British Mini E driver upset that he has to give back car

Filed under: EV/Plug-in , MINI MINI E - Click above for high-res image gallery BMW has handled its Mini E test program quite differently in the United States and Europe and at least one British test driver isn’t happy. In America, people who signed up for the program were given one-year leases at the start of the program in 2009 and then got the option to sign up for a second year

Half of Mini E lessees renew for another year, price dropped to $600/month

Filed under: EV/Plug-in , MINI , Green Daily MINI E - Click above for high-res image gallery Mini made a bold decision to offer its electric prototype to consumers for a year-long trial. Sure, there were a few issues here and there , but the overall experience was reportedly quite enjoyable

Video: Race-spec Mini E laps the Nürburgring

Filed under: EV/Plug-in , BMW , MINI Mini E Race - Click above for high-res image gallery The 13-mile long Nürburgring-Nordschleife is one of the most treacherous race tracks in the world, even on the best of days. Taking it on in the fog seems like a recipe for disaster

GM-Volt founder stranded, learns why EVs take so long to bring to market

Filed under: EV/Plug-in , MINI MINI E - click above for high-res image gallery Over the last several years, many of the fans of battery-powered vehicles here on ABG have asked quite vociferously why it’s taking companies like General Motors so long to bring cars like the Volt to market. Many of you seem to think you can convert an existing platform and have it on the market in six months. While it is certainly plausible for individual conversions to be done in that time frame, mass production is a very different matter

MINI Es gather in Long Beach

Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Green Culture , MINI Yesterday, about 20 MINI E drivers brought their all-electric rides to Jesse James’ Cisco Burger in Long Beach, California for a little plug-in love fest.

MINI E survives first fender bender

MINI E - Click above for high-res image gallery The first accident we’ve heard of that involved a MINI E resulted in a dent in the rear hatch and not much else. The fender bender - which took place at low speeds and was apparently the fault of a large white van behind the all-electric MINI in stop-and-go traffic - wasn’t related to anything about the car’s powertrain. We know about the accident to MINI E #438 thanks to the My MINI E blog, part of a true blossoming MINI E blog network (see here , here and here ) that describe the joys of driving the converted cars (and quick charging) in a way that BMW must be glad to see

MINI explains the drop in estimated range for MINI E

MINI E - click above for high-res image gallery Those paying close attention might have noticed that as MINI USA has been delivering battery-powered MINI Es in recent weeks, the range estimate is being quoted as 100 miles. Last November, when we first saw and drove the MINI E, the range was estimated at 156 miles.

BMW building more MINI Es for European testing

MINI E - click above for high-res image gallery The popularity of BMW’s MINI E test program in the United States has evidently prompted the company to expand production beyond the original 500 cars and add a smaller test fleet in Europe. The original plan, as announced last fall, was for 500 of the battery-powered MINIs to be made available in the U.S

UK will spend £25 million ($40 million U.S.) on huge electric car test program

Mitsubishi iMiEV - click above for high res iamge gallery The electric vehicle money is flowing everywhere. Following the U.S. DOE’s announcement yesterday , the UK has announced it will spend £25 million ($40 million) on a large project to get EVs and “ultra-low carbon vehicles an everyday feature of life on Britain’s roads in less than five years.” Automotive partners include Ford , MINI , smart, Mitsubishi and Toyota

BMW gets approval for UK MINI E test fleet

MINI E - click above for high-res image gallery Ford isn’t the only automaker involved in a new EV test program being funded by the Technology Strategy Board in the UK.

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