IMiev Chassis

[markweatherill]

Hello,

I'm about to buy a gasoline 'i' car, and according to everything I've read, it has an aluminium spaceframe chassis, with steel body panels.

I got some figures off the internet... The difference between the kerb weights of a gasoline 'i' (790kg) and an iMiev (1110kg), is 320kg. The battery is 160kg. The electric motor is 65kg. Hmm!
(PS I expect the chassis, aluminium or steel, will be obscured in the 'i' by undertrays and probably panels, and more so for the iMiev!)

 

[jray3]

Welcome aboard Mark.
Scroll back through this thread, and you'll see the the production car is all steel. They sent mixed messages in the lead-up to production...

 

[aarond12]

@Mark: Any reason you're buying a gas-powered i than an electric i? From your spelling of "kerb", I would say you're somewhere in Europe. Care to enlighten us?

 

[markweatherill]

Hi,

I'm in the UK and at present an EV isn't practical for me. The gas (petrol) version is, though. I joined this forum because the electric version does interest me, and still has much in common with the 'i'. Well, some anyway...
I wasn't sure if it was a definite conclusion that the chassis is steel. But I've just realised that the US iMiev is longer and wider, which means a re-tooled spaceframe, and economies must have dictated that it be made of steel not aluminium...

 

[misterbleepy]

I'd be happy to try sticking a magnet to anywhere you think the chassis/spaceframe/monocoque is accessible to see if it is really steel or aluminium. My car is a peugeot ion, but it is really an iMiEV under the badges.
Presumably the body around the sills and pillars that is exposed when the doors are open is the spaceframe - I'll grab a magnet off the fridge this morning and try it on those areas this morning, and post my findings later...

 

[misterbleepy]

The whole frame that's exposed when the doors are open is magnetic - so I'm pretty sure the spaceframe is steel on the european models too.

 

[markweatherill]

I had my 'i' on a lift and went over the underside, and found no metal part that wasn't magnetic... so unless I find the secret panel that it's hidden behind, I tend to think the aluminium spaceframe chassis exists only in the publicity material.