PORTLAND, OR --- In celebration of Earth Day, Oregonians last week received a sneak peek at Mitsubishi's four-passenger, all-electric car -- the i MiEV (Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle) -- when Mitsubishi brought the vehicle to Portland for a two-day visit. 

The event was part of Mitsubishi's zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) partnership with the state of Oregon and Portland General Electric (PGE). Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski and Jim Piro, president and CEO of PGE, welcomed John Koenig, executive vice president of Mitsubishi Motors North America, to the city for the sneak peek.   

After the press conference, Gov. Kulongoski took his first test drive of the all-electric vehicle from PGE's headquarters at the World Trade Center. 

Powered by an advanced lithium-ion battery, the Mitsubishi i MiEV will be one of the first of the new generation of lithium-ion-powered electric vehicles to be developed by a major automobile manufacturer that will be available to the public. Mitsubishi plans to deliver its i MiEV to Oregon for fleet testing in late 2009. 

PGE continues to partner with Oregon businesses and governments to roll out its network of charging stations to support these next-generation electric vehicles and plug-in electric vehicles. 

Mitsubishi Motors North America is expanding its EV testing program, which began late last year with partnerships with Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas and Electric.