Lately in L.A. we've been experiencing a bout of chilly weather, 60s-70s. I think it's called autumn. In any case, I wanted to warm up our 2009 Mini E since this morning was cooold, so I put the heater on full blast. But after 10 minutes of driving on the freeway and side streets and getting closer to work, the air was still ice cold. Wuuut?
I took a look at the controls to make sure I hadn't inadvertently put the temperature on cold or turned on the A/C. Nope, it was dialed into red (blue is cold) and the A/C was off. It wasn't until 20 minutes or so into the drive that the warm air finally came on. But even then it was only just warm. Most cars I've been in would be boiling at these settings -- fan at full blast and temperature at the highest setting. Not the Mini E. Now if only this thing had seat heaters... Heh.
Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor
adavis2493 says:
02:07 PM, 10/28/09
My old cars defrost didn't work. Since I parked outside, I had to start my morning routine driving with the windows down in 40 Degrees Weather.
FML
hybris says:
02:08 PM, 10/28/09
I think the Mini was putting most if not all of its heat back to the batteries to keep them happy.
Also if the EV's started have seat heaters it would be like the A/C's of today you turn on the heat and your mileage (range) to hell in a hand basket.
carguy622 says:
02:12 PM, 10/28/09
That's not heater weather it's already been in the 30's in NY ;)
Anyways my guess is that the mini's electric drivetrain produces a lot less heat than a conventional gas engine. Thus, less heat into the cabin. I have seen a Mini E around here I wonder how it will deal with the cold winters.
carguy622 says:
02:14 PM, 10/28/09
That's not heater weather. It's already been in the 30's in NY ;)
Anyways my guess is that the mini's electric drivetrain produces a lot less heat than a conventional gas engine. Thus, less heat into the cabin. I have seen a Mini E around here I wonder how it will deal with the cold winters.
jeepsrt says:
02:26 PM, 10/28/09
"Lately in L.A. we've been experiencing a bout of chilly weather, 60s-70s. I think it's called autumn."
It's snowing and around 23 degrees in Colorado today, I don't want to read about having to use the heater in 60's and 70's!! I pray for that weather.
zoomzoomn says:
02:36 PM, 10/28/09
Wow. Chilly? You're so funny. Chilly is 40-55. If that heater can't do anything in the 60's then you are doomed if you ever venture away from Cali!
the_big_al says:
02:39 PM, 10/28/09
I drive around with the vent on cold in that kind of weather... the heat only comes on if the outside temps drop below 50...
And since a conventional car uses engine heat, or rather hot water/coolant to warm the air coming into the cabin, I wonder what the Mini uses??
wants2sk8board says:
02:52 PM, 10/28/09
"Lately in L.A. we've been experiencing a bout of chilly weather, 60s-70s"
Are you serious?
Its been in the 30's-50's here in Minnesota, its a little below avg. its supposed to be in the 60's right now. Thats like spring here. 2 weeks ago we had snow and the leave were still on the trees.
i dont turn my heater on untill 40 degrees.
My 12 year old car warms up in 10 minutes from -20 degrees (no exageration) and it even starts on the first try!
wants2sk8board says:
02:56 PM, 10/28/09
and i for got to mention on my new car its got the heated and coooled seats but i don't turn on the heated seat untill it gets like 30 degrees.
altimadude00 says:
03:07 PM, 10/28/09
Scotty! We need more power to the Environmental systems!
"I'm sorry capt'n. I'm givin' ye all she's got!"
wants2sk8board says:
03:09 PM, 10/28/09
and i for got to mention on my new car its got the heated and coooled seats but i don't turn on the heated seat untill it gets like 30 degrees.
cneff says:
04:53 PM, 10/28/09
The Tesla has heated seats and they are pretty good...my guess is they use about as much juices as the MINI Es rear defroster which is not much. The MINI Es heater works pretty well actually - something sounds off...no pun intended. I've driven mine in 30 degree weather and the only thing suffering was my range. It is electric heat and smells a bit like a toaster oven - kinda nice.
