It’s no secret that Mitsubishi is looking ahead to the future of autos with their current focus on producing vehicles that are more compact and rely less on gasoline.  At the same time they hope to keep current drivers happy, while possibly attracting a whole new following.

Vehicles such as the “i” are very close to arriving at dealerships later this fall, while other models are still in the planning stages, meaning you won’t see them here at your local dealership for several years down the road.  Regardless, Mitsubishi is hard at work making these upcoming choices the best they can possibly be for drivers here in Central Illinois and beyond.

What’s Next?

Currently, the summer months allow us to use the sun for recreation and much more.  Mitsubishi has been hard at work putting the sun to use in another way.  At Mitsubishi’s North American headquarters in Cypress, California, the company is testing solar charging stations.  These docking stations help bridge our earth’s natural resources to all the possibilities that science allows us.

At a solar powered station, up to four EV’s can be charged at once.  Stations similar to the ones set up in CA might one day be used at dealerships to ensure that the autos, such as the “i”, are charged and ready for customers to come in and take for a test drive.  They work by offering three different types of chargers:

• Standard 110V will allow the “i”, which will be a new car Bloomington Normal drivers are excited to see, to be fully charged in 22 hours
• 220 volts will let the vehicle fully charge in about 6 hours
• CHAdeMO Quick Charger allow for 80% charge after about 25 minutes, perfect if you are always on the go!

The quick charge option is currently being tested in the Cypress area to see if it will allow a driver to commute from L.A. to the surrounding Orange Country area.  The company that helps in the installation and manufacturing of this solar charging station is also based in CA, so it’s a good place to start.

Your Springfield, IL Mitsubishi dealer, O’Brien Mitsubishi of Normal, will continue to keep you posted on the latest developments in the EV area!