Mitsubishi 2014 Annual Report Download - page 17

Battery
Rear motorFront motor
Engine
Generator
Battery
Rear motorFront motor
Engine
Generator
Battery
Rear motorFront motor
Engine
Generator
Plug-in Hybrid EV (PHEV) System
Mitsubishi Motors’ PHEV technology is the culmination of the
EV technology gained on the i-MiEV, the 4WD technology cul-
tivated with the Lancer Evolution and the SUV expertise earned
on the Pajero. Also, the PHEV system’s gasoline engine operates
as a generator, supplying electricity to the electric motors.
With a PHEV system, the motors are used for normal travel.
When the remaining battery charge is low or if powerful accelera-
tion is required, the engine automatically starts up and begins to
generate electricity, which is supplied to the motor and the bat-
tery. This arrangement meet customer demand by giving vehicles
a longer cruising range than EVs. This technology allows for
superb accelerator response not possible on a gasoline-only vehicle,
characterized by fast acceleration and substantial deceleration
energy. Furthermore, movement is smooth, with no shift-shock.
We have combined Mitsubishi Motors’ electric vehicle (EV), 4WD
and SUV technologies into a plug-in hybrid EV (PHEV) system. The
world’s  rst such system for an SUV, the PHEV system allows
external charging. Also, the addition of a generator and an engine
for that purpose extends the vehicle’s cruising range, resulting in
travel that is economical, as well as comfortable and powerful.
Given the system’s high-capacity battery and charging func-
tion, there is little need to start the engine during typical city
driving. As a result, no CO2 is generated, making for eco-friendly
and fuel-ef cient travel. Hybrid vehicles, in comparison, use
battery power temporarily when starting out but mainly utilize
gasoline during normal travel.
Also, to achieve fuel ef ciency and comfortable travel, the
system automatically selects the optimal travel mode from
the three available, given travel conditions and battery charge
remaining. In addition to environmental responsibility, the
Outlander PHEV, which employs this system, delivers driving
pleasure through its twin-motor four-wheel drive and Super
All Wheel Control (S-AWC) system, which deliver superb driv-
ing performance.
The three drive modes of PHEV
Hybrid Vehicles
Battery
Motor
Assist
Engine
These are systems on which a battery and motor have been added to a gasoline-
powered automobile, and do not allow electricity to be supplied externally.
Remaining battery charge: lowRemaining battery charge: high
Driving outside the cityCity drivingCity driving/Driving outside the city
 EV Drive Mode
Used when traveling at low or medium speeds
in residential and city areas, EV Drive Mode
is an all-electric mode in which the front
and rear motors drive the vehicle using only
electricity from the drive battery. With zero
on-road gasoline consumption and zero CO2
emissions the driver can enjoy quiet and very
eco-friendly performance in this mode.
 Series Hybrid Mode
In Series Hybrid Mode the gasoline engine
operates as a generator supplying electricity
to the electric motors. The system switches to
this mode when the remaining charge in the
battery falls below a predetermined level and
when more powerful performance is required,
such as accelerating to pass a vehicle or climb-
ing a steep gradient such as a slope.
 Parallel Hybrid Mode
The system switches to Parallel Hybrid Mode
when the vehicle reaches high speeds. In this
mode the high-ef ciency gasoline engine
provides most of the motive power, assisted
by the electric motors as required, such as
when more powerful performance is required
to accelerate or climb a slope.
MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION
Annual Report 2014 15