| Do you get a charge out of the idea of driving an | | | | Once the Mitsubishi iMiev is fully charged it's time |
| all-electric vehicle? The opportunity is coming | | | | to head out. A cruise down the freeway will be |
| sooner than you think, with at least two major | | | | the first test. The next will be to get this |
| car manufacturers set to begin selling plug-ins | | | | adorable, quiet and "zippy" car to the next city on |
| within the year. One Mitsubishi Bloomington car | | | | one charge. The average drive for most people |
| dealership wants to give customers a preview of | | | | daily is 40 miles. The iMiev has a range of 70 |
| what it's like to drive an all-electric car. So they | | | | miles on a single charge. Customers of |
| followed one driver through the day to see the | | | | Bloomington car dealerships will be impressed with |
| triumphs and challenges that an electric car brings. | | | | what the iMiev can do on a single charge. |
| As the driver begins her day she is searching for | | | | Compared to other electric cars, Mitsubishi iMiev is |
| an outlet in her condo's parking garage so she can | | | | in the middle. Competitors go as far as 100 miles |
| charge her car. There aren't any. Challenge | | | | and as little as 40 on all-electric power. The |
| number one. It does fit nicely in the parking space, | | | | Bloomington IL new car price for the iMiev seems |
| though. So does the possible initial inconvenience | | | | a great bargain when you consider the savings in |
| of trying to charge the car negate the benefits of | | | | fuel costs. |
| practically zero fuel cost? Do all the features | | | | Our driver received some advice from an electric |
| translate into a Bloomington IL new car price that | | | | car expert on how to maximize the electric |
| we can live with? Keep reading to weigh your | | | | power. Keeping the speed at a steady 60 mph |
| options. | | | | and coasting rather than braking when possible will |
| There are other options for charging the EVs. | | | | help. Anticipating stops and accelerating gently also |
| Plugging in to a wall outlet is probably the most | | | | save power. This technique is known in electric |
| common and simplest, but it needs to stay there | | | | circles as "hyper miling" – getting the most |
| for 12 hours. For a faster charge, in about six | | | | miles possible from one battery charge. |
| hours, a larger outlet like a 220 (think clothes | | | | Realistically, the faster electric cars sell, the faster |
| dryer) will do the trick. The fastest charge, at | | | | someone will be scrambling to accommodate |
| about 30 minutes, will charge the battery to about | | | | them with charging stations. But the faster the |
| 80 percent and will be found at a public charging | | | | charging stations appear in convenient locations, |
| station. Some forward-thinking business person | | | | the more quickly people will buy the plug-in cars. |
| plans to open one in the San Francisco area this | | | | Quite the Catch-22! |
| summer. | | | | |