Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors has revealed that its latest electric commercial vehicle, the Minicab EV, is slated to debut in the Japanese market on December 21. Priced at 2,431,000 yen (approximately €14,922) for the two-seater variant and 2,486,000 yen (around €15,260) for the four-seater, these figures include a 10% consumption tax.
The Minicab EV, belonging to the ‘kei-car’ class—a category defining Japan’s smallest highway-legal passenger vehicles with specific restrictions on dimensions and motor capacity—is founded on a monobox design. This iteration incorporates a new generation of electric components, encompassing the motor and drive battery. The electric motor boasts a peak torque of 195 Nm.
Mitsubishi reports that the vehicle’s range is 180 km, according to WLTC standards, representing a noteworthy 35% improvement over its predecessor. Charging the 20 kWh battery at a 200V AC charger requires approximately 7.5 hours for a full charge. Notably, an 80% charge can be achieved in about 42 minutes when using a faster charger, although the specific charge capacity was not disclosed.
In comparison to the prior model, the drive battery’s capacity has seen a 25% increase. The integration of the motor and inverter into a single unit aims to enhance motor efficiency, contributing to the extended range of 180 km per charge—an impressive 35% boost from the previous model. The Minicab-MiEV, the vehicle upon which the Minicab EV is based, has seen sales of approximately 13,000 units over the past 12 years.
