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The BMW Group will be the world’s first manufacturer of premium automobiles to deploy a fleet of some 500 all-electric vehicles for private use in daily traffic. The MINI E will be powered by a 150 kW (204 hp) electric motor fed by a high-performance rechargeable lithium-ion battery, transferring its power to the front wheels via a single-stage helical gearbox nearly without a sound and entirely free of emissions. Specially engineered for automobile use, the battery technology will have a range of more than 240 kilometers, or 150 miles. The MINI E will initially be made available to select private and corporate customers as part of a pilot project in the US states of California, New York and New Jersey. The possibility of offering the MINI E in Europe as well is currently being considered. The MINI E will give its world premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 19 and 20, 2008.
The MINI E’s electric drive train produces a peak torque of 220 Newton meters, delivering seamless acceleration to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.5 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 152 km/h (95 mph). Featuring a suspension system tuned to match its weight distribution, the MINI E sports the brand’s hallmark agility and outstanding handling.
By introducing the MINI E, the BMW Group is underscoring the resolve with which it works towards reducing energy consumption and emissions in road traffic. The BMW Group is drawing on its unique technological expertise in the field of drive systems to develop a vehicle concept enabling zero emissions without renouncing the joy of driving. Putting some 500 cars on the road under real daily traffic conditions will make it possible to gain widely applicable hands-on experience. Evaluating these findings will generate valuable know-how, which will be factored into the engineering of mass-produced vehicles.
The BMW Group aims to start series production of all-electric vehicles over the medium term as part of its Number ONE strategy. The development of innovative concepts for mobility in big-city conurbations within the scope of “project i†has a similar thrust, as its objective also includes making use of an all-electric power train.
The energy storage unit: cutting-edge lithium-ion technology engineered specifically for use in the MINI.
Based on the current MINI, the car will initially be available as a two-seater. The space taken up by back-seat passengers in the series model has been reserved for the lithium-ion battery. When in use in the zero-emissions MINI, the battery unit combines high output with ample storage capacity and a small footprint with power ratios that are unrivalled in this field of application so far. The lithium-ion storage unit will have a maximum capacity of 35 kilowatt hours (kWh) and transmit energy to the electric motor as direct current at a nominal 380 volts. The rechargeable battery is made up of 5,088 cells grouped into 48 modules. These modules are packaged into three battery elements that are compactly arranged inside the MINI E.
The energy storage unit’s basic components are based on the technological principle that has proven itself in practice in power supplies for mobile phones and portable computers. The MINI E’s lithium-ion battery can be plugged into all standard power outlets. Its charge time is strongly dependent on the voltage and amperage of the electricity flowing through the grid. In the USA, users can recharge a battery that has been completely drained within a very short period of time using a wallbox that will ship with every MINI E. The wallbox will be installed in the customer’s garage, enable higher amperage, and thus provide for extremely short charging times. Wallboxes fully recharge batteries after a mere two-and-a-half hours.
Driven by electricity: reliably, affordably and free of emissions.
A full recharge draws a maximum of 28 kilowatt hours of electricity from the grid. Based on the car’s range, a kilowatt hour translates into 5.4 miles. Besides the benefit of zero-emissions driving, the MINI E thus offers significant economic advantages over a vehicle powered by a conventional internal combustion engine as well.
The heavy-duty battery delivers its power to an electric motor, which transforms it into thrilling agility. Mounted transversely under the MINI E’s bonnet, the drive train unleashes its full thrust from a dead standstill. This provides for the car’s fascinating launch capability. The MINI E’s intense driving experience is augmented by its dynamic deceleration potential, which is also directly coupled to the accelerator pedal. As soon as the driver releases the gas pedal, the electric motor acts as a generator. This results in braking force, and the power recovered from the kinetic energy is fed back to the battery. This interaction ensures extremely comfortable drives – especially at medium speed with constant, but marginal, variation. In city traffic, some 75 percent of all deceleration can be done without the brakes. Making substantial use of this energy recuperation feature extends the car’s range by up to 20 percent.
