Comments on: Electric MINI Test Drive http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/04/18/electric-mini-test-drive/ MotoringFile | MINI news, reviews and opinion. MINI Cooper, Cooper S, Clubman, Countryman Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:14:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Greg W http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/04/18/electric-mini-test-drive/comment-page-1/#comment-112869 Greg W Thu, 19 Apr 2007 01:34:54 +0000 http://motoringfile.com/2007/04/18/electric-mini-test-drive/#comment-112869 <p>Wait...thers more. Honda Civic offer a electric hybrid car as well as other Jap makes, usually they are more expensive (nullifying the cost of fuel savings) and when the battery goes phut new batteries are very expensive items to replace. Like anything green or organic, it comes with an increase in the price tag. See what Al Gore started?</p> Wait…thers more. Honda Civic offer a electric hybrid car as well as other Jap makes, usually they are more expensive (nullifying the cost of fuel savings) and when the battery goes phut new batteries are very expensive items to replace. Like anything green or organic, it comes with an increase in the price tag. See what Al Gore started?

]]> By: lavardera http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/04/18/electric-mini-test-drive/comment-page-1/#comment-112851 lavardera Wed, 18 Apr 2007 23:22:59 +0000 http://motoringfile.com/2007/04/18/electric-mini-test-drive/#comment-112851 <p>Well if they were starting with a Cooper minus the engine, fuel tank, and other expenses that they have to strip and ditch, that could take 5k or so out of the cost right there. But that would require cooperation from the mother ship.</p> Well if they were starting with a Cooper minus the engine, fuel tank, and other expenses that they have to strip and ditch, that could take 5k or so out of the cost right there. But that would require cooperation from the mother ship.

]]> By: Jon http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/04/18/electric-mini-test-drive/comment-page-1/#comment-112836 Jon Wed, 18 Apr 2007 20:50:52 +0000 http://motoringfile.com/2007/04/18/electric-mini-test-drive/#comment-112836 <p>Glad to see another electric car on the market, huge mini fan so this is great to see. I must admit that I have long adored the Tesla roadster.</p> Glad to see another electric car on the market, huge mini fan so this is great to see. I must admit that I have long adored the Tesla roadster.

]]> By: DB http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/04/18/electric-mini-test-drive/comment-page-1/#comment-112825 DB Wed, 18 Apr 2007 19:45:05 +0000 http://motoringfile.com/2007/04/18/electric-mini-test-drive/#comment-112825 <blockquote> <p>But if they are ripping out the whole power train, why did they spend the extra money on an MCS?</p> </blockquote> <p>I was going to say maybe for the 6-speed, but this car is an auto. Maybe they couldn't get it to work with the CVT that was available on the R50.</p>

But if they are ripping out the whole power train, why did they spend the extra money on an MCS?

I was going to say maybe for the 6-speed, but this car is an auto. Maybe they couldn’t get it to work with the CVT that was available on the R50.

]]> By: b4mmy http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/04/18/electric-mini-test-drive/comment-page-1/#comment-112824 b4mmy Wed, 18 Apr 2007 19:41:49 +0000 http://motoringfile.com/2007/04/18/electric-mini-test-drive/#comment-112824 <p>Brilliant. With exchange rates UK/US the way they are at the moment I could drive one of these for less than the cost of the standard S I got in December :)</p> Brilliant. With exchange rates UK/US the way they are at the moment I could drive one of these for less than the cost of the standard S I got in December :)

]]> By: MauiMac http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/04/18/electric-mini-test-drive/comment-page-1/#comment-112822 MauiMac Wed, 18 Apr 2007 19:15:38 +0000 http://motoringfile.com/2007/04/18/electric-mini-test-drive/#comment-112822 <p>0-60 time?</p> 0-60 time?

]]> By: Josh Wardell http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/04/18/electric-mini-test-drive/comment-page-1/#comment-112821 Josh Wardell Wed, 18 Apr 2007 19:14:23 +0000 http://motoringfile.com/2007/04/18/electric-mini-test-drive/#comment-112821 <p>Very cool. But if they are ripping out the whole power train, why did they spend the extra money on an MCS?</p> Very cool. But if they are ripping out the whole power train, why did they spend the extra money on an MCS?

]]> By: DB http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/04/18/electric-mini-test-drive/comment-page-1/#comment-112819 DB Wed, 18 Apr 2007 19:03:16 +0000 http://motoringfile.com/2007/04/18/electric-mini-test-drive/#comment-112819 <blockquote> <p>According to Edmunds True Cost to Own, a standard Cooper will take over 18 years to pay off that initial 25k conversion upcharge. Unless you’re a Hip Hop Star, Actor or really passionate about the environment, you really can’t justify the initial hit in price.</p> </blockquote> <p>True, but like all new technology, as more of the early adopters buy in (even at the 100% upcharge rate), the price should come down.</p> <p>I think this would be a bit more viable if the cost were US$10K or less. Not sure how long that will take tho.</p>

According to Edmunds True Cost to Own, a standard Cooper will take over 18 years to pay off that initial 25k conversion upcharge. Unless you’re a Hip Hop Star, Actor or really passionate about the environment, you really can’t justify the initial hit in price.

