The First 1000 Miles of Driving the MINI E Electric Car

By Lyle Dennis, Editor-in-Chief, July 7th, 2009 Lyle Dennis July 7th, 2009

MINI E in Public Parking Lot

The odometer on my MINI E all electric prototype car just passed the 1000 mile mark. For over three weeks I have driven the car nearly exclusively on my daily commute, through mostly highway but ample city and suburban requirements. Through blazing heat and a lot of pouring rain. More than a test drive, this has really been a true experience of living with an electric car. And I have to say, not surprisingly, I love it.

The two seater has been extremely reliable, always powering right up with a chime and a push of the button. I have been limited by the lack of a 240V charging cord, but recently was told the UL certification has come and mine will be installed in a few days. Using the 110 V charger, I have found my rate of charge to be about 3.5% per hour; 100% charge is roughly correlated to 100 miles of range. That's what the interface (and BMW) tell you but in my experience, real world miles are less.

Electric propulsion is indeed very compelling. The accelerator is tight and instantly responsive at all velocities, continuously tempting me to deliver surges of electric speed. That temptation coupled with my 26 mile primarily highway one way drive and use of air-conditioning, my real-world range is closer to 70 miles on a full charge.

I have had to become very resourceful about charging the car, and have had a few battles with range anxiety.

Whenever I enter a workplace parking garage for a few hours, I begin my search for an outlet. I have discovered most above and underground parking lots do have electricity and I've managed to find the rare and sparsely placed outlets in every place I've needed to go, picking up a few miles of charge. Technically, I suppose it is theft of electricity. Fortunately the lots are at the hospitals where I work, so I don't think anyone would mind. At my office I had my management company install my own 110V outlet at my parking space and they knowingly let me have electricity for free...just try that at a gas station!

MINI E in Public Parking LotEnlarge Photo The odometer on my MINI E all electric prototype car just passed the 1000 mile mark. For over three weeks I have driven the car nearly exclusively on my daily commute, through mostly highway but ample city and suburban requirements. Through blazing heat and a lot of pouring rain. More than a test drive, this has really been a true experience of living with an electric car. And I have to say, not surprisingly, I love it. The two seater has been extremely reliable, always powering right up with a chime and a push of the button. I have been limited by the lack of a 240V charging cord, but recently was told the UL certification has come and mine will be installed in a few days. Using the 110 V charger, I have found my rate of charge to be about 3.5% per hour; 100% charge is roughly correlated to 100 miles of range. That's what the interface (and BMW) tell you but in my experience, real world miles are less. Electric propulsion is indeed very compelling. The accelerator is tight and instantly responsive at all velocities, continuously tempting me to deliver surges of electric speed. That temptation coupled with my 26 mile primarily highway one way drive and use of air-conditioning, my real-world range is closer to 70 miles on a full charge. I have had to become very resourceful about charging the car, and have had a few battles with range anxiety. Whenever I enter a workplace parking garage for a few hours, I begin my search for an outlet. I have discovered most above and underground parking lots do have electricity and I've managed to find the rare and sparsely placed outlets in every place I've needed to go, picking up a few miles of charge. Technically, I suppose it is theft of electricity. Fortunately the lots are at the hospitals where I work, so I don't think anyone would mind. At my office I had my management company install my own 110V outlet at my parking space and they knowingly let me have electricity for free...just try that at a gas station!

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By Matt #1, Posted: 7/7/2009

Geez, it takes a whole day to recharge the car to go 70 miles and you have been reduced to stealing electricity! Current battery technology isn't even close to ready for prime time, at least not in this mini. Here's to hoping there is a significant battery breakthrough that goes well beyond the energy density of even the most advanced current lithium tech. A car needs to go 350-500 miles on a charge and be able to be recharged in 30 mins or less to be viable alternative to a gasoline vehicle
By Eric #2, Posted: 7/7/2009

Sounds interesting, but public charging stations are certainly needed before these cars go primetime. I could not live with wondering if I can make it home. What if an unexpected traffic jam popped up in 100 degree weather and no A/C? You need to have the option to pull off the highway and charge it up or its a risk that most drivers aren't willing to take.
By EVO #3, Posted: 7/7/2009

Please make an effort to contact the hospitals and get their permission. Most likely the answer will be a quick yes.
I never make a new request when I absolutely need to charge up, always when I have the option to go to a place I've previously charged with permission. When I'm told no by a business I smile sweetly, say thanks anyway and gently let them know I only do my spending at businesses that allow me to recharge (for a reasonable fee, if they wish) at them while I'm shopping.
By Somazx #4, Posted: 7/7/2009

I've had range anxiety as a motorcyclist using gasoline, and in cars on long trips through the BC rockies. I'd imagine your battery has some "reserve", right? Obviously there needs to be proper infrastructure for charging in place. Promising electric car strategies include battery swapping at stations which would address range limits. Many of us use cars for well under 100 mile commutes each day; if just those people had the option to drive electric cars, it would be a great step forward.
By Eric #5, Posted: 7/7/2009

If just the people who drive well under 100 mile commutes daily adopted EVs, that would leave a lot of the population out. What about road trips and vacation? Without a charging infrastructure making an EV your only car needed, an EV is no more than a second car at a time when people can barely afford one car.
By Somazx #6, Posted: 7/7/2009

