With the launch of the Clean Across Canada tour, Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada undertook an impor tant demonstration of the company's i-MiEV (Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle) as an exciting breakthrough in zero tailpipe emission technology.

On Aug. 17, the Clean Across Canada tour departed from Cape Spear National Historic Site in St. John's, Nfld., on a 28-day coast-to-coast tour. This journey took the Mitsubishi i-MiEV approximately 7,500 kilometres and culminated on Sept. 11 in Victoria, B.C., at which point the i-MiEV and support vehicles returned to Vancouver to participate in the 2010 EV Conference from Sept. 13 through Sept. 16.

Along the way, the tour visited towns and cities offering consumers, media and dignitaries the opportunity to experience the Mitsubishi i-MiEV first-hand. The i-MiEV reflects our values of renewable production, clean-air technology and conservation represented by MMC's brand tagline "Drive@earth."

The Clean Across Canada tour was created to showcase the capabilities of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV and the technology behind it. This initiative highlights our company's leadership in this very important undertaking and has allowed us to showcase our i-MiEV with Canadians everywhere.

The versatile charging system accommodates North American 110-volt household power outlets (14 hours charge time), 220-volt (seven hours charge time) outlets, or a quick charger unit that can reduce the charge time to approximately 30 minutes for an 80-per-cent battery charge.

The i-MiEV, Mitsubishi's culmination of 40 years of expertise in developing electric vehicles, is expected to travel up to 120 kilometres on a single charge with its 16 kWh lithium-ion battery.

Sales of the i-MiEV began in Japan in July 2009 for fleet use and April 2010 for the general public, with sales of more than 2,000 units. Export has also started to Australia and New Zealand, and left-hand-drive units will be in Europe this fall. Introduction in Canada is planned for the fall of 2011.

While we await i-MiEV's arrival, this is an exciting time for Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada; we look forward to the future and the present as we get set to launch our 2011 RVR in October. An all-new, compact CU V(crossoverutilityvehicle), theRVR features the latest in cutting-edge design, state-of-the-art technology and environmental responsibility.

It opens up an all-new segment for Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada and addresses the specific needs that many of our customers have underscored. At the same time, the Mitsubishi RVR is a unique combination of world-class design and performance while achieving environmental standards that are second to none.

montrealgazette.com