LOS ANGELES, Nov. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is supporting the University of Southern California (USC) and the renowned institution's Viterbi School of Engineering as it develops a special campus-wide Smart Grid "Living Laboratory" project including the use of Mitsubishi i-MiEV 100% electric vehicles.

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The Mitsubishi Motors/USC Electric Vehicle Smart Grid Demonstration Project will work to further develop and improve virtually all phases of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure to accommodate widespread EV usage in the future.

This unique USC Smart Grid Living Laboratory program, developed by the USC Energy Institute, will simulate a city with a population between 50,000 to 60,000 citizens, tourists, visitors and two hospitals as they document their experiences operating a fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) under a wide range of conditions and simulations over a period of two years. 

"Mitsubishi Motors is proud to offer our support to the USC Smart Grid Living Laboratory program," said Yoichi Yokozawa, President & CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America. "This project will help cities of all sizes develop a very cost-effective electric vehicle infrastructure game plan for drivers of 100% electric-powered vehicles including the Mitsubishi i-MiEV." 

Mitsubishi Motors will be providing a total of twelve (12) Mitsubishi i-MiEV vehicles, several Level 2 EVSE charging systems to the Smart Grid program, and will consult with the University throughout the course of the research program and share a wealth of information based upon the company's industry-leading know-how in the area of 100% electric-powered vehicles.

"We are excited to build a partnership with Mitsubishi Motors in the area of electric vehicle integration into the Smart Grid that demonstrates that USC and Mitsubishi Motors are serious about the future of electric vehicles," said Dr. Yannis Yortsos, Dean of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. "This is a substantial electric vehicle fleet that will not only provide a useful pool of data for technical and behavioral research projects but will also have a highly visible impact on the USC community due to interaction with students, faculty, staff, alumni and the surrounding neighborhood."

Mitsubishi has been researching, designing and developing 100% electric-powered vehicles for more than 40 years and was the first major automobile manufacturer to successfully launch a 100% electric-powered vehicle for sale to the public. More than 30,000 Mitsubishi i-MiEV and i-MiEV-based vehicles are on the road around the world today.

Conducted in coordination with the Smart Grid Regional Demonstration Project of the U.S. Department of Energy under contract to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, many elements of the University of Southern California (including several academic departments, the USC Department of Transportation; the Department of Public Safety; Facilities Management Services; and the Department of Athletics) will work with the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and the USC Energy Institute to collect and analyze data under various operating scenarios with the goal of better integrating 100% electric-powered vehicles like the Mitsubishi i-MiEV into society as well as successfully scaling up the outcomes of the Mitsubishi/USC project to larger cities.

About Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) is responsible for all manufacturing, sales, marketing, research and development operations for Mitsubishi Motors in the United States. MMNA sells coupes, sedans and sport utility vehicles through a network of approximately 400 dealers. In November of 2011, MMNA launched the battery-powered electric vehicle Mitsubishi i-MiEV as part of a corporate mission to offer consumers more environmentally responsible modes of transportation. This battery-powered electric vehicle technology addresses the need for vehicles that produce zero tailpipe emissions and support a growing agenda for sustainability. For more information, contact the Mitsubishi Motors News Bureau at (888) 560-6672 or visit media.mitsubishicars.com.

About the USC Viterbi School

Engineering studies began at the University of Southern California in 1905. Nearly a century later, the Viterbi School of Engineering received a naming gift in 2004 by alumnus Andrew J. Viterbi, inventor of the Viterbi algorithm now key to cell phone technology and numerous data applications. Consistently ranked among the top graduate programs in the world, the school enrolls more than 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students, taught by 172 tenured and tenure-track faculty, with 50 endowed chairs and professorships. http://viterbi.usc.edu.

SOURCE Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.