The announcement was made by the chief executive officer and president of MMAL, Robert McEniry.
“Given the current climate of concern regarding our environment, along with unstable petroleum prices, alternative fuel vehicles – and more specifically, electric vehicles or EVs – are a very hot topic at the moment,†McEniry said.
“And instead of just talking about our technological prowess, Mitsubishi Motors will lead the way and make the i MiEV available to a wide range of audiences with the Australian feasibility study. The aim of the study is to allow the participants to gauge the i MiEV’s suitability for the Australian market for themselves in hands-on, real-world drive experiences.â€
Two vehicles will be sent to Australia – one for exhibition and one for drive tests. The vehicles will arrive in time to go on display at the Melbourne International Motor Show on February 27th and will embark on a first-ever tour through Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia during March.
The study has clear objectives and is designed to educate key audiences on this ground-breaking technology, allow people to experience the technology first hand, gauge reaction to the vehicle and establish communication channels with key partners such as energy providers and local, state and federal government authorities.
Audiences who will have the opportunity to assess the vehicle include Australia’s automotive media, key members of the MMAL dealer network, government authorities, city officials and significant fleet buyers. The general public will not miss out either, with public-awareness events to be held in most major cities.
As a recognized leader in the field of electric vehicle technology, Mitsubishi Motors has already implemented similar programs in Japan, the United States of America, New Zealand and Europe. The Australian feasibility study will be run along similar lines to the former programs and is designed to showcase the i MiEV’s absolute drivability, assess its suitability for the local market and examine the infrastructure available to support the program.
“In tandem with the growing concern for the environment, Mitsubishi Motors is concentrating on honing its technological talents to provide real-world, sustainable solutions such as convenient, market-ready electric vehicles.â€
Following the round-Australia program, feedback and data collected from all participants will be collated, analysed and utilised in preparing the feasibility study report.
information and images ©copyright Mitsubishi Motors Australia
|