Signature MINI agility in a new guise.
Weighing in at 1,465 kilograms (3,230 lbs), the MINI E has an even weight distribution. Minor modifications made to the suspension ensure safe handling at all times. The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system has been adapted to this model’s specific wheel loads.
The MINI E’s brake system comes with a newly developed electric underpressure pump. Its Electrical Power Assisted Steering (EPS) is the same as the one used in mass-produced MINIs. Both brake and steering assistance react to driving conditions and are thus extremely efficient. Even the air conditioning’s electrical compressor only operates if desired or necessary.
Design: unmistakably MINI, undoubtedly new.
At first glance, the MINI E is obviously an iteration of the brand. But its design, which is the blueprint for the zero-emissions two-seater, has been complemented by a number of visual cues that point to its revolutionary drive concept. All of the units produced for the pilot project will have the same paintwork and bear a serial number on their front fenders.
The MINI E’s coachwork sports an exclusive combination of metallic Dark Silver on all panels but the roof, which is clad in Pure Silver. What distinguishes the zero-emissions MINI is a specially designed logo in Interchange Yellow, depicting a stylized power plug in the shape of an “E†set against the silver backdrop. It has been applied to the roof, in smaller dimensions to the front and back, to the charger port lid, the dashboard trim, and – combined with the MINI logo – to the door jamb, in slightly modified form. The color of the roof edges, mirror housings, interior style cues and seat seams will match the logo’s yellow tone as well.
Moreover, the central gauge and the battery level indicator behind the wheel of the MINI E, which replaces the MINI’s rev counter, feature yellow lettering against a dark grey background. The battery level is displayed in percentage figures. The central gauge includes an LED display indicating power consumption in red and power recuperation in green.
MINI E customers will be part of a pioneering mission.
A 500-unit, limited-production MINI E series will be manufactured through the end of 2008. The project will thus attain an order of magnitude that clearly exceeds the size of currently comparable test series. Putting the MINI E on the road on a daily basis will be a pioneering feat to which both the drivers and engineers of the first zero-emissions MINI will contribute as a team.
MINI E customers will join forces with BMW Group experts to assist in the project’s scientific evaluation. MINI E engineers accord high importance to staying in touch with the drivers on a regular basis, as this will help them analyze driver behavior besides vehicle characteristics in order to gain the most accurate and realistic picture of the demands placed on a vehicle with a purely electrical drive in the select usage areas.
Special charging station and full service for every MINI E.
The cars will change hands based on a one-year lease with an extension option. Monthly lease installments will cover any required technical service including all necessary maintenance and the replacement of wearing parts. At the end of the lease, all of the automobiles belonging to the project will be returned to the BMW Group’s engineering fleet where they will be subjected to comparative tests.
The MINI E’s lithium-ion battery can be charged using a wallbox provided to MINI customers. Only lockable garages or similar buildings will qualify as homebases and power stations for the MINI E.
Maintenance by qualified specialists.
The electric drive’s high-voltage technology requires that maintenance work be done by qualified personnel using special tools that are not included in MINI service partners’ standard toolboxes. In light of this, a service base will be set up on both coasts, staffed by service engineers that are specially trained to perform maintenance and repair work on the MINI E’s electrical components. In the event of drive malfunction, these experts will provide professional support at the customer’s local MINI dealer or the service base’s specially equipped workshop. Technical inspections will take place after 3,000 miles (just under 5,000 kilometers) and at least after six months.
Production in Oxford and Munich.
The MINI E has already gone through the major phases of product development for mass-produced vehicles and passed numerous crash tests on the way. Aspects investigated besides passenger protection were the impact of collision forces on the lithium-ion battery and finding a non-hazardous location for it in the car. The MINI E’s energy storage unit emerged completely unscathed from all of the crash tests mandated by US standards, which are especially high.
