This post was written by Tom Moloughney, who drives Mini E #250 on the East Coast with well over 20,000 miles on the odometer. -- Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor
Many of you have read my comments and even my guest post here a few weeks back so you know how I feel about the Mini E and electric cars in general. I'm not going to get into why I'm advocating that the auto industry move toward electrics. The point I'd like to get across here is the misconception that if you drive an electric car you constantly live with one eye on your range meter, counting the miles until, inevitably, you're left stranded on the side of the road.
I'll admit I had some of those feelings the first month I drove the car so I know why people who haven't lived with an electric would think that was so. Heck, even the staff at Inside Line writes about how they feel anxious sometimes about making it to the next charge up. This is understandable because they drive the car for a few days and then not again for weeks. You do need a little time (a month or so) of driving it almost daily to know for sure how far you can go and gain the confidence that it will not "run out."
The funny thing is, many of my friends stress about it more than I do. I'll get a text inviting me to lunch and it will be followed up with, "will the car make it?" I've never had to turn down an invitation because of range. Recently, BMW sent a film crew to follow me around for three days for a documentary about the future of the automobile industry. We drove to New York City, to my restaurant and to my home. Whenever they suggested a location they would ask, "can you make it?" and I always did.
Today, it took me four hours to drive to work. It's only 35 miles and it usually takes 40 minutes. But we had a major storm this weekend with flooding and road closures everywhere. I was texting some friends as I was stopped in traffic and everyone responded, "How is your charge? Will you make it?"
Yes, I made it. In fact I arrived at work with 73 miles of range left. I usually arrive with 65-68, but the slow stop-and-go driving uses much less energy than going 65 mph. Unlike ICE vehicles, I can sit in traffic for hours and not use any fuel. In fact, I passed a guy carrying a gas can walking on the shoulder of Route 46 in Fairfield. I assume he ran out of gas because he was stuck in traffic so long.
Anyway, my point is that once you've lived with an electric car for a little while, you know how far it can go and you don't really think about it much at all. I know where my travels will take me every day and even if there are detours it's no problem. Actually, I hardly ever look at my range gauge anymore except to record my trip data when I'm finished driving for the day.
Tom Moloughney
Mini E #250 @ 23,150 miles
Read Tom's previous guest post here and his Mini E #250 blog.
mtnshm7 says:
03:12 PM, 03/15/10
Nice entry. I like this "guest" format I/L should do it more often. I think it's like anything else, it takes some time to get used to something so different and new. That's why I think the Chevy Volt will be a success if they can keep the price at a reasonable level. It will address the concerns of many that are unfamiliar with the new technology and worry about range anxiety while offering an electric car for sale. Win-win.
mikes12 says:
03:29 PM, 03/15/10
Awesome post. And this is just the start. Range will get longer, battery tech will evolve, charging stations will follow.
Were likely leasing a Nissan Leaf in about 18 months!
Mike S.
lowmilelude says:
03:31 PM, 03/15/10
I know we all said this last time, but having guest bloggers who drive LTRTB vehicles really adds depth. It's always interesting to hear from other people, especially when we're talking about unconventional or exotic vehicles.
tcrook says:
03:32 PM, 03/15/10
Agree with Tom. Once you drive an EV for a while this becomes a non issue. I'm currently at 16k miles and continue to enjoy emission free driving. The carpool sticker is an added bonus here in Southern California. :)
Todd
#140
tenta20 says:
04:03 PM, 03/15/10
I enjoyed reading the first guest post and I enjoyed reading this one. This is really making me consider alternative-fuel vehicles as a possible choice for me more and more.
tomm250 says:
04:12 PM, 03/15/10
It looks like the people have spoken. So here's what you do Edmunds:
Return the car to MINI. I'll write a post a week and you can pay me half what you were paying for the lease(I'm not greedy).
Now if I can get hybris & brn's vote of approval I think it's a done deal. ;)
minie183 says:
04:52 PM, 03/15/10
Agree with Tom, Range is not an issue and I never use my extra cable to charge.
