Yesterday, our Mini E became obsolete. BMW announced that in the next step of Project i, it will switch to a rear-wheel-drive electric car, the BMW Concept ActiveE. It's an electric BMW 1 Series coupe and, apparently, will provide another opportunity for us to subsidize support BMW's research through a special lease program.
On the face of it, the electric 1 Series looks more usable as a real car. Better packaging allows it to remain a 2+2 and it still has a 7-cubic-foot trunk, too.
But it's going to be slower than the Mini E. Our 3,246-pound long-termer takes 7.7 seconds to reach 60 mph. The 3,900-pound ActiveE will reportedly require 8.5 seconds to do that. Top speed is still only 90 mph and range is still only about 100 miles. Recharges will still take about 4.5 hours with a fast charge box like ours and considerably longer if you plug the car in at home.
But, but, this is still a chance to drive a rear-drive electric car with four seats to boot. Given the choice, which do you choose for your hypothetical drive?
Erin Riches, Senior Editor
tomm250 says:
11:42 AM, 12/17/09
"Recharges will still take about 4.5 hours with a fast charge box like ours and considerably longer if you plug the car in at home."
Wrong!!! This car, like the MINI-E will take either 3 to 3.5 hours to charge or 4 to 4.5 hours to charge depending if you have the 32amp charger or the 50 amp charger, not "considerably longer".
One of the problems with the Inside Line long term test is that your drivers do not have a charger for the car at home and are using the "emergency only" 120v cable. This is not how the car is supposed to be charged. Nobody is the MINI-E lease program charges that way and nobody that drives the BMW ActiveE would charge that way either. I understand the charging frustrations of the staff using the car without a charger but reading some of the posts it would seem that you think that you are charging the car the way it was meant to be charged and you are not. Nobody would make a car that takes 36 hours to charge, what good would it be to anyone? The home based chargers are simple to install and need an electric feed line the same as an electric clothes dryer or range needs, no special high powered electric is necessary.
I do enjoy reading the entries on the Long Term test on the MINI-E, I just wish you had chargers at you disposal. It really makes a huge difference if you know that you can quickly charge the car to 100% for a trip. The first month I had the car my charger was not yet installed and I was getting frustrated with the emergency charger shutting off overnight as it did for Dan the other night. It takes so long to charge at 110v I could never live with it that way. Once I had the 220V charger installed it was like getting a different car. I'm sure it would make a difference of how you view living with it also.
Tom
MINI-E #250
http://minie250.blogspot.com/
dwhamman says:
11:53 AM, 12/17/09
Does a 3,900 lb 1 series make sense to anybody? I know it's just a test mule, but it kinda defeats the purpose of owning (I guess leasing in this case) a small, sporty car.
westsiderrider says:
01:06 PM, 12/17/09
In my mind experience, I've found the phrase "less is more" to be true for most cars when "less" refers to weight and "more" refers to fun and engaging. I'll take the Mini E in this contest.
cr_driver says:
01:39 PM, 12/17/09
3900 pounds for a 1 series?
No thank you, I`ll choose the Mini.
ddoouugg says:
02:29 PM, 12/17/09
I would take the 1 series for fun but the Mini as a DD because it might have a little more range. I wonder if the 1 has a LSD back there. Either way I think the most interesting difference will come from the 1's method of putting down torque. it should work better. Less one-wheeled burnouts.
fuhteng says:
02:54 PM, 12/17/09
FWD for anything but a fun car, and something with 1000lbs of batteries can't ever be a fun car.
08lr3 says:
06:40 PM, 12/17/09
well i love my 135 twin turbo i6 300hp and 300 tq... but as and 1E - humm I get 26 on the highway and 18 round town.. and its a blast.. very rare. get lots a looks..
but as an 1E maybe a vert LOL
Just bring the 118d over.. and I'd be happy...
and in case you are wondering.. i don't own a land rover anymore...
arm51 says:
05:30 AM, 12/18/09
I'd love to give the Project i a try! An RWD, electric 1-series sounds like a ton of fun...I doubt it will be offered in the Midwest though, with our winters and all...
fundango says:
09:24 AM, 12/18/09
3900lb 135i is bad, but 3250lb Mini is actually worse:
Standard Mini: 2568 lbs
Electric Mini: 3246 lbs
Net difference: 678 lbs (26% heavier)
Standard 135i: 3373 lbs
Electric 135i: 3900 lbs
Net difference: 527 lbs (15% heavier)
The extra 678 lbs in the electric Mini should have a much greater effect than the extra 527 lbs in the 135i.
anthonylam66 says:
10:36 AM, 12/18/09
fuhteng wrote:
"FWD for anything but a fun car, and something with 1000lbs of batteries can't ever be a fun car."
The MINI-E's battery pack is 576lbs, not 1000. The ActiveE's batteries should weigh about 700lbs.
However, the Tesla Roadster's batteries weigh about 990lbs so perhaps you were referring to that not being a fun car.
Either way, I don't think too many people that have driven any of these cars would agree. I guess you use the "mock what you don't understand" method of evaluation.
Tony
jederino says:
12:09 PM, 12/18/09
The Mini-E packaging would seems to be more appropriate for an electric vehicle, yet the Active-E seems to have actually packaged the batteries more efficiently, leaving room for rear seats and a trunk. This would be a commuter, so two seats should be fine. I would have to drive them for a fair comparison.