Mitsubishi’s all-electric i-MiEV city car will give visitors to this year’s Sustainable Living Festival – held in Melbourne until February 27 – a look at not just the future for sustainable transport solutions, but the present as well.

As a major sponsor of the festival, Mitsubishi is joining other future focussed companies producing sustainable solutions with the purpose of promoting the theme of Mission: Safe Climateto the thousands of people who will attend events and exhibitions over the 16-day festival.

From its origins in 1998 as a small fair held in the tiny Victorian town of Musk near Daylesford before moving to Melbourne in 2001, the Sustainable Living Festival is now centred on Federation Square with events across the city attracting over 100,000 visitors.

With cars like the i-MiEV leading the way, Mitsubishi is continuing to engage in developing products and practices that provide for a sustainable future.

As the first, and currently only, electric passenger car from a mainstream manufacturer available on the Australian market, the i-MiEV is playing a vital role in Mitsubishi’s vision of a sustainable future for personal transport with the company aiming for electric vehicles to account for at least 20 per cent of its global production by 2020.

This, along with a raft of other environmental initiatives from expanded use of green plant-based plastics to increased recycling, forms part of Mitsubishi’s overall aim to reduce CO2 emissions of its new vehicles by 50 per cent, and emissions from production by 20 per cent, compared to 2005 levels by 2020.

Mitsubishi’s Vice President of Brand and Marketing, Paul Unerkov, said the company is proud to be festival partner and excited to promote sustainable transport solutions to the Australian public.

“Mitsubishi is looking to the future of sustainable transport and our i-MiEV electric vehicles provide people with a practical option that promotes environmental sustainability.”

Luke Taylor, the festival director sees the increasing popularity of the festival, which combines practical solutions, concepts, education and entertainment, as a sign that everyday Australians are keen to grapple with today’s environmental challenges.

“It’s the first time in 10 years that we have noticed such a shift in thinking, people aren’t so fearful of making big changes once they see the clear benefits,” he says.

And judging by the stalls that make up the ever-popular Green Market, there are plenty of changes that can be made with over 100 exhibitors showcasing sustainable products and services from all sectors of industry including building, energy, water, and food.

More great news from Mitsubishi Dealership Brisbane.

Tokyo, January 14, 2011 –Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) announced today that sale of the European-spec i-MiEV new-generation electric vehicle is to commence in 15European countries*1.

As a reminder, MMC began production of the i-MiEVs for Europe from October of last year. Three months after starting shipment, about 2,500 units*2 were shipped.

Currently, the i-MiEV is attracting high attention in Mitsubishi Motors Europe’sterritory. In addition to the first 15 countries the car is to be sold in, there have been requests to introduce the i-MiEV from Finland, Serbia, Turkey, and Slovenia. In response to these requests, MMC plans to ship units to these countries in the near future, making the European countries the i-MiEV will be sold in to 19. Later on, the i-MiEV shall be sequentially introduced further within Mitsubishi Motors Europe’s territory.

*1: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

*2: This number includes Peugeot iOn and Citroën C-ZERO.

Universal Cars Ltd. (UCL), Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC)’s importer and distributor for Hong Kong, announced today it will begin sales of the i-MiEV the new-generation electric vehicle to individuals.

Mitsubishi I-miev

Mass-production i-MiEVs have already been delivered to the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (HKSAR) and some companies; however this announcement marks the first time sales to individuals will be commenced in Hong Kong, and also marks the first time that the i-MiEV will be sold to individuals outside of Japan. UCL will begin sales of the i-MiEV to individuals from May 21 at a price of HK$395,000, with a target to sell 50 units by the end of this year. MMC and UCL signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the HKSAR government regarding cooperation on the popularization of electric vehicles (EV) on February 26, 2009. From May of 2009, the HKSAR government conducted practicality tests with a pre-production test model i-MiEV as well as worked together with electric power companies regarding EV charging infrastructure. UCL has delivered about 30 i-MiEVs to the HKSAR government and other corporations since December 2009. In Japan, MMC first sold the i-MiEV mainly to corporations and municipalities in fiscal year 2009, with sales of about 1,400 units. In April of 2010, MMC expanded its sales to include sales to individuals. In addition to high environmental performance and handling inherent to a car with a compact body, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV has been lauded for its motive power, stability, quietness and its comfortable ride.  MMC has been conducting fleet testing in countries and other areas all over the globe, and plans to launch left-hand drive i-MiEVs in Europe from the end of this year.