Minicab MiEV

Post by **Thom** » Tue, 18 Oct 2016, 14:58

Hello all from a fresh EV enthusiast.

I had a very low opinion of the future of vehicles and generally a hatred of anything without a clutch and at least 5 forward gears.

NOW I cannot seem to stop forcing people to listen when I tell them how fun EV's are and how I can't wait for them to be everywhere and the joy of sitting silently at the lights waiting for the traffic light grand prix to take off.

I work for a place that has now got 2 Minicab MiEV's and we all love em!

Now I am dreaming of doing an electric conversion to my 1985 BMW 735i and trawling the classifieds for PHEV's. The bug has bitten.

So if you are in Brisbane and want to have a look/drive get in touch.

Cheers Thom.

Post by **Richo** » Tue, 18 Oct 2016, 20:37

Wasn't aware that they'd brought them into Australia.
http://www.j-spec.com.au/lineup/Mitsubi ... nfo/id-B91
Interesting they are claiming 105Wh/km.
Any idea's what it really gets?

Post by **Jeff Owen** » Tue, 18 Oct 2016, 20:48

Thom wrote: Hello all from a fresh EV enthusiast.

I work for a place that has now got 2 Minicab MiEV's and we all love em!

So if you are in Brisbane and want to have a look/drive get in touch.

Cheers Thom.

How about bringing one along to the Brisbane branch meeting tomorrow night.

It would also be a good source of information for your own conversion as there should be several examples present.

Post by **Thom** » Tue, 18 Oct 2016, 20:51

Sounds like a plan. Where and when I will be there.

I look forward to it.

Thom

Post by **Thom** » Tue, 18 Oct 2016, 20:53

So far it seems to only do around 100klm on a charge, seems that the 150klm range claims for the 16KwH battery are quite a bit of a stretch.

Post by **zzcoopej** » Tue, 18 Oct 2016, 21:42

Richo wrote: Wasn't aware that they'd brought them into Australia.
http://www.j-spec.com.au/lineup/Mitsubi ... nfo/id-B91

Not bad prices either eg -
2013
MINICAB MIEV CD16.0K
0cc
43,000km
White
AT
***
155,000 yen
$8,400

Post by **Thom** » Tue, 18 Oct 2016, 22:03

So that 155000yen $8400 2013 model is a car that has no auction grading (***). This means not eligible to come to Australia and be complied for road use. Usually a car that has significant unrepaired damage. The other listed sales of 550-800000yen are more usual for the Minicab.

Post by **Jeff Owen** » Wed, 19 Oct 2016, 01:28

Thom wrote: Sounds like a plan. Where and when I will be there.

I look forward to it.

Thom

Details here Brisbane meeting

Post by **Richo** » Wed, 19 Oct 2016, 20:44

Thom wrote:<they> do around 100km on a charge

That is still quite good.

Post by **Richo** » Wed, 19 Oct 2016, 20:57

J spec list recently sold ones for around $13-16k
http://www.j-spec.com.au/recent/Mitsubishi/Minicab/B91

Post by **Richo** » Thu, 20 Oct 2016, 20:36

So what gets me thinking is why these aren't brought in for people to use as conversion kits!
Say for $14k you get 16kWh pack, 30kW motor, motor controller and other bits.

And as ACmotor pointed out in one of his threads that the same motor (Y4F1) is getting 80kW when tuned

viewtopic.php?title=the-worlds-first-ma ... 586#p43403

Then when you think that of the $14k - $3k is for AUS compliance.
SO that is $11k for the kit.
I'm sure if you told J-spec to import a beat up one (repairable write-off eqv) you could get the kit in cheaper.

A sub $10k conversion kit...

Here is Mitsubishi's spec on the vans:

http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com/publis ... l0817.html

Post by **mikedufty** » Fri, 21 Oct 2016, 04:31

I think there may be some odd rules about importing whole cars for parts though, basically to avoid people importing as parts to avoid rules then reassembling here.

Post by **Adverse Effects** » Fri, 21 Oct 2016, 17:39

mikedufty wrote: I think there may be some odd rules about importing whole cars for parts though, basically to avoid people importing as parts to avoid rules then reassembling here.

hehehe just get them to cut the roof off then import it its almost impossible to weld a roof back on and have the car any good (at a reasonable cost anyway)

Post by **mikedufty** » Fri, 21 Oct 2016, 19:24

I think that is the rationale behind the half cuts that wreckers bring in.

