Mitsubishi has revealed a new electric crossover concept vehicle at the Tokyo Motor Show, according to recent reports. The new concept — the eX — features a 45 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery pack and two 70 kilowatt (kW) electric motors, one on both axles (140 kW) combined output. Total range for the concept is reportedly ~250 miles.
Probably worth noting here, is that the concept features both automated driving options and also the ability to power domestic appliances directly from the battery (through a V2H device or a AC socket).
With regard to the autonomous driving options, the concept can reportedly park itself at a charging station, charge, and then drive back to pick up the driver.
Green Car Congress provides more:
- Automated Valet Parking System / Wireless Battery Charging. Smart Valet Parking systems provide EV charging bays with wireless charging which uses solar or other renewable energy sources. EVs that need their battery charged are automatically driven to an available parking spot with a charging bay. When it is time to leave, the vehicle automatically drives itself back to the Smart Valet Parking area to pick up the driver and other occupants. Departure times and other instructions can easily be changed using a smartphone or smartwatch.
- Automated driving (semi-automated running) on highways and other public roads. Using information from vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-road communications as well as from cameras and radar mounted to the car, the automated driving system analyzes the situation around the perimeter of the vehicle and autonomously varies vehicle speed or changes lane accordingly. The system also acquires information from the Cloud on traffic conditions at the destination and assists the driver in avoiding accidents.
- Lane Keeping Assist: Uses cameras to determine the position of lane dividing lines and keep the vehicle between them.
- Automated Lane Change: This system promotes safer driving by cooperating with LCA and BWS changing lane when it detects changes in the road situation ahead such as congestion, lane restrictions due to road works, or an object that has fallen off a vehicle ahead.
- An Automated Obstacle Avoidance System uses cameras and radar mounted to the vehicle and communications with vehicles in the vicinity, detecting any obstacles so the car can avoid them. While intricately regulating the distance to other vehicles in the vicinity, whether in congested traffic or travelling at high speed on a highway, this makes for safer driving and also reduces electricity costs because it avoids unnecessary acceleration and braking.
Needless to say, this is still just a concept. Interesting though — the industry as a whole does seem to be moving in a specific direction…