As you can see, the Mini E fit easily in the space my Prius-driving neighbor left me last night. Trouble is, it wasn't really that easy to get in there. That whole electric motor thing is the problem.
It just doesn't creep very well. Try to ease your way into a space and the Mini E just sits there waiting for you to stab the throttle. Then, of course, you get all that instant torque, well, instantly, so you have to use a little left foot braking to keep it under control.
Not a big deal really, but it's one of those things that still needs to be worked out for electric cars to make them more like their gasoline counterparts.
Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line @ 3,215 miles
txmatt1 says:
11:02 AM, 12/ 1/09
Kinda interesting what we get used to and then desire to make subsequent iterations behave like the older version, for better or worse.
Just starting with a blank slate, I think I'd choose to only have the vehicle move under its own power when the driver input tells it to (ie presses a pedal). I wonder how many accidents have happened over the years due to the creeping behavior of slushbox transmission and internal combustion engine.
I'd prefer to relearn the technique instead of cripple the new product to mimic the deficiencies of the old one. Seems in this case a lot could be solved with throttle mapping, especially in reverse.
rick8365 says:
11:42 AM, 12/ 1/09
@ Mr. Hellwig - OT but...... How is life with that big red Ford? Isn't that the truck you picked up in Colorado last winter?
brn says:
12:40 PM, 12/ 1/09
It's interesting to note that a nice thing about creep is that you can fine tune it with the brake pedal. Easily fixed in an EV by making the initial movement of the throttle, much less sensitive than it currently is.
Is this an issue with hybrids?
felonious says:
04:25 PM, 12/ 1/09
Sounds like a simple case of throttle re-mapping to me, no?
yellowmiata says:
05:47 AM, 12/ 2/09
This is a good post - noting an imperative part of a car that may only be unearthed in a long-term test. Good job Ed (and IL)! Keep 'em comin'!
Kevin
hybris says:
07:59 AM, 12/ 2/09
I can't see why people would have problem with creeping especially like this when parking.
For the Mini E there throttle re-mapping looks like the easiest fix at the moment.