Mitsubishi has been conducting extensive tests with the i MiEV over the past two years with seven utility companies in Japan. The success of these programs prompted Mitsubishi to begin selling the electric vehicle in the Japanese market in summer 2009.
Through this program, Southern California Edison (SCE) hopes to help Mitsubishi gauge how electric vehicles will most effectively connect to the smart grid of the future and the next generation Edison SmartConnect advanced meters.
In addition, the collaboration may explore future requirements for vehicle communication and connection, helping enable new customer values associated with home energy management and control.
Tohru Hashimoto, corporate general manager of Mitsubishi’s i MiEV business promotion office, said: The small, four-passenger Mitsubishi i MiEVs will enter into SCE’s nationally-recognized prototype testing and evaluation program. This collaboration with SCE will provide us technical feedback on i MiEV vehicle and battery performance, as well as vehicle connection and integration into the electrical system.
