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>> 03/February/2010 - Mitsubishi Launches Australia's First Public EV Fast Charging Unit

Mitsubishi has unveiled the first public EV fast charging unit (FCU) in Australia.  The FCU has been installed in front of the company’s Adelaide, South Australia head office and is designed to offer the convenience of a fast charge facility to drivers of MMAL’s ground breaking Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric vehicle.

Masahiko Takahashi, MMAL’s President and CEO unveiled the FCU this morning at a launch attended by South Australian i-MiEV owners, council and government VIPs and MMAL employees and staff.

"Mitsubishi has confirmed our position as the leader in electric vehicle technology.  Not only are we the first company to offer volume-produced electric vehicles in the Australian market - now we are the first company to provide a public fast charge facility here as well," Takahashi said.

The FCU is an Aker Wade unit installed by Club Assist in Australia and is powered by 100 per cent accredited green electricity provided by AGL Energy Limited.

Mitsubishi introduced its i-MiEV (Innovative Electric Vehicle) into the Australian market in August 2010 and the company has now sold more than one hundred vehicles here. The i-MiEV is a fully electric vehicle with zero drive-time emissions and is powered by a lithium-ion battery.

Normally, the i-MiEV is recharged on a standard 15 amp household power point over a seven hour period.  However, the fast charge unit can recharge up to 80 per cent of an i-MiEV’s battery in 30 minutes, or provide an extra-quick top-up of around 50 per cent in just 15 minutes.

According to Masahiko Takahashi, MMAL chose to install the fast charge unit at its South Australian headquarters for a number of reasons.

"Mitsubishi is a long-time member of the South Australian business community, and we are extraordinarily proud of our history here, so we are always very ready to support our local market.

"We have several i-MiEV Foundation Customers here in Adelaide, and I am sure the new FCU will be very convenient for them," Takahashi said.

"In addition, MMAL plans to offer an i-MiEV vehicle for our staff to use as a pool car, and I have no doubt that it will be so popular that it will require topping up on a regular basis."

i-MiEV vehicle owners are invited to utilise the new Fast Charge Unit, located at the Mitsubishi site in Tonsley Park, free of charge.

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