Production of the approximately 500 cars will take place at the company’s Oxford and Munich sites and is scheduled for completion before the end of 2008. MINI’s UK plant will be responsible for manufacturing the entire vehicle with the exception of the drive components and the lithium-ion battery, with the brand’s series models rolling off its assembly lines concurrently. The units will then be transferred to a specially equipped manufacturing complex situated on BMW plant premises where the electric motor, battery units, performance electronics and transmission will be integrated.
Full Specifications (PDF)
Regarding battery life, something thing to consider is onboard electronics.
For example, if you have your stereo on while driving, I’m sure that would deplete the overall range of the car. Question is: how much? Unless they run on separate batteries, this could be detrimental to overall battery life. Even still, this technology is so new, I have no idea how this would work.
Also, what if customers opt in for the navigation-speedo replacement; that adds a lot of extra weight, and I’m certain it would consume a hefty amount of power.
Finally, what do you guys figure the battery life to be? Lithium-Ion batteries in cell phones lose almost half of their capacity after a regular use of recharges after about a 1.5-2 years of use. If we’re talking about replacing Lithium-Ion batteries that are used to power cars, this is going to be <strong><em>expensive!</em></strong>
Zack: Two days ago, through my workplace, I coordinated an event with Shai Agassi, founder and CEO of <a href="http://www.betterplace.com" rel="nofollow">Better Place</a>. According to Shai, the batteries they are using (which I realize are not necessarily the same exact batteries as MINI) will last for 250,000 miles.
Power consumption: Again, Better Place cars as the example: The car uses about 8kwh when operating. Shai’s numbers were that it was akin to running a 300 watt lightbulb for 24 hours. Certainly anything drawing on the battery is going to shorten the distance, but it would seem that unless you were powering a 5,000 watt earth shaking stereo, the difference would be negligible.
Finally, Options. Gabe could probably speak more to this but I would figure that you don’t get to pick your options. This is a lease car. Moreover it’s a test vehicle that you get to pay for. As it states in the article, BMW/MINI is going to take back the cars at a certain point to do comparison testing. Honda did this a few years back with the EV+: They allowed parking meter maids in Los Angeles to drive the things into the ground. The idea was that the meter maids would be the most abusive to the vehicles (lots of stops and starts). Apparently the maids took it to heart and drove the things over curbs, sidewalks and whatever else stood in the way of a meter maid.
I’m just waiting to find <a href="http://whokilledtheelectriccar.com/" rel="nofollow">Huell Howser</a> some day with his camera crew exclaiming “Well what’s with these little things?! Why would someone go and crush them?!?! They look brand new!!” With the car crusher dude saying, “Yeah… I just crush cars… I don’t make any judgement on what it looks like”
$10 vs $50 for a 350mi range is pretty nice…
Zack, my comment to your same post in the other article:<blockquote>The Nav screen/speedo replacement is about the same weight, and the additional map DVD drive is about a pound. Power consumption is negligible. To put it in perspective, look at the weight and power consumption of portable GPS units. In any case, I think most buyers wouldn’t want to give up the cool exclusive speedo.</blockquote>Although battery life is a concern for the future of electric cars, it is not a factor for users of the MINI E. The purpose of this car is for BMW to do real world testing and for publicity promotion. The car is not for sale (annual lease only with extension option).
“For example, if you have your stereo on while driving, I’m sure that would deplete the overall range of the car. Question is: how much? Unless they run on separate batteries, this could be detrimental to overall battery life. Even still, this technology is so new, I have no idea how this would work.”
another way to look at this is a ‘full tank’ on the MINI E is 28kWh–that means you could run an HK stereo for more than 90hrs before depleting the battery.
or, if you played the radio during your whole drive, it would lower your 150-mi range to 140-145mi depending on cruising speed.
the HK uses a lot more power than the standard radio, and my guess is an HK stereo uses a lot more than a NAV setup.
i think the ac would be the most power sucking acc on the car. if it’s a hot day & u have it cranked down, it could reduce range by 10-30mi.