@Eric - sure it leaves people out, that doesn't matter. We don't need a silver bullet solution; or the problem will never be solved. We only need a solution that takes a significant step in the right direction. Once you have ~15% of the population on electric everything else will begin to fall into place. We'll get economies of scale, there will be advances in battery technology, etc. In the interim, for occasional longer trips people can rent gas cars or use the 2nd car.
By Anybody #7, Posted: 7/8/2009

This whole range thing is sooo overrated. Even if you only have one car, chances are good that you have good friends / relatives living nearby who will lend you their car if you really want to go on a long trip. Also, most long range trips suck - get on a frakking plane!
That being said, I wouldn't mind if the Mini E had a Tesla-like range of 240 miles instead of the 100 mile range that the EV1 had back in the last century :-)
By Randy C. #8, Posted: 7/8/2009

You have to remember that Lyle's commute is not average. He drives over twice the distance of the average American. This report also points out that there is a lack of infrastructure for EV's. He also points out how easy it is to add EV infrastructure. Can you think of a building built in the last 50 years that was NEVER intended to have any kind of electricity?
By Randy C. #9, Posted: 7/8/2009

His beloved Chevy Volt will have the same accelerator spunk. The question is, will the Volt be such a good idea? All it will do for Lyle is cut his gas consumption on half. With a 40 mile pack access to a charger WILL BE REQUIRED at each end of the commute with 50% of the charging happening during the daytime to eliminate gas usage.
By locoyocal #10, Posted: 7/8/2009

Matt, 200 mile range should be easily done with carbon-composit cars. Not very expensive at all.
By ONeil #11, Posted: 7/8/2009

For those that can't live closer to work or regularly travel more than 100 miles, get a PHEV like the chevy Volt. How many cars have you heard of that start the day with a full gas tank?
By LizR #12, Posted: 7/8/2009

First, you need to get a permit before you install that 220V charger. Please check with your city's planning department!
Second, the idea of electric vehicles is to charge at night, off peak. Not steal electricity during the day.
Third, you need to have safety cones or a mat over that cord. It's a serious tripping hazard and you are setting yourself and the garage up for a lawsuit.
By Eric #13, Posted: 7/8/2009

Lyle's commute is slightly longer than average, but very close to averag for New york City. The problem is not whether or not you can swing by a friends house or relatives and charge it, it's how many people would be willing to go through that inconvenience. Americans in general will not put up with an inconvenience like that. finally, my place of employment would require that I run some 200 feet of extension cord to my car, how could I safely and feasibly do that?
By CM #14, Posted: 7/8/2009

90% of drivers have a typical average daily commute of under 100 miles, that doesn't present much of a limitation. For the 10% that does have a very long daily commute, other options like hybrids and PHEVs are a better choice.
EVs and EV charging infrastructure is not quite ready to easily handle long trips, but that will be changing with the improved batteries for longer range and the increasing popularity of plug-ins pushing the installation of ever more charging outlets.
By blakem #15, Posted: 7/8/2009

Sounds like there is a world of difference between a 70 mile and 100 mile range, at least for Lyle. Based on this post, I would argue that the real key is infrastructure. An available outlet at work and a few 240V or 480V dedicated charging parking spots around the city would drastically improve your EV experience.
By jake #16, Posted: 7/8/2009

@Eric
As others mentioned, once EVs reach mainstream (basically seen everywhere like hybrids and not regarded as unusual), things will fall into place. You will see businesses installing charging ports and paid/faster charging stations springing up. That's what happened in California before they killed the program.
By McKemie #17, Posted: 7/9/2009

We regularly do 60 mile round trip commutes in our 100 mile range EV. We DID have range anxiety until we became accustomed to the car and developed some confidence in it. But the anxiety is/was needless. The car might go 150 miles if carefully driven. See the URL associated with my name for a description of the car.
By Keith #18, Posted: 7/13/2009

Have we forgotten the history of gas cars? These cars started slow, heavy, very polluting and unsafe. As more and more people adopted the gas car, things improved. Electric cars will do the same. People are trying to stop this technology. Thinking differently on the use of these cars is the key. Gas station only is now, but later we can charge-up at home, work, rest stops, etc. Being open to new ideas and different ways of paying to use the electricity is the answer. New ideas are needed.
By Brian #19, Posted: 7/15/2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPi8EhT_fYA
By Hugh #20, Posted: 7/22/2009

In Europe 220V is standard, but 40A is high anywhere.
For the long trip you want a trunk to carry stuff; add a tiny diesel generator to your trailer with 2-3cuft of fuel and you've probably got 600-1000 mile range
By confuseatron #21, Posted: 9/4/2009

Seeing the pictures, I realize I've been driving next to you for a couple of weeks now, and I work in the same block that got the blown transformer. Coming in the next morning and finding out the power was still out was interesting and must have been a little stressful if you were depending on that extra 110v top off during the day.
Other EVs have toyed with the idea of a generator trailer for long trips and emergencies, and I'm wondering if it will ever be acceptable. I know for a lot of people they want an EV to completely avoid fossil fuels or even combustion, but it makes sense for some trips. I'd rather rent a generator trailer from uhaul to move than a truck and a auto trailer.
By Vacation -Taylor #22, Posted: 9/11/2009

wow, great electric cars are now the talk of the town. recently they were talking about biodiesels. this would probably the best solution to our economy.
great piece of information.