Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC), with the cooperation of Fukuejima Island in Goto City, Nagasaki Prefecture, and the Kyoto College of Fine Arts, put on the “i-MiEV Nebuta Project” on October 16, 2011 as a project involving industry, government and academia. The Project featured huge nebuta¹ which were internally illuminated using power supplied by the company’s i-MiEV next-generation electric vehicle (EV) model using a prototype 1500 watt power feeder. A documentary-style film of the event is viewable on YouTube as one of EV sales promotion.

The “Doris” nebuta and its i-MiEV power source. Doris is a giant sea slug

     In making the nebuta, MMC sought the help of the world-renowned modern artist Noboru Tsubaki, a lecturer at the Kyoto College of Fine Arts. Mr. Tsubaki used cutting-edge interactive technologies in the nebuta so that they responded to the human voice or a clap of the hands by changing color or by changing the image on their display panel. The i-MiEV was also used to power an image projector, and to illuminate art objects modeled on the haneto dancers who are unique to nebuta festivals. Thanks to the project, the Fukue Town shopping mall, where the festival was staged, was bathed in a moving sea of richly diverse colors and everyone who attended had a wonderful time as they squealed with delight at the new-look nebuta.
     MMC is now working on putting into practical use the 1500 watt power feeder to provide electric power to outside units, as it did in this case to the nebuta. It is also proceeding on research into the possible use of EVs in the Energy Management System (EMS)² for optimizing energy consumption in homes and businesses, demonstrating a new role for EV technology beyond automobiles and into everyday life.
■ http://www.youtube.com/user/MitsubishiMotorsTV
 
Note 1: Original nebuta are large paper lanterns traditionally taking the form of Japanese fans, puppets or animals. They are illuminated from inside and carried on floats in a riotous procession.
 
Note 2 : The EMS enables the electricity stored in the power feeder to be used at times of high electrical demand and the charging of EVs during periods of low demand, thereby making possible effective electric management and the reduction of consumption during peak hours.
 
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