One trick is to turn on the recirc button, it turns off every 3 mins or so but it keeps the outside cold air from coming in and mixing with the hot air while it is on and gets the cabin warmed up faster.
As I said range is the issue with the heater as is cold weather.....you can see mine and other posts on my blog. EVs are coming so all good info for manufacturers to think about.
MINI E #402 in NJ
mymini-e.blogspot.com
hybris says:
06:20 PM, 10/28/09
@altimadude00
You have already won this weeks caption contest with that.
greenpony says:
06:36 PM, 10/28/09
60s-70s is shorts and t-shirt weather...
brn says:
06:58 PM, 10/28/09
"60s-70s is shorts and t-shirt weather..."
No foolin. We got into the mid 50's yesterday (not today) and I darn near put the shorts on. Certainly tossed the jacket aside.
bradyholt says:
07:32 PM, 10/28/09
"If that heater can't do anything in the 60's then you are doomed if you ever venture away from Cali!"
With a 100-mile range, it's not going anywhere.
blueguydotcom says:
07:54 PM, 10/28/09
I never had a heater problem with my mini. Now AC? Weak. Weak.
vt8919 says:
08:06 PM, 10/28/09
I always wondered why companies have relied on engine heat to warm up the interior. Couldn't someone design a heater that works independent from the engine with technology like in hair dryers or toasters (heated coils in front of a blower)? They'd have to modify the idea to make it safe for car use, of course (like heat them up to a hundred something degrees instead of red-hot), but theoretically you'd get real heat in seconds.
vt8919 says:
08:12 PM, 10/28/09
Well, toasters don't have a fan but you get my point... :-)
dougtheeng says:
05:51 AM, 10/29/09
"I always wondered why companies have relied on engine heat to warm up the interior. Couldn't someone design a heater that works independent from the engine with technology like in hair dryers or toasters (heated coils in front of a blower)?"
Heaters are a big electrical load. I'm guessing that heat from the engine is a much, much more efficient way of heating the cabin.
gdmstrb says:
08:43 AM, 10/29/09
How much is Mini charging folks a month to participate in their experiment? Whatever it is the more you guys post about this vehicle the more it becomes abundantly clear that it isn't worth it. If anything Mini (read BMW) should have doled these cars out for free a year at a time, not the other way around.
And I'm from Michigan originally, but have lived in the Orange County for several years, and let me tell you my body has adjusted. It's 60° out now and I'm freezing, anything below that feels downright winter like.
brn says:
09:09 AM, 10/29/09
vt8919, the early VW Bugs had a gas heaters. The air cooled, rear engine, just couldn't get any heat up to the driver compartment. They had to come up with something else and a gas powered heater was the way to go.
misterfusion says:
09:28 AM, 10/29/09
I think Caroline was embellishing for comedic effect. It has been 60's-70's during the DAY, but last night some parts of L.A. County got down to freezing. Definitely chilly, but unlike most Angelenos I totally dig it.
redliner says:
09:56 AM, 10/29/09
...Thats why i drive a V8 engine car with a gazillion horsepower. So that i can turn the heater on full blast when its 60-70. Screw the environment, i want heat NOW. (I'm joking, of course)
cr_driver says:
10:22 AM, 10/29/09
We know caroline has cold buttocks......relax people! LOL
uncanny_man says:
12:23 PM, 10/29/09
A gasoline car's heaters work by redirecting the engine's heat toward the occupants. Consequently, you get warm air as soon as the engine is warmed up. In an electric car, I can't think of anyway it would work other than old fashioned heating elements (which I bet sucks up your range fast!). In any case, hadn't thought about it before, so thanks for posting about an actually practical aspect of the car. Once again though, I'd like to see how these cars do in someplace that is actually cold and gets precipitation!