For the first time, I had two at once last night. My initials appeared next to two vehicles on the sign out sheet, and now my driveway is filled with 2009 Dodge Ram 1500, towing a rented U-haul trailer, which is carrying the 2009 Mini E.
The idea was to get the Mini E to the test track with a full charge, because the time has come to conduct its wrap-up test. The Dodge's days are numbered, too. Using one to tow the other is a classic case of killing two birds with one stone.
If we have enough time, we may use this pair for another special test we've wanted to do for a long time. Stay tuned.
Dan Edmunds, Director of Vehicle Testing @ 31,520 miles and 7,455 miles
slickersdrip says:
12:00 AM, 06/16/10
Special test: Head on collision test between an electric car vs. full sized pickup? Please?
lowmilelude says:
04:44 AM, 06/16/10
Tug of War: Greenie-Weenie Electro Torque vs. Dino-Burning Petro Torque.
ergsum says:
05:51 AM, 06/16/10
Dan finally gets to experience a "ménage à tow".
snipenet says:
06:35 AM, 06/16/10
imagine this caravan with an 8' bed
hybris says:
06:46 AM, 06/16/10
Have to ask why did you back up the Mini E?
Also how did you get out without taking out the paint job on the trailers fender?
actualsize says:
06:53 AM, 06/16/10
@ hybris: We backed it on to avoid damaging the Mini's front air dam. I don't usually like to do that because you end up with insufficient tongue weight. But here the battery end (rear) is heavy, and the Mini E is so short that all of it is on or ahead of the trailer axles, so it's fine.
As for getting out, u-haul rental trailers have a hinged fender that drops out of the way, but it's on the driver's side of the trailer. Since the Mini E is on backwards, that forced me to crawl out of the passenger's side of the car.
hybris says:
07:02 AM, 06/16/10
@actualsize I should have realized that you could have gone out the passenger side door. But I have seen more then enough people climb out of windows on these trailers.
chochmastergen says:
07:44 AM, 06/16/10
Looks like your lawn needs some love.
f1mom says:
08:00 AM, 06/16/10
The lawn is dying because the automatic sprinklers are off. Dan blew the GFCI with the plug-in Prius.
subytrojan says:
08:59 AM, 06/16/10
Thanks for sharing some insight (pun intended), Mrs. Edmunds! :o)
kardax says:
09:05 AM, 06/16/10
Hmm... you could use the Ram to tow the Mini with all four wheels on the ground to charge it :)
Incredibly inefficient and perhaps dangerous, but it would work in theory...
half_ton says:
09:15 AM, 06/16/10
@ergsum
How do you come up with these!?!? ROFL
greenpony says:
11:07 AM, 06/16/10
Your special test is testing the range of the Mini E, hopefully under various driving conditions. It's what I would do if I had the Mini E, the Ram, and a trailer.
cartester16 says:
02:04 PM, 06/16/10
I'd like to see the mini tow the truck! I'd take a fire extiguisher and a camera along.
actualsize says:
02:23 PM, 06/16/10
Actually, I blew the GFCI (I think) with the Mini E, but that's another blog.
greenpony says:
09:32 AM, 06/17/10
I see now that my "guessed" test is posted. Yay me.