I'd bet it is similar to the Volt's set-up where the vehicle switches from EV-only mode at 35% charge. There were all kinds of technical reasons for it with the Volt, but it makes good sense that you keep a little extra juice in the battery so as not to deplete it. The math in there doesn't make sense, but I'd bet you cannot drain the battery to 0% with a mechanism to shut it down as not to kill a battery. But I could be way off.
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Electric MINI revealed -- The Mini E
- Thread starter stopcrazypp
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I'd bet it is similar to the Volt's set-up where the vehicle switches from EV-only mode at 35% charge. There were all kinds of technical reasons for it with the Volt, but it makes good sense that you keep a little extra juice in the battery so as not to deplete it. The math in there doesn't make sense, but I'd bet you cannot drain the battery to 0% with a mechanism to shut it down as not to kill a battery. But I could be way off.
Siemens makes EV equipment also!
High End AC Drive Systems and Power Electronics for Electric Vehicles
High End AC Drive Systems and Power Electronics for Electric Vehicles
LA Preview: Officially, official: the MINI E! Does it use a Tesla battery? - AutoblogGreen
There did seem to be quite a few Tesla people in Bavaria over the summer, perhaps it wasn't just about the press days...
There did seem to be quite a few Tesla people in Bavaria over the summer, perhaps it wasn't just about the press days...
Different state: Mercedes Benz are in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, a couple of hours up the road from Munich. Unless there is a branch office there working on Smart.
(Of course, I could be clutching at straws here... :wink: )
(Of course, I could be clutching at straws here... :wink: )
Oh, sorry. With most EVs they will let you drain the pack to near "0", but with increasing warnings that you are doing bad things to the pack.
For instance, my RangerEV has various warning lights that go on in sequence then start flashing, and it starts to restrict top speed and acceleration. As you get down to "rock bottom", it only lets you drive 25MPH max speed. It basically converts to a city-EV telling you "limp to a charger now or else".
The damage from "full drain" varies between battery types. For instance, old lead-acid is really damaged if you do that. Li-Ions can take it better, but apparently it prematurely ages them somewhat. Apparently the NiMHs I have like a good "full cycle" now and then.
Some of these concerns revolve around unbalanced cells in a pack. For instance, even if you could drain any individual cell to say 1% of total charge, if you drain the whole pack to 5% total charge it may mean some cells are left at 10% and some at 0%, where 0% could be a real problem.
Here is a decent discussion of how the Volt is supposed to hold charges from beginning of life to EOL. Interesting that you start and end with 40 miles EV range with no drop in performance after (I want to say 150,000 miles). That's impressive.
GM-VOLT : Chevy Volt Electric Car Site Blog Archive The Chevy Volt’s All Electric Range (AER) Will be 40 Miles Both at Beginning and End of Life
There's only 500 of them for lease. It makes no sense to spread them all over the US. That would cost a fortune to keep tabs on the data as well as service.
That's true, but you're missing a key reason. California (and I think NY also to some extent) still has remnants of the ZEV mandate. These 500 some cars will help keep BMW on the safe side in case they're ever actually enforced.
Of course, BMW isn't doing this purely for the selfish reason to fulfill the ZEV mandate. Like all the other carmakers, they probably want to see for themselves how practical EVs are.
Of course, BMW isn't doing this purely for the selfish reason to fulfill the ZEV mandate. Like all the other carmakers, they probably want to see for themselves how practical EVs are.
shark2k
Member
Don't forget NJ residents are also able to lease the Mini E. Just in case anyone is wondering it's $850/month plus title, registration and license fees which are do up front. And of course there is tax. MiniUSA.com was updated and the application is now available so if you want to find out any information. As cool as it would be to get to drive this, I don't think it's worth $10,200 after a year considering you won't have the option at all to purchase the car, but that is just me. Also, for anybody that might have more than one person in a household that would want to try this, they are only accepting 1 application per household and it's the first application that is going to be considered. The site also said it can take a few months for the Mini E to be delivered and that the preferred Mini Dealer you choose might not get the car and you would have to go to a different dealer.
If anyone does get this, let us know how it is.
-Shark2k
If anyone does get this, let us know how it is.
-Shark2k
I was highly intersted as well and plan to see it here at the LA Auto show this week but for the same reasons Shark2k listed I will also be passing on a year's $12K* rental.
I do have a friend who has a friend getting one. I will report whatever I can.
*All that extra electrical work I need is added.
I do have a friend who has a friend getting one. I will report whatever I can.
*All that extra electrical work I need is added.
JRP3
Hyperactive Member
oooo, Hybrid *snap*!
'Bout time someone launched a battery salvo bringing out into the open that Hybrid batteries are muc harder to develop.
The V2G stuff is pretty cool too. These guys are smart -a mini leap (as it were) in the EV timeline.
Autobloggreen recently did a drive in the MINI E.
Things that stood out were just that the regen braking is alot stronger than normal and that the car didn't simulate automatic transmission creep. Also they noted with the AC on the battery drained rather quickly.
There's also a video included.
ABG Quick Drive: Battery-powered MINI-E w/VIDEO - AutoblogGreen
Things that stood out were just that the regen braking is alot stronger than normal and that the car didn't simulate automatic transmission creep. Also they noted with the AC on the battery drained rather quickly.
There's also a video included.
ABG Quick Drive: Battery-powered MINI-E w/VIDEO - AutoblogGreen
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