Mitsubishi i-MiEV Becomes A Tool For Surviving Disaster

By Richard Read

Richard Read

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Richard Read covers technology, social media, advertising, legal issues, and other auto industry topics for High Gear Media. With a background in... More

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Mitsubishi 'i' Emergency Power Supply

There's nothing like a brief power outage to make us realize how thoroughly dependent we are on electricity. The fact is made even more obvious during a natural disaster, when power supplies can be cut off for days or weeks, but a new add-on for the Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric vehicle aims to soften the blow, allowing owners to run nearly any electric device using the i-MiEV's battery.

Of course, there are already a range of electric adapters for vehicles, most of which plug into cigarette lighters (or as they're called nowadays, "12V auxiliary power outlets"). But those adapters don't churn out loads of juice, and they often suffer from connectivity issues.

Mitsubishi's as-yet-unnamed (and as-yet-unpriced) device has two distinct advantages over those: (1) it will allow devices to plug directly into the i-MiEV, and (2) it will accommodate appliances that need more power than a 12V outlet can handle.

Mitsubishi already had this device in the works, but moved up the production timeline because of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that left many in Japan without power. According to a survey of those affected by the disaster, many respondents wished for a device that would allow them "to cook rice". This should do that -- and more.

For additional details about this device and the Mitsubishi i-MiEV (known as the "i" in the U.S.), check Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield's write-up at AllCarsElectric. And speaking of natural disasters: if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, don't forget that today is the start of hurricane season...