEV a more upright front fascia to make it look more like a car and less like a pod. The boomerang taillights make this an exciting vehicle to follow.

Mitsubishi says there are no plans to put the CA-MiEV into production, but some of its tech may show up in future plug-ins and EVs.

If Mitsubishi could get the CA-MiEV’s powertrain into a production car, and achieve its 186-mile range in the real world, it might have a winner on its hands. Such a car would eclipse all mainstream EVs, and even outlast the base Model S on a long drive. That would definitely ensure Mitsubishi’s future.

Topics

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

Eaton, Treehouse to boost home capacity for EV charging, energy storage

eaton treehouse ev charging news releases

Power-management firm Eaton likes to point out that when it launched in 1911, it invested in a new idea -- the very first gear-driven truck axle -- just at a time when both transportation and power management were on the cusp of dramatic change.
More than 113 years later, Eaton is again seeking to lead innovation in the current energy transition.
The power-management firm just signed a deal with Treehouse, an AI, software-enabled installation platform for electrification projects. The end goal: accelerating the electrification of homes for electric-vehicle (EV) charging, energy storage, or heat pumps, while seeking more efficiency and cost savings.
“At Eaton, we’re all-in on the energy transition and we’re making it happen at scale by delivering breakout technologies and industry collaborations needed to delight customers and make it more accessible and affordable,” says Paul Ryan, general manager of Connected Solutions and EV Charging at Eaton.
The partnership will ensure consumers are provided with accurate and fast pricing, as well as access to licensed electricians to deliver code-compliant installations, the companies say.
The collaboration also integrates into Eaton’s “Home as a Grid” approach, which supports the two-way flow of electricity, enabling homeowners to produce and consume renewable energy when they need it, Eaton says.
“For more than a century, power has flowed in one direction—from centralized power plants into homes,” the company says. “Today, there’s a new reality thanks to solar, electric-vehicle charging, energy storage, digitalization, and more.”
Projects to change homes and EVs into energy hubs have multiplied recently.
Last month, Nissan joined ChargeScape, a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) venture that is already backed by BMW, Ford, and Honda. ChargeScape’s software wirelessly connects EVs to power grids and utility companies, enabling consumers to receive financial incentives for temporarily pausing charging during periods of high demand. Eventually, consumers should also be able to sell the energy stored in their EVs’ battery back to the power grid.
In August, GM announced that V2G technology will become standard in all its model year 2026 models. And Tesla CEO Elon Musk has hinted that Tesla could introduce V2G technology for its vehicles in 2025.

Cars

Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and EVs offer big incentives as year nears its end

chrysler dodge jeep ev incentives record my24 hybrid gallery 04 exterior desktop jpg image 1440

It’s no secret that automakers and dealerships typically climb over each other to offer the best incentives before the year ends. But this year’s sales season is expected to be particularly competitive, with slowing sales translating to greater urgency to clear inventory.

According to research from Kelley Blue Book, the respected vehicle-valuation firm, overall incentives on new vehicle sales were up by 60% in October compared to the previous year.

Cars

Jeep, Ram EREVs will get 690-mile range with new Stellantis platform

A 2025 Ram 1500 Ramcharger sits in a vineyard.

Stellantis, the giant automotive group, is betting big on extending the range of both its hybrid and fully electric vehicles (EVs).

Last month, the company, which owns the Jeep, Dodge, and Ram brands in the U.S., invested nearly $30 million into an advanced wind tunnel at its research center in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The goal is to study airflow around a vehicle’s wheels and tires to further optimize its EVs and boost their range.