As the first stage of MINI’s trial of its electric model reaches an end this weekend (June 19, 2010), parent firm BMW reports- much like rival Mitsubishi- that the last winter has afforded them very useful feedback on the performance of an electric car in extremely cold conditions.
Trials of twenty MINI Es have been taking place in the UK since December 2009 along with similar trials in Germany, Japan and the United States. Although the full results of the trial have yet to be analysed, BMW says that trials have shown that in very low temperatures, power output is diminished until the battery is ‘warmed-up’ once in use. This is particularly the case if the car is not driven every day.
Mitsubishi in its trials of its all-electric i-MiEV model as part of the CABLED programme which completes its first quarter of testing this month (see story), reports much the same- that the exceptionally cold conditions of the last winter afforded it the chance to test the performance of its electric models in situations electric car doubters feared would severely compromise the car’s range. The results are largely positive however, as the Japanese carmaker reports only a small drop in usage of its model in the coldest conditions (as low as –10 degrees Celsius)-which it credits mostly to motorists driving less due to hazardous and icy road conditions.
However BMW reports that there was also issues with exterior charging points as winter temperatures dipped dramatically. One stopped charging completely, a problem with a sensor which has now been cured.
The Mini Es were also equipped with winter tyres to help traction given the instant torque electric cars benefit from, feedback from users on the trial said that the cars performed "like 4x4s".
The MINI E is based on the MINI hatch, a two-seater vehicle, it has a range of around 104 miles, a top speed of 95mph and a 0-62mph time of 8.5 seconds.
Mini’s UK sales and marketing director, Jochen Goller said: "We have yet to fully analyse the results but the data will give us an idea of average daily trips and mileages and where people want to charge their cars – either at home or at the office. The feedback we are getting is that the longer people live with the cars, the less anxious they become about the issue of range.
"People seem happy with the range of around 100 miles and are confident in terms of travelling 80 or even 90 miles."
Goller added that the Mini E trials will soon be extended to Paris and Beijing. The Mini E is the test bed for an all-electric model from BMW said to be launched in 2015.
In total 40 electric models have been trialled with private and fleet users in the UK since December 2009. A second phase of trials will begin in September this year and will run to March 2011. The drivers for the next stage have now been selected after the MINI E trial closed for applications for the second stage back in May 2010.