Other things that will reduce range:
– Lights on driving at night
– Cold weather (a) need to heat the interior and (b) batteries are less efficient when cold
– Speed – highway range will be less than city because of higher energy consumption and less regeneration
i figured xenon’s would be pretty efficient once lit, but i have no idea.
good point on the heat–forgot no ICE on board…
also, mini could have already incorporated a lot of these basic uses into the 150mi range figure, since bmw tends to be conservative w/ their numbers.
Overall a very cool development from MINI…we’ll have to see where this leads. Love the interior and those side scuttles!!!!!
RE the Pilot Project & New York… so is it NYC, or just “somewhere” in NY State? If NYC, I don’t understand that. NYC residents park in the street or a garage run by a large corporation in their building. In neither case is an outlet to charge available. 🙂
I’m bummed they aren’t in NoCal, and congrats to Mini for moving electric car technology one step farther!
Matt
I’m surprised no one’s commented on it yet, but I really like the look of the S body without the hood scoop. I only wish they had done something with the rear valance to fill the tailpipe notch. A very clean overall look. Good job MINI.
The thought that the technology is right yet or not right doesn’t really hold water, in my opinion. The kool thing is that the more they test the technology the farther along it moves and breakthroughs will happen. My hats off to BMW for moving forward and all the other companies also that are forwarding the advancement of battery and other forms of hopefully non polluting technology.
I can’t wait to see it here at the Autoshow in LA.
I got to laugh about all the negative comments about this car. Do you think when gasoline autos first hit the roads there were gas stations at every corner? Every corner in 1900 were blacksmith shops that serviced horse and buggies.
This is a nice effort from MINI. It looks like many of the auto makers are going to initially offer something like this. Eventually there will be some type of infrastructure built up for charging. I don’t know if it would of made much difference but with a good size roof that the MINI has you would of thought they would of put a solar panel on it rather that the silly plug emblem.
I love this car! I think it’s a wonderful and interesting step forward for all of the world’s automakers, let alone BMW. I think the styling is brilliant, the color choices are exceptional, and the way it’s been engineered to provide a still MINI-like experience is great. I’d pick one of these up in a heartbeat if it were an affordable alternative, and save the R53 for weekend motoring and track day stuff.
…”even weight distribution”? Do I sense BMW talking about 50/50 weight distribution again??
…â€even weight distributionâ€? Do I sense BMW talking about 50/50 weight distribution again??
I missed that one! I wonder how easilly you could get the rear end to come around on this one. My S is a little wiggly in the tail as is.
Electric MINI Drifting!!! It would be a PR coup!
Without a heat producing motor, It would need something like an electric space heater, wouldn’t it?
I wish I could get in this focus group.
Yes, Danf…Solar Panels!!
I would guess that %99 of trips are less than 150 miles. Fore those trips that are longer, well all MINI drivers are familiar with having to leave the MINI at home when they go to Costco, for the limited cargo size.
I am sick of hearing about this technology always being just around the corner. This does seem to be one step closer to the day I can buy a gasless vehicle for the same price or less.
3200 lbs is a bit on the porty side. Lower weight = better range amonst other things. Where’s the MINI D?
I’ll wait until regenerative engergy/heat recovery comes along…
<blockquote>I’ll wait until regenerative engergy/heat recovery comes along…
</blockquote>
Regenerative energy is the heart of good electrics and hybrids, but you’ll never see the heat recovery systems. Even with them working well, the best IC drivetrain is still far from as efficient as electric drivetrains. FWIW, I think BMW has a working heat recovery system in the labs, and it’s been there for a couple of years. I’m guessing that’s where it will stay….
Matt
Cool. A coal-powered (for most of us in the US), 3200 lb two-seater MINI with a 150 mile range.
<em>“The car uses about 8kwh when operating.”</em>
Hmm, that doesn’t really make sense. kw-h is a unit of energy, not power. How many kw-h of energy it uses would depend on the power needed <i>and</i> the length of time it’s driven. If that’s supposed to be kw and not kw-h, 8 kw-h is about 11 HP. That would be about enough to overcome aerodynamic drag at about 60 MPH so that might be what’s meant.
