Hong Kong Government to Buy 10 i-MiEV EVs
21 September 2009
Nikkei. The Hong Kong government will buy 10 i-MiEV electric vehicles from Mitsubishi Motors Corp., according to the environment secretary.
Edward Yau told reporters the months-long test drive of the iMiEV, a lithium-ion battery-powered four-seater that gives out roughly 63 horsepower with a top speed of 130 kilometers per hour, was satisfactory.
Yau said the procurement demonstrates “the government’s commitment in promoting the use of EV in combating air pollution.” The cars are expected to arrive in Hong Kong by the end of the year and will be used by various government departments. Yau said the two Hong Kong power companies are in talks with car park operators about installing charging devices for the electric cars.
WOW 10, count 'em, ten EVs.
And that's not all; they are "in talks with car park operators about installing charging devices for the electric cars".
Great idea !
Otherwise they would throw them away like used key-chain flashlights?
Posted by: ToppaTom | 21 September 2009 at 09:47 PM
You don't need to buy more than 10 if you are only planning to reverse engineer something.
Posted by: Patrick | 22 September 2009 at 09:38 AM
Regardless what TT & Goracles are saying, BEVs (all sizes) will come to the market to stay.
The current low 100 Km to 150 Km e-range will multiply as battery performances evolve five-folds or more. BEVs popularity will also multiply when batteries price come down to about $200/Kwh by 2015/16.
Many compact BEVs, with up to 500 Km e-range, for less the $20K (2009 $), will be mass produced by 2015/16.
Posted by: HarveyD | 22 September 2009 at 09:46 AM
The improvements need to come from efficiency of the automotive system to improve the watt per mile expenditures and energy & power density improvements should go towards making the battery pack smaller and lighter while keeping the same total energy capacity.
Having a 100kW-hr battery (no matter how cheap and light) still presents a problem in charging. Maximum range possible out of a given number of kW-hrs should be the goal (such that the average user can recharge at 110V or 220V overnight in the worst case).
Posted by: Patrick | 22 September 2009 at 10:01 AM