Report: Epic fail? Mitsubishi i-MiEV gets it charge from diesel generator during cross-Canada tour

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Mitsubishi, Green Daily

Cruising down the Trans Canada Highway, a sharp-eyed Reddit user (nupogodi) noticed an unusual sight: a Mitsubishi i-MiEV pulled off to the side of the road. This particular vehicle was engaged in the Clean Across Canada tour, a cross-country trip designed to showcase the i-MiEVs abilities. The i-MiEV, tailed by a large gasoline-powered pickup truck, was parked for a much-needed charge. But rather than being docked at a charging station, as we might expect it to be, this i-MiEV received its electrical current from a diesel generator towed by the support truck. We smell hints of that hydrogen road tour from a few years ago.

While a lack of photos prevents us from authenticating the story (we've asked Mitsubishi for confirmation or a comment), this reported sighting leaves us both shocked and intrigued. For one, we're shocked that Mitsubishi might actually have the audacity to charge its "zero-emissions" vehicle from a diesel generator pulled by an inefficient gas burner, even thought one Reddit user pointed out that, "it looks like more of a fail than it is" and we are all well aware that energy for electric vehicles is not free. At the same time, we're intrigued by the possibility that an electric vehicle, let's say a Nissan Leaf, could tow or perhaps carry a small generator to increase its range during long distance trips. After all, that's pretty much what the Chevrolet Volt does all the time, right? Hat tip to Spin Cycle!

[Source: Reddit]

Report: Epic fail? Mitsubishi i-MiEV gets it charge from diesel generator during cross-Canada tour originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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