Mitsubishi Motors has chosen to center its development of next-generation electric vehicle technology on in-wheel motors and on lithium-ion batteries that the company has been working on for several years. Currently working on a test vehicle that utilizes these technologies, which it has dubbed the Mitsubishi In-wheel motor Electric Vehicle (MIEV) concept, the company also envisages their application to hybrid electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles.
The in-wheel motor makes it possible to regulate drive torque and braking force independently at each wheel without the need for any transmission, drive shaft or other complex mechanical components. For this reason, MIEV offers highly promising potential in the ongoing evolution of Mitsubishi's all-wheel control technology that is employed so successfully in the Lancer Evolution, Pajero and other 4WD models. The fact that the drive system is housed inside the wheel itself offers significantly greater design freedom and also makes it easier to locate such space-consuming components as the battery system, fuel cell stacks and hydrogen tanks used in hybrid and fuel cell vehicles.
| Colt EV specifications |
| | Base model: Colt Sport-X (1.5-liter, 4WD) |
| Length | 3885 mm | | Width | 1680 mm | | Height | 1550 mm | | Curb weight | 1150 kg | | Occupants | 5 | | Max. speed | 150 km/h | | Cruising range / charge (10-15 driving pattern) | 150 km | Motor
(with internal reduction gear) | Type | Permanent magnetic synchronous | | Max. output | 20 kW | | Max. torque | 600 Nm | | Max. speed | 1500 rpm | | Dimensions | 310mm (dia.) x 220mm | | No. fitted | 2 | | Battery | Type | Lithium-ion | | Capacity | 40 Ah | | Voltage | 14.8 V | | L x W x H | 194 mm x 175 mm x 116 mm | | No. of modules | 22 | | Controller | Inverter | | Drive | Rear wheels | | Tires | 185/55R15 |
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