Japan will once again prove they’re the leader in technological advancements with the launching of eight new green cars by March 2016. Japanese automotive giant Mitsubishi Motors is slated to unveil eight more environmentally friendly cars, in addition to the i-MiEV, which was launched in 2009. A groundbreaking invention, the i-MiEV was the world’s first commercially produced electric vehicle and set the standard among other automotive companies who strived to equal or surpass Mitsubishi’s achievement. This time, their line-up will be a combination of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. Around 2012, the company plans to launch its first plug-in gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles. Mitsubishi revealed it will start the new line-up with a mini commercial vehicle, the Minicab MiEV.

The little sister of the globally successful i-MiEV, it is reported that the minicab will be powered by Toshiba’s SCIB battery. Another technological giant, Toshiba will be in partnership with Mitsubishi to develop and produce a fast-charging, long lasting battery that will support the plug-in vehicles. Pretty soon, other automotive companies would catch up with this technology and we’d soon find ourselves in a battery-operated world. But with the rising gasoline prices, the world would certainly welcome these battery-charged babies. Besides, the electric cars just might be the solution to our long-waged battle against global warming and the greenhouse effect. It was also reported that the SCIB lithium-ion rechargeable battery was particularly chosen for its low cost, extended life and fast-charge ability. A fully charged Minicab MiEV will be able to cover 100 km or 62 miles like the i-MiEV.

Mitsubishi plans to market the Minicab with a price tag that would cost around 2 million yen or less, or an estimated price of US $24, 210. Billionaires, tycoons, magnates and celebrities would definitely be lining up for this vehicle. The company has high hopes that the green cars and new business strategies will double their operating profit to 90 billion yen, and triple their net profit to 45 billion yen by 2014.

People suddenly shifted from power to fuel economy when it comes to cars for the last couple of years. That’s because the constant rise in fuel prices has started to affect everyone’s budget all over the world. Because of that, almost all big-named players out there have created their own version of electric or hybrid cars that stretch a gallon of fuel to several miles. It’s no longer new when you see these extremely cars roaming around the city streets these days.

Meanwhile, Mitsubishi just released a rather cute-looking car that can save you thousands of money when it comes to gas. In fact, you don’t need gas at all to operate it, because it’s an electric car. The ImiEV may look like a toy, but it’s a serious player when you talk about its MPG rating. The ImiEV is an electric car that may be the answer to your gas woes that have been plaguing for forever. The ImiEV may look like some mini-cars out there, although its decisive advantage is its plug-in electric power that very few out there can match.

Though the ImiEV may look small for American standards, most owners these days prefer these road Lilliputians, instead of their more traditional, Goliath counterparts. The ImiEV is an impressive ride that is fast, nimble, and surprisingly spacious. In fact, four adults can fit inside it without feeling claustrophobic at all. It may seem pretty awkward driving it as fast but make no mistake about it, because it’s made with the best technology out there.

Power-wise, there’s not much you can get from this car, which can only generate 64-horsepower. However, the ImiEV isn’t built to compete against the Ford 250, so there’s no point in expecting it to jack up on torque power at all. The good news is, the ImiEV is small enough to weave through traffic that the city throws at you everyday. Why need so much power when all you want to do is get to the office on time, right?

Basically, the ImiEV has a 16-kwh lithium-ion battery that can bring you to as far as 70 miles. That maybe not much, but remember it’s a battery-powered car that does not release any kind of emission, which is hazardous to the environment. On the other hand, all you need to do to get the ImiEV going is to plug it in any 110-volt outlet and recharge it for 12 hours. If you don’t have a 110-volt, then plugging it in a 220-volt outlet will cut your time in six hours.

The ImiEV will be out next year and a lot of people are raving about its efficiency when it comes to fuel and price. That’s because the ImiEV costs only 30,000 USD and its battery can last for 10 years with very little maintenance required. Although the electric car is still far from attaining the status of the hybrid, it’s a solid alternative when oil becomes really scarce in the coming years.