Mitsubishi i Electric Car Earns High Marks from EPA

The EPA rated the all-electric car as best-in-segment in “fuel” efficiency in both mile-per-gallon equivalency and driving range.

The Mitsubishi i earned an EPA-rated 126 MPGe in city driving and 99 MPGe in highway driving for an average of 112 MPGe. The EPA also awarded the i, a "real world" driving range of 62 miles. The "real world" EPA driving evaluation incorporates battery-sapping aggressive driving and operating the vehicle in high ambient temperatures with the air-conditioning blowing.

The EPA also rated the vehicle's “LA4” driving cycle range at 98 miles. The EPA LA4 driving cycle test covers a distance of approximately 7.5 miles and includes numerous brief stops along the route to mimic in-town driving and its accompanying starts and stops for traffic signals.

Mitsubishi has worked to improve the driving range of the 2012 Mitsubishi i: The 98 mile range is attributed to software upgrades and a revamped regenerative braking system.

"We feel that with the combination of capability, affordability, and high level of efficiency offered by the 2012 Mitsubishi i will prove very appealing to consumers considering EV transportation," said Yoichi Yokozawa, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America.

Mitsubishi said that with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of $27,990 for the base ES model, before a federal tax credit of $7,500 and various state financial incentives that are subject to availability of funding, the Mitsubishi i is the most affordably-priced mass-produced electric vehicle available in the United States.

Among the vehicle's standard amenities are an energy-efficient electric air-conditioning with micron filter, speed-sensitive Electric Power Steering (EPS), driver seat heater and LED rear combination tail lamps.

Advanced safety features including dual-stage supplemental front air bags, driver and front passenger seat-mounted side impact supplemental air bags, roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags for front and rear-seat outboard passengers, Active Stability Control with Traction Control Logic 4-wheel Anti-Lock Braking system with Electronic Brake force Distribution, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, high voltage cut-off system and an Approaching Vehicle Audible System are also included on every Mitsubishi i model as standard equipment.