True, but like all new technology, as more of the early adopters buy in (even at the 100% upcharge rate), the price should come down.

I think this would be a bit more viable if the cost were US$10K or less. Not sure how long that will take tho.

]]> By: HPUdrew http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/04/18/electric-mini-test-drive/comment-page-1/#comment-112804 HPUdrew Wed, 18 Apr 2007 17:30:18 +0000 http://motoringfile.com/2007/04/18/electric-mini-test-drive/#comment-112804 <p>The best news about this though is that there are people actually making working versions of the electric-car technology. Sure, right now the premium is $25k over the price of a $25k car, but give it a few years, some grant money, and some input from the larger car makers and we'll all be electric cars at a very reasonable price.</p> <p>Drew</p> The best news about this though is that there are people actually making working versions of the electric-car technology. Sure, right now the premium is $25k over the price of a $25k car, but give it a few years, some grant money, and some input from the larger car makers and we’ll all be electric cars at a very reasonable price.

Drew

]]> By: Shamus http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/04/18/electric-mini-test-drive/comment-page-1/#comment-112792 Shamus Wed, 18 Apr 2007 16:30:10 +0000 http://motoringfile.com/2007/04/18/electric-mini-test-drive/#comment-112792 <p>It's about time someone makes a converted MINI we can actually buy (the PML MINI was only a demonstrator). I wish they'd bring the cost down to more affordable levels though. As a consumer, it's hard to justify the lowered operating costs when it takes the entire life of the car to finally break even.<br /> According to Edmunds True Cost to Own, a standard Cooper will take over 18 years to pay off that initial 25k conversion upcharge. Unless you're a Hip Hop Star, Actor or really passionate about the environment, you really can't justify the initial hit in price.</p> It’s about time someone makes a converted MINI we can actually buy (the PML MINI was only a demonstrator). I wish they’d bring the cost down to more affordable levels though. As a consumer, it’s hard to justify the lowered operating costs when it takes the entire life of the car to finally break even.
According to Edmunds True Cost to Own, a standard Cooper will take over 18 years to pay off that initial 25k conversion upcharge. Unless you’re a Hip Hop Star, Actor or really passionate about the environment, you really can’t justify the initial hit in price.

]]> By: DB http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/04/18/electric-mini-test-drive/comment-page-1/#comment-112769 DB Wed, 18 Apr 2007 14:13:27 +0000 http://motoringfile.com/2007/04/18/electric-mini-test-drive/#comment-112769 <p>I'm waiting for my local power company to let me plug in an electric car at night to charge and, if it's not being driven but still on the juice in the morning, the energy stored in the car goes back into the house or back to the grid.</p> <p>PG&E in Northern California is already really close to having this program in place. Sounds very very promising.</p> <p>You know, since I can't get a diesel MINI ;)</p> I’m waiting for my local power company to let me plug in an electric car at night to charge and, if it’s not being driven but still on the juice in the morning, the energy stored in the car goes back into the house or back to the grid.

PG&E in Northern California is already really close to having this program in place. Sounds very very promising.

You know, since I can’t get a diesel MINI ;)

]]> By: lavardera http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/04/18/electric-mini-test-drive/comment-page-1/#comment-112761 lavardera Wed, 18 Apr 2007 13:38:12 +0000 http://motoringfile.com/2007/04/18/electric-mini-test-drive/#comment-112761 <p>Most amusing clip from the article:</p> <blockquote>Those interested in a four-seat vehicle can get an electrified PT Cruiser although that does entail driving around in a PT Cruiser.</blockquote> Most amusing clip from the article:

Those interested in a four-seat vehicle can get an electrified PT Cruiser although that does entail driving around in a PT Cruiser.
]]> By: gmini http://www.motoringfile.com/2007/04/18/electric-mini-test-drive/comment-page-1/#comment-112756 gmini Wed, 18 Apr 2007 13:04:31 +0000 http://motoringfile.com/2007/04/18/electric-mini-test-drive/#comment-112756 <p>look forward to reading more about it later! Very promising. And depending from where you grid is fed, could be the first coal, wind, or nuclear powered MINI as well.</p> <p>I just (pound fist into hand) feel like (pound fist into hand) I need (pound fist into hand) to test drive (pound fist into hand) one of these (pound fist into hand) monsters.</p> look forward to reading more about it later! Very promising. And depending from where you grid is fed, could be the first coal, wind, or nuclear powered MINI as well.

I just (pound fist into hand) feel like (pound fist into hand) I need (pound fist into hand) to test drive (pound fist into hand) one of these (pound fist into hand) monsters.

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