Tom, that license plate belongs in the Smithsonian. It is the reason why most Americans will go the electric car route eventually.
Peder
yellowmiata says:
05:32 PM, 03/15/10
I would guess that people ask because it is something to ask about. To this day, my mother still asks if I'm eating well - and the truth is I may be eating too well!
In an era of 24-hour news, people need stuff to worry about. I'd guess that the range of a car, even one they don't own, is something for them to fret over.
ddoouugg says:
06:37 PM, 03/15/10
You have the advantage of having a charger at your restaurant. Most consumers would not have such a luxury, at least for the first decade or so of electric cars. I think that your restaurant charger allows you a sense of security that many consumers just wouldn't have. I'm sure you have much evidence to contradict my argument here, but I believe my point is still valid. I would however, like to give you props for pioneering this new technology which may save us all someday.
tomm250 says:
07:13 PM, 03/15/10
Yes Doug it is nice to have the ability to charge midday, your points are valid. But I would point out that the first few months I had the car I didn't have it. I was about to install a simple NEMA 15-50 receptacle so I could charge that way(You really don't need a "charger", just the 50amp outlet) when MINI contacted me to ask if I wanted a second charger. When I was charging exclusively at home, the only difference is I was driving about between 80 and 100 miles a day. Now I drive 130 to 150 miles a day. I have a cargo van that I use for errands, deliveries and shopping for the restaurant during the day so I used to use that all day. Now I drive to work, plug in for about 1 hour and top off to 100% so when I need to go anywhere I'm ready. The van doesn't get much use other than big catering deliveries.
It hasn't really effected by lack of "range anxiety" it has just allowed me to drive the car an extra 30 to 50 miles during the day when I would be otherwise using the van. I really overcame 95% of any worrying after about one month with the car and well before I had the second charger.
Even with a 100 mile range I think these cars will work fine for a large percentage of the population, but certainly not for everyone.
hunter312 says:
07:48 PM, 03/15/10
What about if you need to take a road trip, which is a few hundred miles? What do you do then?
majin_ssj_eric says:
07:51 PM, 03/15/10
K, thanks. Still don't EVER want one of these idiotic vehicles...
tomm250 says:
08:07 PM, 03/15/10
Hunter: In the eight months I've had the car, I haven't had the need to drive further than the range will allow but when I do, I'll take my Tacoma or my Boxster. I pushed it a couple times driving to Citi Field to go to a Mets game. Round trip was 120 miles but I made it. Actually I've never ran out but have come close a few times when I was still learning the cars limits. A 100 mile EV just wouldn't work for a single car family, but most have more than one car anyway and would use the EV for commuting and local errands and have the second car for any "road trips".
Majin: You're certainly entitled to you opinion and for the near future anyway, you won't be forced to own one so no worries. We all appreciate the robust input
hybris says:
09:21 PM, 03/15/10
@tomm250
Yes I approve of this idea of yours. Its nice to hear experiences from mere mortal working people more like me.
Would I trade my truck or Mercedes for a EV no I don't see myself changing what is quickly becoming such a big part of my daily life and to a limited degree my family.
@Edmunds
Its not that I don't like reading your blogs or stories but I have to admit its nice to hear and see the views of someone who doesn't have a seemingly bottomless budget for repairs/fuel and a reasonably large choice of cars that can be signed up for.
anthonylam66 says:
10:18 PM, 03/15/10
Again, well done Tom. The guest post format works well, LTRT should have more of these. It's going to be interesting to see the public's reaction as we transition to electric vehicles, and make no mistake about it that is what is happening. There will be a half a dozen EV's for sale in the next three years with many more to follow. I just what will be the proverbial tipping point when the majority of the public embraces them. I think once everyone "knows someone" that has one, is happy with it and brags about the low cost to operate one. Oh yeah, getting battery costs down to about $350/kwh wouldn't hurt either.