Oops, and I made the same mistake myself after pointing it out. That should be “8 kw is about 11 hp”.
After 16 reviews of a crossover that doesn’t exist yet we now get a daily update of the $60k PC mobile. Still no MF review of the factory JCW
Greg’s batting 1000 for posative comments! Go Team!
Matt
But for some useful info, I just checked the rates for electricity for PG&E customers. While it depends on what percent of baseline you use, rates vary from about 8 cents per kWH to about 25 cents per kWH. At 5.4 miles per KW, that’s about 1.5 cents per mile to about 5 cents per mile. We have a new Mini Clubman, and it’s getting us about 10 cents per mile. So at best the eMini is greater than 6x cheaper to drive, and at worst it’s about 2x cheaper to drive.
Go electrics!
Matt
I can’t wait to see the fae tailpipe mod!
Fake sorry
I wonder how strong the body is compared to the standard coupe? How long does it take for the battery to completely charge? Do you need a high capacity power feed for charging?
Chances are that is requires a 220 line…and it says a full recharge in 2.5 hours…
Did I miss where the article said how much these will cost?
Aussom, NEWDL:
You can see it from [Fact Sheet](<a href="http://www.minispace.com/en_us/projects/electric-mini-e/pdf/mini-e-en_us.pdf" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.minispace.com/en_us/projects/electric-mini-e/pdf/mini-e-en_us.pdf</a>) and it vary depending on kwh.
110 V/12 A @ 23.6 hours (1.3 kW)
240 V/32 A @ 4.4 hours (7.0 kW)
240 V/48 A @ 2.9 hours (10.6 kW)
Cost varies depending on your country. For example, here (for you – there) in Ukraine 100 Km (62 miles) will cost you 80 US cents.
Hey smart guy. Next time you take a personal crack at me for expressing my opinion check your spelling.
My spelling sucks, but the facts are the facts. You keep pointing out pretty much negative comments, ignoring any posatives that are there to be noticed. I stand by my comments, as it’s the message that’s important.
I have no problem with expressions of opinion, but when I read ones that don’t seem to be based on full consideration of the relavent facts, I’ll call them like I see them.
Matt
but then, that’s just my opinion too!
Back on topic. Electric cars have a lot to offer, even if they are not now a complete solution for the whole driving population. This is a good step, even if it is just a rather small toe in the water, so to speak, for a rather large company. It’s a much more usefull effort than the hydrogen 7 series. That was a technical success with little benefit to be derived from it’s chosen underpinnings. (For those that don’t know, it uses hydrogen as a replacement for gasoline in a modified internal combusion engine).
I asked earlier… I’ll answer now….
I see we can sign-up to participate in a 1-year lease to be part of the trial. There will no doubt be some eligibility criteria in selecting the proper candidate population for the trial set. But in an case, So no, not limited to “NYC” in this area from what I can tell.
If I didn’t just buy a JCW and was still driving to and from an office 4 to 5 days a week instead of working from home, I’d have sent in an application.
-steve
According to an article on cnn.com the lease will be around $850/month, but they (BMW) will pay for the electricty used for the charging.
And you must live in a home with a garage, so they can custom install a charging station.
A $60K “statement” of phoniness has no redeeming value….in my opinion.
So Greg, to ask a real question, how do you expect disruptive technologies to be developed, or do you view the current petrolium based trends in light vehicle fleet energy usage to be acceptable? You do seem very negative to the whole concept, which is very different than just saying “this isn’t for me”.
Almost every technology introduction starts at a relatively high price point compared to what it replaces, yet over time, innovation has resulted in a pretty good average increase in systems capabilities and standard of living.
First cars weren’t very usefull compared to the horses they displaced, were reserved for mostly the rich or very well off… And we all can see how few people use horses to get to work now.
