An electric vehicle buyer would be recompensed around $10,000 if the Federal Government accepts a subsidy scheme proposed by Mitsubishi Australia.

But whether the scheme is accepted or rejected by the Rudd Labor government, Mitsubishi will press ahead with its plan to be the first major brand to sell an EV in Australia, planning to launch the plug-in i-Miev in 2010.

Mitsubishi Motors Australia president Rob McEniry said "it would be an absolute shame" if government did not accept the scheme, which will be formally presented early in 2010.

"If it means the customer has to pay more and we have less cars in Australia then so be it, but we will bring the car in."

The i-Miev is already on limited sale in Japan, is homologated for sale in Australia and has been demonstrated here previously.

Mitsubishi has put the cost of the plug-in i-Miev at AUS$70,000, an exorbitant price for a five-door mini-car, but reflective of the cost of its expensive lithium-ion battery pack.

It intends to lease the car to selected customers if and when it arrives, probably early in the second half of 2010 at a rate of no more than five to 10 cars per month.

If the subsidy scheme is accepted, the lease cost would be reduced: "From the economics or cost point of view of the customer a lease will be very viable," McEniry said. "It will be just like the cost of leasing a normal car, or a slight penalty.

Mitsubishi is in the process of developing its subsidy scheme, using both an in-house 'i-Miev' team and external consultants. A basis for its proposal is the level of support other governments have offered for EVs.

It is operating in parallel with a green working group established earlier this by the automotive industry's peak representative body, the FCAI.

McEniry argued that the cost of an EV subsidy scheme would be small because only a few hundred will be imported over the next few years: "So we are not talking big money but we are making a big statement on new technology."

So far, the Australian government has shown no inclination to support the sale of imported green vehicles, preferring to invest in the local industry via the Green Car Fund.

"I commend and support the Green Car Fund, but I think they need to do something on the consumer side for these new technologies that aren't gong to be built here in the foreseeable future," McEniry said.

"And if there is an opportunity to build them here then we better create the market to make building them here a viable proposition, otherwise why you going to do it?"