Mitsubishi goes electric

THE Concept-EZ MIEV demonstrates the dynamic, packaging and design benefits of Mitsubishi In-wheel motor Electric Vehicle (MIEV), which uses ultra-compact electric motors sitting within the wheel hub itself.

The brainchild of Mitsubishi Design Europe, each of the Concept-EZ’s 20-inch wheels houses a 27kW in-hub motor - for a total output of 80kW - powered by a lithium-ion battery pack sandwiched beneath the car’s flat floor.

By employing its MIEV technology in the 3700mm-long wagon, Mitsubishi designers and engineers have been liberated from the traditional constraints imposed by internal combustion power and drivetrain, and have created an "urban capsule" vehicle that provides unsurpassed interior packaging.

The EZ’s usable internal space has also been enhanced by the use of a retractable steering wheel, drive-by-wire technology and intelligent folding seats.