In an electronics specialist's supermarket, that is. Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi announced over the weekend it had agreed with electronics retailer Yamada-Denki on a combined effort which would see the i-MiEV electric vehicle being put on sale in 17 stores, including Tokyo, Kanagawa and Saitama prefectures.
The sale of the car through the Yamada-Denki is part of the retailer's "smart house business" project. Of course, the cars will not be sold by the same guy who sells you batteries for the remote, but by trained personnel which will be added to all the 17 stores.
In addition, an exhibition hall for the i-MiEV has been setup in the Techland Yokohama Izumi store on December 4. On course, the retailer will tie the sales of the i-MiEV with those of solar energy systems and charging stations.
“The impetus for the project started from the E-Kizuna Project that was held this April in Saitama City when both companies attended the 1st E-Kizuna Forum in Saitama," Yamada-Denki reveals the details behind this unlikely decision.
“At the Forum, both MMC and Yamada Denki discussed the possibility of sales of EVs at electronics retailers, under the common understanding that promotion and popularization of EVs has an important role to play in achieving a low-carbon society.”
The i-MiEV delivers 47 kW of power and 180 Nm of instant torque and is an electric vehicle which has already entered several markets around the world. So far, the Japanese announced they had produced 5,000 units of the model at the plant in Mizushima. The model has entered production in Europe and is getting ready to meet the US market as well.
The sale of the car through the Yamada-Denki is part of the retailer's "smart house business" project. Of course, the cars will not be sold by the same guy who sells you batteries for the remote, but by trained personnel which will be added to all the 17 stores.
In addition, an exhibition hall for the i-MiEV has been setup in the Techland Yokohama Izumi store on December 4. On course, the retailer will tie the sales of the i-MiEV with those of solar energy systems and charging stations.
“The impetus for the project started from the E-Kizuna Project that was held this April in Saitama City when both companies attended the 1st E-Kizuna Forum in Saitama," Yamada-Denki reveals the details behind this unlikely decision.
“At the Forum, both MMC and Yamada Denki discussed the possibility of sales of EVs at electronics retailers, under the common understanding that promotion and popularization of EVs has an important role to play in achieving a low-carbon society.”
The i-MiEV delivers 47 kW of power and 180 Nm of instant torque and is an electric vehicle which has already entered several markets around the world. So far, the Japanese announced they had produced 5,000 units of the model at the plant in Mizushima. The model has entered production in Europe and is getting ready to meet the US market as well.