My dealer told me the i battery represents $15000. I think that is a conservative number. My guess is that Mitsubishi is taking a loss on their i electric car just like Toyota did with the first Prius. They will make up their loss when the large scale production allows for reduced manufacturing cost. It's the way all cars are make. The first car off the assemble line cost millions of dollars to make.
Big EV batteries are expensive because they are currently "hand make." The little, less than a dollar, lithium batteries are mass assembled at a very low cost. Most informed people believe that high volume manufacturing plants will halve the price of EV batteries in the next few years. Nissan has committed $6 billion dollars to the Leaf and Li-ion battery.
Right now big EV Li-ion batteries cost about $1k per kWh. From:
http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/52720110310.php"A123 expects median battery prices to decrease dramatically over the next three years, i.e. the prices will halve by 2015 to around $700/kWh."
JoeS, We share a love for this fantastic little i car. I feel a need to share that love as you do. I respect your insight and opinions. Thank you for sharing.
I love my wife's cute little dimples when she smiles. Others may see these as flaws.
Mitsubishi is willing to take a loss to make the jump to the mass EV market. That makes the Mitsubishi i a great deal for me. The parts are worth twice the price of the car.
Mitsubishi will do the right thing with their battery warranty. They are heavily invested in the EV future.
