Use

MITSUBISHI MOTORS promises to continually strive to solve energy and pollution problems, while at the same time producing vehicles that carry passengers and goods with the utmost comfort and performance. We will develop and market fuel efficient and low emission vehicles whose use has a reduced environmental impact.

Measures for Improving Vehicle Fuel Economy

Improving fuel economy cuts energy costs and at the same time reduces emission of Carbon Dioxide, or CO2 and this contributes to global warming prevention. The government regulated a very strict target of fuel efficiency, about 23% of improvement (about 20% reduction of CO2) for gasoline-driven passenger-vehicles by 2010, comparing with that of 1995.

MMC has developed and adopted the MIVEC engine, a compact lightweighted CVT and an energy-saving air-conditioner system etc. in order to improve fuel efficiency.
MMC sets up a target to achieve the 2010 standards earlier, by the end of FY2005. New models launched after FY2001 such as COLT, LANCER CARGO and GRANDIS have achieved the standards for fuel efficiency.

*	MIVEC(Mitsubishi Innovative Valve Timing Electronic Control System) Generic term for MMC engines equipped with variable value timing mechanisms

Development and Realization of Clean Energy Vehicles

In our concern for the future of the earth and the influence of motor vehicles, reducing vehicle emissions and developing fuel sources other than oil are the main challenges. MITSUBISHI MOTORS has taken positive actions to develop and realize vehicles with clean energy.

CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) Vehicle

Natural gas is a fuel composed mainly of methane, and is generally used as compressed natural gas, or CNG in vehicles.

-	Reduced emissions of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Nitrogen Oxide (NOX)
-	Emits almost no soot or particulate matter (PM)

Because of these merits, MMC sells CNG MINI-CAR and CNG PAJERO BI-FUEL in order to promote CNG vehicles.

Fuel Cell Vehicle(FCV)

Fuel Cell Vehicle is a vehicle that runs using a motor and fuel cells instead of an internal combustion engine. Fuel cells generate water and electricity by a controlled chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen (obtained from air). This electricity rotates an electric motor in the vehicle, providing propulsion.

-	Gasoline engine cars discharge nitrogen oxide (NOX) and carbon monoxide (CO) which causes air pollution. Fuel cell vehicles emit only steam and are thus extremely clean.
-	The most energy efficient gasoline engines are approximately 40% efficient at using fuel. Fuel cells can theoretically convert 83 % of hydrogen energy into electrical energy and are expected to become a very energy-efficient vehicle through future development.
-	Hydrogen can be produced by natural gas, biomass or solar power, thus can solve the oil exhaustion problem.

However, there remain many problems to be solved. Infrastructure like hydrogen stations for hydrogen production and supply should be well organized. It is also necessary to settle questions such as the cost efficiency of fuel cell vehicles, their workability at low-temperatures and the safety of using hydrogen equipment.
MITSUBISHI MOTORS will continuously make efforts to solve these problems and put them to practical use in cooperation with DaimlerChrysler (DC).
In FY 2003, MMC is working to produce a fuel cell vehicle (Mitsubishi FCV) based on “GRANDIS”. We also participate in the Japan Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Demonstration Project operated by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and intended to achieve the practical use of fuel cell vehicles.

LEV(Low Emission Vehicle) Complied with Each Government System

The Japanese government drew up an action plan entitled the "Clean Energy Vehicle Development and Propagation Action Plan". This plan establishes a target having at least ten million Clean Energy Vehicles on the roads by FY2010, and also establishes government systems necessary to achieve this target. These systems include:

-	Under the LEV certification system by the Ministry of Land, cars are to be labeled as "good", "excellent" or "outstanding" according to how well they meet emission targets.
-	Green Purchasing Law is the system for promoting to purchase the articles which have less influence to the environment by the government and related associations. The targeted article includes vehicles. However, the targeted vehicle for the Green Purchasing Law requires to be not only low emission but good fuel economy.

MITSUBISHI MOTORS launched its first cars approved under a LEV certification program in FY2000 (CHARIOT GRANDIS), and new models launched since FY2002 (COLT, LANCER CARGO, GRANDIS etc.) have all been certified as ultra low emission vehicles (U-LEVs). Approximately 80% of Mitsubishi-made gasoline vehicles sold in FY2002 (excepting those made by MFTBC) were LEVs. And also, MITSUBISHI MOTORS has a target of at least 80% of domestically registered vehicle sales in FY2003 to be Green Purchasing Law compliant. The rate in FY2002 is 53%.st 80% of domestically registered vehicle sales in FY2003 to be Green Purchasing Law compliant. The rate in FY2002 is 53%.

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