GOVERNMENT OF CANADA AND MITSUBISHI MOTOR SALES OF CANADA PARTNER TO CONDUCT
ALL-ELECTRIC VEHICLE TRIALS

OTTAWA, Oct. 21 /CNW/ - Today the Government of Canada and Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada Inc. (MMSCAN) announced a partnership to test the Mitsubishi i-MiEV (Innovative Electric Vehicle) in Canada. Transport Canada's ecoTECHNOLOGY for Vehicles (eTV) program will test two i-MiEVs in government facilities, as well as in a variety of real-world conditions, to evaluate the vehicle's road handling, performance and range. Test results will also help to assess the potential environmental benefits of electric vehicle technologies in Canada.

The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and Mr. Koji Soga, president and chief executive officer of MMSCAN, were on hand to view the i-MiEV, celebrate the partnership and mark the start of testing.

"The Government of Canada is committed to working with the automotive industry and consumers to help make safe and clean technologies available to Canadians," said Minister Strahl. "We are pleased to be a part of such projects that will benefit the environment and promote greener transportation alternatives."

"At Mitsubishi we are very pleased that Transport Canada has chosen to partner with us by helping to evaluate the i-MiEV in real-world conditions. Currently, we have similar agreements with the City of Vancouver, BC Hydro, Hydro-Québec and the City of Boucherville. But it is especially gratifying to have the support and encouragement of the Government of Canada. We all live in the same world, and it is to everyone's benefit to help make a better environment for future generations. And projects like this are how we begin," said Mr. Soga.

The i-MiEV is an all-electric vehicle that seats four adults and features unique architecture, including a 330-volt lithium ion battery that powers a 63-hp electric motor. The battery can be charged conveniently with a standard household 110-volt wall socket, a 220-volt socket or with a commercial two-phase "quick charger." The i-MiEV is capable of travelling up to 120 kilometres on a single charge. At the 2009 Tokyo International Motor Show, the i-MiEV won the Japanese Car of the Year award for "Most Advanced Technology."

About Transport Canada's ecoTECHNOLOGY for Vehicles (eTV) program
Transport Canada's eTV program helps encourage the introduction of clean vehicle technologies in Canada. The program regularly tests and evaluates the environmental performance of a range of new vehicle technologies. It also works together with the automotive industry and consumers to facilitate the introduction of advanced technology vehicles in Canada. For more information, please visit www.tc.gc.ca/eTV.

About Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada
Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada Inc. is committed to green technologies, and Mitsubishi Motors, Japan, is a world leader in electric car research and development. For further information, visit www.mitsubishi-motors-pr.ca.

Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at www.tc.gc.ca/e-news and keep up to date on the latest from Transport Canada.

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For further information:

Media Relations Transport Canada, Ottawa   613-993-0055

Lara Brown Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada Inc. 905-214-9082