Post by **Richo** » Fri, 21 Oct 2016, 20:40

True but I think the half cuts was because it was more efficient to bring in just the front which has 99% of the parts people are after.

But I agree cut the top off and stack em up

I'll take two

Post by **Richo** » Fri, 21 Oct 2016, 20:42

Here is the link:
https://infrastructure.gov.au/vehicles/ ... tions.aspx

TOTALITARIAN GOVT wrote: Q. Can I import a vehicle for wrecking, dismantling, or to use its parts?
No. No options exist which allow the importation of a vehicle for wrecking, dismantling or parts.

Post by **Richo** » Fri, 21 Oct 2016, 20:46

TOTALITARIAN GOVT wrote: The following goods are generally considered to be parts:

    Passenger motor vehicles without engines, gearboxes, wheels and axles.
    Light and medium road vehicle for the transport of goods of gross vehicle mass (GVM) less than 12 tones without engines, gearboxes, wheels.
    Heavy road vehicles for the transport of goods of GVM greater than 12 tones without engines and gearboxes.
    Trailers without axles, mechanical connections, suspension and brakes.
    Buses without engines, gearboxes, wheels and axles.
    Road motor cycles without front forks, steering components and wheels.

Post by **Richo** » Fri, 21 Oct 2016, 20:50

And border protection:
http://www.border.gov.au/Busi/Impo/Impo-1#part

RED TAPE BORDER POLICE wrote: If a road vehicle assembly or component being imported bears a road vehicle identification chassis number and is to be reassembled for use on public roads, then a VIA is required.

So scrub the VIN OFF

Post by **Richo** » Fri, 21 Oct 2016, 20:57

I doubt there is anything in the dash worth keeping so like Adverse effects suggests cutting the whole top off so it's just the flat base with wheels should pass ok.

But the saving on AUS compliance vs cost of chopping may not add up anyway.

Post by **Johny** » Fri, 21 Oct 2016, 21:01

Accumulate a group of folk who want bits.
Appoint someone mechanical to go to Japan after arranging a garage for a couple of weeks.
Buy a few, strip them, get a shipping container, pack it.
Repeat every now and then.

Post by **Adverse Effects** » Sat, 22 Oct 2016, 00:42

Richo wrote: I doubt there is anything in the dash worth keeping so like Adverse effects suggests cutting the whole top off so it's just the flat base with wheels should pass ok.

But the saving on AUS compliance vs cost of chopping may not add up anyway.

it shouldnt cost more than $500 to lop the top off (15 min at most been there done that) and leve the wheels on and stack 2 others on top with there tops cut off you should be able to get 6 or 8 in a 20Ft container (about $2500 to $3000 to ship a 20Ft to Aus last i checked)

Post by **carnut1100** » Sun, 23 Oct 2016, 13:31

There are specialist companies who will buy cars to order, cut up and pack.
Need a dismantlers licence to do it so no go diy.
They can fit8 cars cut up in a container.
Lots of leafs in Japan too...

Post by **T1 Terry** » Sun, 23 Oct 2016, 13:47

One of the things talked about at the AGM yesterday was forming a private buyers group. This was aimed towards buying second hand complete vehicles but an extension to buying part vehicles for building EV projects could be worth pursuing. There were a few members there that had experience with importing vehicle parts so possibly contacting head office and getting a link into to this group would be beneficial for all, nothing like numbers to influence someone at the other end that it would be worth their time and effort.

T1 Terry

Post by **Adverse Effects** » Sun, 23 Oct 2016, 15:31

battery's are hard to get here in OZ so could be worth while

like i would love some leaf battery module but i am not going to pay $200+ and then add in shipping that is just ridiculous

Post by **T1 Terry** » Mon, 24 Oct 2016, 04:13

Adverse Effects wrote: battery's are hard to get here in OZ so could be worth while

like i would love some leaf battery module but i am not going to pay $200+ and then add in shipping that is just ridiculous

Talk to Graeme www.ozdiyelectricvehicle.com a Brisbane AEVA member and he imports them. Amazing the contacts you meet at these AGM get togethers, he has both second hand and new cells and the price wasn't too bad.

T1 Terry