Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc. announced that electronics retailer and tech services provider Best Buy Co. Inc. and power management company Eaton Corp. will collaborate with Mitsubishi Motors to help facilitate and enhance electric vehicle ownership for the automotive consumer.
For residential electric vehicle customers, Best Buy’s Geek Squad will provide site analysis and work to manage electrical home infrastructural upgrading and installation by licensed electrical contractors of Eaton’s advanced Level 2 (220V) charging hardware for Mitsubishi’s “i” powered by MiEV electric vehicle, which goes on sale in fall of 2011.
In addition, Eaton will provide both the electrical infrastructural support and Level 2 chargers to MMNA’s dealerships. Mitsubishi says these 220V (15A) charging stations can be installed in a home’s garage and help reduce the charging time of its lithium-ion battery-powered vehicle by 50 percent versus a standard 110V electrical outlet. Given its battery size, Mitsubishi “i” customers can have the choice of only applying existing Level 1 (110V outlet) equipment, or the faster Level 2 charging, which can affect a complete charge in about 7 hours.
“This rounds out our pre-launch plans for the new Mitsubishi ‘i’ model,” says Shinichi Kurihara, president and chief executive officer of Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc. “It represents the best of both worlds combining Eaton quality and reliance, with Best Buy service and customer care for both dealers and our customers. We are happy that they have joined us in our efforts.”