Steam powered trains and diesel big rigs displaced wagon trains for moving cargo over land.
Steam ships (and now diesel freighters) displaced sail power.
Yet the implication of your posts are that this is totally a waste of time and effort. What’s up?
Matt
So how will they decide who the “select private and corporate customers” will be? Did they say which cities in “California, New York and New Jersey”? Have they set a price for a “short term lease”?
Matt. I’m sorry. I don’t know you, so don’t take this personal.You are a bore who bludgeons with an avalanche of words to attempt to obscure common sense. Until this can be purchased at a reasonable price this is the emporer’s new clothes for Barbara Striesand and Madonna. BTW, at the risk of you writing a tome, I have seen a great deal of evidence that this technology pollutes worse than fossil fuels in it’s overall running process.It just doesn’t wash.
greg, you’ve got to chill out a bit.
as someone w/ many years of experience in well-to-wheels & cradle-to-cradle analyses in automobiles, i can assure you a MINI E has a much smaller overall environmental impact than a standard MC (it’s not even close).
even if it was a wash, you’re still pushing vehicle emissions from inner urban areas (#1 cause for inner-urban child asthma, not to mention smog, etc) back to the power plant.
your point about it being the emperer’s new clothes may be valid in your POV. but, from mine, that’s like saying LED lights are nonsense b/c they’re so expensive.
instead, i say, ‘hey, that’s cool technology. someday it’ll be cheap enough for the masses to adopt & will have a nice environmental impact.’
oh, and if you’re into ‘the war on terror’, w/ the MINI E you’re not supporting terrorist states by buying gasoline.
and, if you’re into global warming, filling up an EV from a coal fired plant produces 1/3 the amount of CO2 as its gas equivalent. most grids aren’t 100% coal…
the batteries are 100% recyclable. better electrical storage tech is around the corner to extend range.
the only real hurdle is pricing, which just takes some time & competition, as with any new tech–give it 5-yrs.
Break out the evidence, Greg. Your position is counter to everything that I’ve learned about the issue. While I may be a bore (not the first time I’ve heard this… Oh well), I AM willing to learn. If you’ve got good, current evidence, please share it.
Matt
My favourite statement in the whole right up is “The United States of California” Yup USC.
Matt & Greg… Ding… Round 10
oops… Meant “write up”
I’m always amazed at the lack of respect that these “Anonymous Comments” fields offer us. I myself have been guilty. We all live in a “Comfort Zone”, some more than others. These zones that shield us from what is too painful to our comfort and allow us to look past what may be the truth as it’s too painful for us even if our intelligent side says different. Global warming, global pollution, global hunger, war all too painful so lets comfort ourselves and live on our own little planet of denial so we don’t have to confront reality.
But it is fun to be stupid, arrogant and misinformed…. sometimes.
i’ve wondered the same thing for a while–what is it about the cloak of the internet that makes ppl act & say things that they wouldn’t in the real world?
like you said, the anonymity? i’m sure there’s some theses out there regarding. at least it seems to be less prevalent within the mini community than other sites.
back on topic–i like the mini E.
How do we get one?
Well ZM you are probably right about my needing to chill out, I am guilty of blog rage at times. It’s hard not to be when I see artifice coating everywhere.
I have no problem with new technology, however, until it’s priced the same as the current models with the same or better performance, I have no use for it. And at the ridiculous $60k price tag it will only be purchased by wealthy “look at me” phonies who don’t mind paying triple for a car. These people don’t care about saving gas or the planet, only self promotion and making themselves feel good about their pathetic life of singing or pretending to be someone else(aka acting). When this technology is ready for mass consumption, sign me up. Until then, rich guys like Matt can take one for the team and buy the $1000 calculator.
War on terror? A quicker answer is to DRILL and build refineries. Global warming? I’m more worried about being bitten by a shark and struck by lightning simultaneously. It’s a more realistic possibility.
