BMW Mini to Sell Electric Cars in U.S. From Summer 2009

 BMW Mini to Sell Electric Cars in U.S. From Summer 2009
http://www.techespot.com/2009/06/bmw-mini-to-sell-electric-cars-in-us.html

  In article


Tracing the links, we get to this year-old article:

<http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/09/500-electric-minis-to-go-on-sale-in-c
alifornia/>

     It's not quite official yet, but Automotive News is reporting that
     BMW is planning on offering some 500 all-electric Minis for sale
     in California. The main assembly of the silver hatchbacks with
     yellow roofs (apart from the drivetrain) will be completed in
     Oxford, England, with the batteries and motor installed in Munich.
     After arriving in the US, just 490 lucky Golden Staters will be
     able to pick one up -- the other 10 will be show cars. Since BMW
     hasn't formally announced the plan yet, there's no word on pricing
     or availability, but something tells us there's not going to be
     any shortage of buyers when these things hit the streets.

And this one:

<http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/07/22/electric-mini-will-be-in-us-cust
omer-hands-in-summer-2009/>

     At a breakfast meeting with MINI USA VP Jim McDowell this morning
     he was asked to elaborate on recently announced plans for a
     battery powered MINI. McDowell acknowledged that the US branch was
     caught somewhat by surprise with the announcement. Plans have not
     been finalized at this point as to whether the cars will be leased
     or sold, or how many will be built. What McDowell did say for
     certain is that electric MINIs will be on the road in the hands of
     regular customers in the summer of 2009, one year from now. He
     could not say if all those customers would be in California or if
     they would be made available nationwide. No specifications such as
     range are available at this time either.

     Update: After the presentation, we talked to McDowell for a few
     more minutes and although he couldn't say what type of battery
     will be in the cars, he did say that MINI will make a further
     announcement later this year, possibly around the time of the Los
     Angeles Auto Show.

--
Member National Rifle Association
Member American Civil Liberties Union
Member Human Rights Campaign

 

Folks in PriusChat received an invitation to lease and electric Mini. My
understanding is the lease program has started. However, I had occasion
to see one at the Detroit Auto Show in January:

http://hiwaay.net/~bzwilson/prius/pri_2010_390.jpg

The back seats are completely filled with the battery pack. It is a
two-seater, electric Mini. No doubt some will be tempted but I have no
interest ... none.

Bob Wilson

 

Firstly, I believe that's untrue. Secondly, every hybrid to date that
was not designed from the ground up to be a hybrid has been a loser. I
define "loser" as "cannot average 45 mpg or higher at all times." This
is a game where catch-up is not good enough; a manufacturer has got to
innovate or step aside.

Davoud

--
usenet *at* davidillig dawt com

 I'd have to agree on this one.

I think the Chevy Malibu hybrid should be a poster child for, "What not to
engineer."

I wouldn't mind having an all electric for a second car, for commuting.  But
they will not be a first vehicle for very many people.  If I can't go on a
trip, and replenish the energy source in about 5 minutes or so and then go
another 250 miles at least, then it is not a viable first car.

Out Vet had one of the first Honda all-electrics.  A bit over 50 miles was
his usual range.  He wound up having to make plans to be extra light on the
pedal, if he wanted to do so much as run by the store on the way home.  In
his case, the end result was that he has spent a gob of money on the
vehicle, was committed to being as green as possible, so he sold his house
and moved closer to work.

I'm not quite so green....

However, give me a resonalbe price and a 100 or so mile range (my round trip
commute is 58 miles and though I work at a power plant, we have been
forbidden to charge personal electric vehicles at work), I'd be all over it
for a commuter car.

-alex
05 Prius 92,000 miles