Environmentally-friendly EV driving for everyday use, motor-based hybrid driving for long-range travel.
A reliable power supply in case of emergencies.
MITSUBISHI MOTORS has been developing electric vehicles (EVs) from early on to tackle environmental problems such as global warming and air pollution. We introduced EVs including the i-MiEV and the Minicab-MiEV, which are mainly used as city commuters. However, it is necessary for EVs to overcome such challenges as driving range and charging infrastructure to meet a broader range of expectations.
Our solution to these challenges is the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). With a PHEV, you can enjoy EV driving for everyday activities such as shopping, and commuting to work, and hybrid driving for outings and longer trips on weekends without worrying about charging. The electricity stored in the drive battery can be used as power supply for outdoor leisure or in case of power outages and other emergencies. You can also use electricity at home via Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) system.
In a sense, PHEV is a storage battery that runs, and it is a social-good mobility that not only provides a solution to environmental problems but also serves as part of infrastructure to supply power even when it is stationary. With environmentally-friendly technologies centered on PHEVs, we will continue to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.
PHEV components
With a generator, two high-output motors installed at the front and rear of the vehicle, and a high-capacity drive battery installed under the floor, the layout of the PHEV components is designed in consideration of the vehicle weight balance. The design also realizes a low center of gravity with a superior front-rear weight distribution, while ensuring sufficient cabin and cargo space.
Given the superb response and powerful acceleration of the front and rear motors, our PHEVs can run stably in any road conditions, not only on urban roads but also on winding mountain roads.
Our PHEVs are equipped with a compact, lightweight, high-output motor at the front and rear. With their good response and powerful acceleration, the two motors serve as a 4WD system that drives all four wheels. The oil-cooling system used for the front motor and generator improves cooling efficiency and enables a more compact, lighter-weight system. Moreover, we reduced the motor noise and running noise of the EV components in order to ensure quiet running in EV mode.
For the drive battery, we adopted a lithium-ion battery developed for the PHEV system.
Consisting of 96 battery cells connected in series and stored within a battery pack enclosed by a strong frame structure, this high-capacity drive battery offers a total voltage of 350V and a total capacity of 20 kWh. The battery pack also has a sealed structure that ensures high waterproofness and is built as part of the body frame to prevent damage to the battery, in addition to improving the overall strength and rigidity of the vehicle.
The engine acts as a generator in Series Hybrid Mode, and it primarily serves to drive the vehicle in Parallel Hybrid Mode. Using an Atkinson cycle achieved through cam profile adjustment and valve timing control, we enabled efficient power generation in the low rpm range. Moreover, we significantly reduced engine noise to realize the same comfortable, quiet driving experience unique to EVs, even when using the engine to generate power to run the motors.
Advanced driving performance with the twin-motor 4WD and S-AWC
Twin-motor 4WD drives the front and rear wheels with independent motors
Our PHEVs utilize the excellent response of the front and rear independent motors to instantly adjust the front and rear torque distribution in line with the running conditions and the driver’s operations. This in turn increases the vehicle’s running stability, enables control at the driver’s will, and supports safe and comfortable driving under various road conditions.
In the Outlander PHEV model, raising the output of the front and rear motors to 85 kW and 100 kW respectively has bolstered the driving force of the front and rear wheels. This has made it possible to distribute driving force more freely among the front and rear wheels, greatly improving road performance in various weather and road conditions.
S-AWC (Super-All Wheel Control) integrated vehicle dynamics control system
The S-AWC system on the twin-motor 4WD integrates Active Stability Control (ASC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) and Active Yaw Control (AYC) that controls the left and right driving forces generated by the brakes.
By utilizing the independent front and rear motors, there are no physical constraints of the front and rear wheels as in conventional systems, and thereby MITSUBISHI MOTORS achieved the ideal front-rear driving force distribution that allows everyone to enjoy driving with peace of mind.
In the Outlander PHEV model, brake activated AYC that was previously only applied on the front axle is added to the rear axle as well. Distributing brake control to all four wheels reduces the braking force on each individual tire, making it possible to utilize AYC to even greater effect on slippery roads.