There, that was a bit “chiller” 😉
i hear ya about what the real motive is behind someone paying $60K for this. if you’re looking for ROI, there’s certainly not one.
that being said, if rich ppl didn’t adopt new expensive tech (for whatever reason), it’d never make it down eventually to the common folk, where it can have some real impact.
and, i won’t even dig into whether or not to drill, or the validation of global warming. i’ve switched many years ago from educating ppl to actually doing something to fix the climate situation. my biz has taken the equivalent of 1000’s of cars’ CO2 emissions off the road–so, i don’t feel bad driving my ‘gas guzzling’ R53 JCW. it’s all about balancing various aspects of one’s life, or as MINI would say, your carfun footprint–i wouldn’t be caught dead in a prius. no reason for extremes in either direction…
if you spend some time researching, the science is out there & overwhelming in support for we are having an impact on the environment. to refute it is the near equivalent of denying evolution. sure, it’s not proven, but there’s an incredible amount of science that’s pointing that way.
anyways, again back on topic, i like the mini E. 🙂
I applaude your choice in cars ZM (I have the same). Contrary to your statement about the need for someone to buy the overpriced initial offering of this car, the opposite is true. It’s called the open market. That dictates the cost of products offered and whether it’s offered at all.
As too global warming, I deny that AND evolution my friend. There is more evidence against it than for it. It just doesn’t earn grants or sell books or impugn the right politicians who envirophiles love to hate. This has become a new fascism that attacks non kool aid drinkers. Ask the guy who started the weather channel about the death threats he receives because he refutes this hoax.
Evolution? Show me a missing link. End of argument.
Are we going to debate my favorite band now?
It has all become crystal clear….
Matt
heheh–somehow i knew the no evolution bit was coming. show me that we actually exist and aren’t in a ‘Matrix’. end of argument (according to greg).
can’t convince a science skeptic… i’ll just say that you’re a rare breed amongst mini drivers.
i’m guessing your fav band is metallica & you have posters of lars everywhere. (sorry, had to take a jab at you)
who said this wasn’t an open market? it just gets adopted differently than a cheap honda civic. that’s why this choice exists, will be bought by rich ppl, and will decrease in pricing as the tech gets cheaper, it is mass produced & more competition comes into play. read up on some diffusion of innovations text.
if you would not like to take part in the diffusion & poopoo the idea, that’s certainly your right.
the question is, when the tech becomes viable, and it costs less to charge your car than fill it with gas, will you switch or swear it off to al f’ing gore?
<blockquote>
Dr Obnxs Oct 22nd, 2008 Link
It has all become crystal clear….
Matt
</blockquote>
boy oh boy has it.
back to the car
New technology is always expensive. Like you said, give it a few years and the price will drop a lot. So what if it is too expensive for the average Joe right now. Computers were the same way when they came out.
As stated previously, when the price/performance is right I’m in. I don’t care if it runs on prunes if it’s more fun than mine and costs the same.
Matt, sorry if I offended your secular sensibilities. I’m just a small town guy bitterly clinging to my gun and Bible in one hand while I shift the JCW with the other.
And BTW, being a late seventies high school product I’m a Ramones/Clash/Pistols/Misfits/Social Distortion type. No one from that crowd likes me either 🙁
This will be in some Apple Corp. Guys’ garage.
Keep an eye out San Fran.
Wow, easy boys. I think you miss the whole concept that this is a comments section for the story, not an open debate forum. Take your anger to NAM and run with it. I’m tired of reading people hashing out their own personal grievances here.
Ah Creationist… And there ya go the path has cleared. 😉
I’m not angry or offended. More just sad. But the line between comments and debate is a very blurry one.
Go electrics!
Matt
Some other interesting electrics… More expenisve too…
<a href="http://www.coolgreencar.net/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.coolgreencar.net/</a>
Want to see some actual electrics that are on the road?
<a href="http://evalbum.com/" rel="nofollow ugc">http://evalbum.com/</a>
Fun reading for sure…
Matt