+ Click to Enlarge RALLY CAR: This Lancer Evolution MIEV with all-wheel electric drive will enter the 2005 Shikoku Electric Vehicle rally.

August 24, 2005

Mitsubishi is to enter a new type of electric all-wheel drive Lancer Evolution MIEV development vehicle in the 2005 Shikoku Electric Vehicle rally on the island of Shikoku, Japan this weekend (August 27-28).

It's based on the Lancer Evolution IX high-performance all-wheel drive sports sedan and uses a lithium-ion battery system to drive four new in-wheel motors.

The Lancer Evolution MIEV (Mitsubishi In-wheel Electric motor Vehicle) will be the company's second such test vehicle, following the Colt EV announced in May 2005.

Its new in-wheel motor uses a hollow doughnut construction with the rotor outside the stator, unlike a conventional electric motor where the rotor turns inside the stator.

This layout makes it easier to raise power output and torque; the higher torque removes the necessity for a reduction gear, saving weight and improving power transmission efficiency. The brake assembly now fits inside the motor, which itself fits inside the wheel rim.

The outside-rotor arrangement also solves the problems presented by the steering system, making it suitable for driving the front wheels – which opens the door to an all-wheel drive, in-wheel motor vehicle.

The Lancer MIEV is licensed for the road and will be tested under a wide variety of conditions, including the Shikoku EV Rally and normal driving on public roads, to check the reliability and durability of the in-wheel motor when subjected to bumps, water, sand and dirt.

The test programme is being used to improve performance and reduce weight and size; the goal is to develop electric, hybrid and fuel-cell vehicles that deliver performance andmanoeuvrability equal to or better than petrol-driven vehicles.

The first in-wheel motor test vehicle was the Colt EV. It was derived from a standard production Colt, driven by in-wheel motors in the rear wheels and powered by lithium-ion batteies.

To build the new Lancer Evolution in-wheel motor vehicle the engine, fuel tank, transmission, differential, drive shaft and transfer case were removed from a production Lancer Evolution IX sports sedan.

New outside-rotor in-wheel motors were mounted on each wheel and a lithium-ion batteies fitted under the floor between the front and rear wheels in the space vacated by the all-wheel drive components.

200kW for 25 seconds

Mitsubishi claims a maximum output of 50kW for each outside-rotor motor. That means that the Lancer is capable (briefly) of 200kW – which would drain the 95Ah battery in 25 seconds!

Mitsubishi is also considering developing a system to control drive torque and braking independently at each wheel – a sort of built-in ABS with EBD – that could be implemented on the Lancer Evolution MIEV.

Mitsubishi plans to market a MIEV car with in-wheel motors and high density lithium-ion batteries by 2010.

Lancer Evolution MIEV specifications:

Motors: Toyo Denki Seizo outside-rotor permanent magnetic synchronous
No fitted: four
Dimensions: 445mm (dia.) x 134mm
Maximum power/torque: 50kW (each) at 1500rpm / 518Nm at 0rpm.
Batteries: 14.8V GS Yuasa lithium ion
No of modules: 24
Capacity: 95Ah
Controller: Inverter
Drive: All-wheel drive
Cruising range: 250km
Wheels/tyres: Alloy 20" rims with 255/30 tyres.
Dimensions/mass: Length 4490mm, width 1770mm, height 1450mm. Mass 1590kg.
Capacities: Five passengers.
Performance: Top speed 180km/h.

The Shikoku Electric Vehicle rally was founded in 1998 to promote the use of electrically-powered vehicles. This will be the eighth running of the rally.

It will be run during the weekend of August 27-28 over 12 public road stages with performance testing and measurement on additional special stages.

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