Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) subsidiary Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state of Oregon and a Letter of Intent (LoI) with power company Portland General Electric regarding testing of the zero-emissions i MiEV [1] electric vehicle.

"Oregon welcomes the partnership with Mitsubishi as we transition to the next generation in vehicle technology. Together, we can build a consistent and reliable infrastructure so consumers can make the switch seamlessly to electric vehicles," Governor Ted Kulongoski said. "The partnership shows that a state can create opportunity for its commitment to a greener future - wins for our economy and our environment."

"We are developing a model charging station infrastructure across our service territory to advance the electric vehicle market in Oregon for our customers," said Jim Piro, president and CEO, PGE. "Our customers are number one in the nation in purchasing renewable power so clearly they are committed to sustainability. We expect Oregon to be one of the top markets for next generation electric vehicles. We look forward to partnering with Mitsubishi and the state of Oregon on this important project."