Mitsubishi introduced the Mitsubishi i-MiEV in 2009, one of the first mass-produced highway-capable electric cars.
The i-MiEV was based on Mitsubishi’s small i kei car but replaced its petrol powertrain with an electric motor and lithium-ion battery system. It was first supplied to fleet users in Japan in 2009 before wider retail sales began in 2010.
Its compact dimensions suited dense urban streets, while its top speed of about 130 km/h made it usable beyond low-speed city travel. The model was also sold under related names by Peugeot and Citroën in Europe.
The i-MiEV is distinct from Mitsubishi’s earlier Minica-based electric experiments and from later electric SUVs. Its significance lies in being an early purpose-built, commercially produced battery-electric vehicle offered across multiple international markets.