Hand the keys to the MINI-E posts over to Tom from here on out. You guys do a better job on the other vehicles in the stable anyway.
bumpy says:
04:11 PM, 03/16/10
The thing about range on electric cars is that it is primarily dependent on speed instead of distance. The Mini-E will go probably twice as far at 30 mph average speed than at 50 mph average. Stop-and-go acceleration is almost free, while steady highway cruising will run down the pack at a good clip.
tomm250 says:
06:05 PM, 03/16/10
Bumpy,
Yes you are right to an extent. Some of us in the program have a saying "You can go fast or you can go far but you cannot do both"
I've kept detailed data of every mile I've driven so I know how much speed can effect the range,, here are some of my findings:
Driving under 40 mph on flat terrain the car can go about 130 miles on a single charge.
40 to 60 mph: about 100 miles
60 to 75 mph: about 85 miles
over 75 mph: about 65 miles
This is in temperatures over 50 degrees without the use of a/c or heater. A/C cuts the range about 8% and constant use of the heater on the highest setting can cut the range as much as 20%.
Remember, this it a prototype vehicle, it is not meant for production and has a virtually no sophisticated battery temperature management system which would help keep the range more constant.
majin_ssj_eric says:
09:46 PM, 03/16/10
I still cant fathom why anybody would want one of these things. 65 miles at 75 mph??? Cant use A/C or heat??? Its just fail all over the place. I can go 400+ miles in my G37 at 90 mph with the air on full blast and never have to worry about whether or not I'll "make it" to where Im going. Explain it to me again why I would want an electric vehicle? Ever?
mtnshm7 says:
02:09 PM, 03/17/10
If you really need an explanation, then it's not worth offering one.
I'm sure lot's of people looked at the first automobiles while perched on top of their horses and thought "Why the hell would I want one of those contraptions? Ever?"
majin_ssj_eric says:
09:51 PM, 03/17/10
Funny thing is, those guys on horses had it better than the car for 20+ years. I'd rather ride a horse than drive an early 1900's automobile...
retvisan says:
06:35 AM, 03/18/10
"majin_ssj_eric says:
09:46 PM, 03/16/10
I still cant fathom why anybody would want one of these things. 65 miles at 75 mph??? Cant use A/C or heat??? Its just fail all over the place. I can go 400+ miles in my G37 at 90 mph with the air on full blast and never have to worry about whether or not I'll "make it" to where Im going. Explain it to me again why I would want an electric vehicle? Ever?"
Some day, oil and natural gas will go the way of dinosaurs. Internal combustion engines will follow suit. And people would not have much to choose from. At this point of time, you still have a choice and can ask (how can I put this politely?) stupid questions.
frank908 says:
10:59 AM, 03/18/10
Hey I see this Mini at my dealer getting serviced all the time; Prestige Mini in Mahwah, NJ. I see him on the road frequently, an older gentlemen with gray hair and glasses. But I swear I saw his, or some other Mini-E on a flatbed in December on Route 17 in Paramus. Wonder if it was him.
tomm250 says:
11:12 AM, 03/18/10
Frank,
It's not me that you see at Prestige. There are about 20 MINI-E's that came from Prestige so you are seeing them there for service. My car came from Morristown MINI which got the majority of them for NJ, and that's where I get it serviced. That being said, whenever any of there cars have a real problem and need to be repaired, they get towed from the dealer to BMW's headquarters in Woodcliff Lake, NJ where their engineers fix them so it is possible you could have seen mine in December because I had a problem on December 19th and it was towed to Woodcliff Lake. Look at the license plate next time to see if it's me ;)
We need to bring the cars to the dealers every 4,000 to 5,000 miles so they can download data. So you probably see the cars there for service downloads. I've had five downloads so far and the service manager at Morristown said the engineers at Woodcliff Lake love me because all the data they get when I come in for a download. Some of the cars out there don't even have 5,000 miles on them yet, I just turned 23K a few days ago.