Mini E
Posted on | November 13, 2009 | Comments Off
Here is a link to the Wired Magazine’s website in regards to the test of the MINI E rollout in the US. http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/11/mini-e-field-test/
It’s quite interesting to read about all the challenges that electric vehicles are facing to become more dominant in the auto industry. When I heard about the MINI E looking for drivers to lease the vehicle for a year, I made the husband (TH) sign up since I had my own mini cooper at the time. I thought we could be mini buddies! He actually received an offer from our local MINI dealership to participate in the test drive program, but the steep price of over $800 a month to lease, along with the installations it required to house the vehicle was a huge deterrent. Despite the great distance the car can cover on one charge, there are many hindrances at this point in time, and a lot of sacrifice it sounds like BMW had to make to accommodate. For instance, there is no backseat because that area houses the 573 pound battery. The car goes from 0 – 62 mph in about 8.2 seconds, which is slow compared to what a traditional MINI can do. Despite its flaws I think BMW is on the right track to try and expand the electric vehicles market to more consumers. They also have created a hydrogen hybrid luxury car which can operate off of both gasoline and liquid hydrogen. Here’s a link to their site for more information: http://www.bmw.com/com/en/insights/technology/efficient_dynamics/phase_2/introduction.html
TH actually had an opportunity to see the car in the flesh, or in the metal, when BMW visited his workplace a few months ago. Here are some pictures that he took of the MINI E which was also on display.
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