Mitsubishi i-MiEVs aren’t being produced anymore, so any replacement battery packs you do find will likely be used—you can expect them to cost you about $4,500.

The 2012 Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle or the MiEV came out at a time when the EV segment was going through a little bit of a renaissance. At a cheaper price point than peers like the Prius and Leaf, the MiEV is a great option for those early adopters brave enough to make the switch to

electric cars

Ten years later, and chances are you’ve noticed dips in performance, especially when it comes to the main drive lithium-ion battery. This is a fairly normal development and you do have some options when it comes to what you need to do. Here's a quick guide on how you can go about replacing the battery.

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How much does it cost to replace a 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV battery?

The i-MiEV hasn’t been produced in a few year, with 2017 being the last model year available in the US. You’ll be hard-pressed to find manufacturers who’re putting out new battery packs, so it’s very hard to pin down the price. You can expect to pay roughly $4,500 for an i-MiEV battery pack that can fit into a 2012 vehicle.

The 2012 i-MiEV has a peak storage of 16kWh with a 49-kilowatt electric motor that can reach up to 66 horsepower. The EPA estimates that you can make up to 62 miles (100 km) per charge, though this will change based on real-world conditions and, as you probably know if you’re looking for a replacement, the age of the battery.

The

manufacturer’s warranty

won’t help you out either. Mitsubishi’s policy is very standard—you’d have been covered for eight years of 100,000 miles, whichever came first for repairs on your main drive battery if caused by defects in material or workmanship. But this won’t cover gradual capacity loss based on usage and time

Car insurance

will not be much help in this department. Regular repairs are usually not covered by the typical policy, which focuses more on events such as collisions or storm damage. You should note that the current MSRP for an i-MiEV is almost $12,000. With the cost of a battery pack—which may not even be brand new—coming in at slightly over a third of this price, another option may also be to just invest in a new EV.

If you’re not willing to pay for a brand-new car, there’s no reason to believe that replacing the battery won’t keep your i-MiEV running for the foreseeable future.

Can you put a new battery in a Mitsubishi i-MiEV?

Unlike other industry players such as the

Nissan Leaf

, Mitsubishi discontinued the i-MiEV in North America in 2017. This likely means that brand-new battery packs will be hard to come by.

Despite these options, the price tag is a bit more than

normal maintenance

at approximately $4,500, and that’s for a used battery pack. Labor is likely to raise the price tag even more, and there’s always the chance your

local repair center

won’t be able to find these parts readily available. In situations like these, a new vehicle may be the right move.

If these risks are acceptable to you, then by all means, replace your battery. You’ll save the hassle of buying an entirely new car and you’ll still be able to practice your environment-saving habits on the road.

While this kind of battery swap is possible, it’s not going to be cost-effective in most cases. It’s true that the batteries in newer Leaf models are priced better per kWh—$137/kWh for a 2020 40 kWh pack vs. $187/kWh for the 2011 battery—the overall costs are higher.

Mitsubishi i-MiEV battery capacity and range

Curious about how your 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV battery compares to later models? It’s quite straightforward, all model years since 2012 have had the same battery capacity, with the range changing only marginally. The fuel efficiency on these cars is very good, though.

Model years	Battery capacity	Driving range
2012	16 kWh	62 miles
2014	16 kWh	62 miles
2016	16 kWh	62 miles
2017	16 kWh	59 miles

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How long does a 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV battery last?

This is also a bit hard to pin down accurately, as a lot of factors affect your battery capacity and exactly how long you can expect to use your electric vehicle. Since the i-MiEV is powered by a lithium-ion battery, you can expect it to degrade and decrease over time.

Mitsubishi Motors estimates that after five years, the capacity of the main drive lithium-ion battery will be at 80% of the original capacity. After 10 years, the capacity should be approximately 70% of the original capacity. Again, this will likely change depending on how you use your vehicle.

A few ways to extend the lifespan of your 2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV battery (or battery replacement) include:

Avoid repeated quick charging: there are two ways to charge your i-MiEV—quick charging and regular charging. Repeatedly performing quick charging can reduce capacity and regular charging is recommended unless necessary.

Energy levels: leaving your vehicle with the energy level gauge showing 0 bars can cause damage to the main drive battery.

Don’t shoot for 100%. To ration charge cycles, charging your EV to just 80% can actually help save capacity for the future. In fact, quick charging by default stops when the battery reaches 80%.

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