It was a particularly nasty rush hour, and my 28-mile one-way commute was well over the one-hour mark. It was red tail lights from here to infinity -- and I couldn't have been happier.
I'm a new editor at Edmunds.com, and my first drive in a car from the fleet was the 2009 Mini E. I've never driven any Mini (though I love the way they look). And this was the first time I'd driven an electric car.
As other drivers have noted, the feel of the car's regenerative braking system took some getting used to, but I thought it was fun to use the electronic brake to negotiate stop-and-go freeway traffic. I used the actual brake pedal maybe three times during my drive home.
I also liked watching the effect that stop-and-go driving had on the Mini E's battery recharge. One minute, the display showed that I had 73 percent of battery remaining, but then it popped up to 74 -- no, 75. By time I got home, I'd only used 27 percent of the battery's power. I felt positively thrifty.
That play-the-brake recharging turned out to be handy for the traffic-free return trip the following morning. I had just 31 percent of battery left by the time I parked the wee E beastie in Edmunds' garage and reconnected it to its power source.
Carroll Lachnit, Features Editor @ 6,930 miles
thegraduate says:
08:41 AM, 06/ 4/10
Welcome to Edmunds!
ed124c says:
08:57 AM, 06/ 4/10
Hey, no one told ME that Edmunds was hiring!
Hmmm... Carroll.... are you male or female? We need to know these things, you know.
I am betting male (Carroll O'Connor-- Archie Bunker)
Nicelly written article, Carroll, but I am tired of reading about the E's regenerative braking, etc. Actually, I am tired of reading about the E. When does it leave the fleet?
Remember, today is vintage car day on Insideline. Don't miss it!
felonious says:
09:10 AM, 06/ 4/10
Welcome, Caroll! I'm sure you've never heard the name Caroll Shelby before, huh? :)
Good first post!
wobbly_ears says:
09:28 AM, 06/ 4/10
Welcome, Carroll!
So, the new hire gets stuck with the least liked car in the fleet, eh? Sad to hear Edmunds is no different place to work than my workplace.
throwback says:
09:44 AM, 06/ 4/10
Welcome aboard, don't mind the riff-raff on the blogs. We're harmless.
ergsum says:
09:54 AM, 06/ 4/10
@throwback, I think the term you want is "Bloglodytes".
creeper says:
09:57 AM, 06/ 4/10
wait, edmunds hired someone who has never driven a mini? something's amiss...
firstwagon says:
10:21 AM, 06/ 4/10
"So, the new hire gets stuck with the least liked car in the fleet, eh? "
When did the MiniE become the least liked? Most people seem to want to dislike it then realize it's a great little car.
c_lachnit says:
10:50 AM, 06/ 4/10
Thanks, all, for the welcome.
To set the record straight:
*I wanted to drive the Mini. It was not a cruel Edmunds initiation rite.
*Yes, Edmunds hired someone who has never driven a Mini. That situation has been remedied now.
*I'm not related to Carroll O'Connor or Carroll Shelby. May be related to Charles Carroll of Carrollton, who signed the Declaration of Independence. But that could be a family myth...
ed124c says:
11:09 AM, 06/ 4/10
@ergsum: So, I'm a "bloglodyte"-- well, I think it has a nice ring to it, but I would prefer to be called a "seeker of information" who sometimes has a bad sense of humor.
If I offended Carroll, I'm sorry.
wrinklebump says:
01:17 PM, 06/ 4/10
Did you replace Josh Sadsack or something? I've not heard neither hide nor hair of that dude in a coon's age. He musta got canned. Also I think he was the Mechanic cuz that dude's dead now too
misterfusion says:
02:07 PM, 06/ 4/10
Welcome! Nice to have a fresh face (OK, fresh name) around here.
I too have never driven a Mini, although I wouldn't mind the opportunity. Trouble is, I live in Los Angeles...there are potholes here that a Mini could disappear in.
ddoouugg says:
11:23 PM, 06/ 4/10
Welcome from the readers!