(November 30, 2012) LOS ANGELES — Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is supporting the University of Southern California and the 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.

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 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.