¥30 Million in Donations and i-MiEVs Provided

A donation of 30 million yen has been contributed. In addition, the core of the support measures involves providing disaster support vehicles free of charge, tailored to the disaster situation and the needs of each municipality. The company is also receiving offers of disaster support from its overseas sales companies and business partners, and is considering the most efficient means of assistance.

The disaster support vehicles to be loaned are the electric vehicle i-MiEV and the four-wheel-drive pickup truck, Triton. On the 18th, the first shipment of 30 i-MiEVs began its journey to the affected areas.

Due to the severe gasoline shortage in the disaster-stricken regions, there has been a high demand for EVs, leading to the decision to loan the i-MiEV. Furthermore, for the supply of goods, the Triton was selected considering its off-road capability and load capacity.

As of the 23rd, 10 i-MiEVs each have been provided to Fukushima, Miyagi, and Iwate prefectures, with an additional 6 units distributed to the general municipal offices within each prefecture, for a total of 45 units planned for distribution. While they are primarily intended for use between evacuation centers, confirming the safety of residents and sharing information, and distributing supplies, the usage may vary from place to place depending on the immediate needs and urgent situations.

Normally, charging is done using rapid chargers installed at dealerships or shopping centers in each prefecture, or by connecting the standard conversion adapter to a grounded plug with three prongs. However, with the electricity supply itself still unstable and the areas with supply limited, it is not always possible to find a location with a suitable charging environment nearby. There is also a high possibility of the vehicle running out of power while driving. Although Mitsubishi Motors does not officially recommend it, in emergencies, it is possible to charge using a standard two-prong outlet, like those used for ordinary home appliances, without a ground connection.

Incidentally, when fully charged, the i-MiEV has a driving range of 160 km based on the 10-15 mode measurement. Even when using the air conditioning, it is said to be able to travel up to 120 km.