| Mitsubishi ESR | |
| Length: | 4530mm |
| Width: | 1720mm |
| Height: | 1580mm |
The Mitsubishi ESR (Ecological Science Research) is a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) concept exhibited by Mitsubishi Motors at the 30th Tokyo Motor Show in 1993.[1] It was designed to demonstrate the company's technological developments in alternative energy,[2] and used a 70 kW AC induction motor to drive the front wheels. 28 alkaline batteries housed under the passenger compartment, and a rear-mounted 1.5-litre gasoline engine powered an onboard electrical generator system.[1] It also recycled its own kinetic energy, and absorbed solar power through roof-mounted cells.[2]
The car was estimated to have a range of on hybrid power at a constant, or 310miles using only the batteries. A Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver could automatically switch the vehicle from hybrid to battery-only operation when entering an urban area.[3] Mitsubishi claimed a maximum speed of, thanks in part to a drag coefficient of 0.25.[4]