The Electric Car That Deserved a Second Life
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The Electric Car That Deserved a Second Life
Why the Mitsubishi i-MiEV attracted the attention of Robert Llewellyn and Fully Charged.
When Robert Llewellyn revisited the Mitsubishi i-MiEV for Fully Charged in February 2024, it was a reunion with one of the pioneering production electric vehicles he had driven back in 2009.
But the Australian i-MiEV he encountered demonstrated something considerably more interesting than automotive nostalgia: what independent battery engineering can achieve with an ageing EV.
Originally equipped with a 16 kWh battery, the i-MiEV was an important early step in bringing electric transport to everyday motorists. As these vehicles aged, declining battery capacity and limited original range presented owners with an increasingly difficult question: replace the battery, replace the car or abandon electric motoring altogether.
Oz Electric Vehicles developed another option.
Engineering Beyond Factory Specifications
Graeme Manietta and Oz Electric Vehicles developed a 30 kWh replacement battery solution for the i-MiEV, with a published estimated range of approximately 230–250 km, depending on operating conditions.
Achieving this involves more than increasing battery capacity. The replacement system must integrate with the original vehicle architecture, including battery management, electronic communication, charging requirements and protective systems.
The result demonstrates an important opportunity in electric transport: existing vehicles can sometimes benefit substantially from technology developed years after they first left the factory.
Why This Story Matters
Robert's Fully Charged coverage brought international attention to the possibilities of modernising early-generation electric vehicles rather than automatically retiring them to the 'crusher'.
For Oz Electric Vehicles, the i-MiEV represents part of a much larger engineering direction involving battery upgrades, EV conversions, diagnostics and independent system integration across multiple vehicle platforms.
As Australia's original EV fleet continues to age, the question of repairability and technological longevity deserves considerably more attention.
Manufacturing the next generation of electric cars is progress. Giving the previous generation a productive future is engineering worth developing.
Watch the original Fully Charged episode:
Robert Llewellyn's First Electric Car Is Reborn!
Graeme Manietta, Founder, Oz Electric Vehicles
EV Builder • Battery Specialist • Conversion Engineer • EV Troubleshooter
Over two decades working hands-on with electric vehicle technology.
Battery Upgrades • Diagnostics • BMS/BCU Integration • EV Conversions • Specialist EV Engineering