Do you have any info where Mitsubishi says the iMiEV motor was originally used in a forklift? That would surprise me, since the way a car and a forklift use their motor is so very different. I would have assumed the motor in our car was specifically designed just for it
As to electric motors being capable of 2X or 3X more than their continuous ratings - That's certainly true for series or shunt wound DC motors, because the armature is powered so the amount of instantaneous power is only limited by how much current you throw at it - Double or triple the current to the field and the armature power increases proportionally, so everything stays in balance. DC motors can do some awesome 1/4 mile times at the drag strip
AC synchronous motors like the one in our iMiEV completely different animals though. The rotor is unpowered, so applying more current to the field doesn't necessarily get you much more power - Nothing like the 2X or 3X that DC motors can do. Synchronous power is limited by the strength of the rotor's rare earth magnet. You cannot apply more power to the field than the rotor can oppose, so there is a definite limit to the power available. Also, since the field and the motor housing is water cooled, the maximum power and the continuous power ratings are not far apart. Our motor is rated at 49Kw (66 HP) and it wouldn't surprise me if it couldn't do that continuously . . . . for as long as the battery holds out. They ran a stock iMiEV up Pikes Peak pretty much flat out for 15 minutes and it didn't overheat the motor
http://www.roadandtrack.com/racing/race-car-drivers/beccy-gordon-to-race-mitsubish-i-miev-pikes-peak-2012-37887
https://www.facebook.com/notes/mitsubishi-motors-malaysia-official/second-milestone-for-mitsubishi-motors-at-the-2012-pikes-peak-international-hill/394123580648944
Don