Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, I EV Production Halted Due to Battery Issues
Mitsubishi has halted production on its Outlander Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle and i electric car models after a lithium-ion battery melted at a dealership and another caught fire in an assembly plant.
Sales of both vehicles have also been suspended in Japan, but not in other markets while the Japanese automaker determines whether the battery problems affect vehicles outside of its home country. The Outlander PHEV is currently only sold in Japan, but other markets will continue to sell the i electric cars for the meantime. The automaker did say that the battery issue will not cause a delay on the Outlander PHEV’s arrival to America next year.
Production will hopefully resume in the next few weeks once Mitsubishi determines the cause of the issue. The batteries were supplied by Lithium Energy Japan and currently Mitsubishi suspects that the problem stems from defects in the batteries’ manufacturing. Another possibility is foreign material contaminating the battery packs.
In the meantime, the automaker is recommending that owners refrain from recharging their vehicles through the plug.
[Source: Automotive News]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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