derBayerische January/February 2023 - 24

2 0 2 3 M I N I C O O P E R E L E C T R I C
modify energy to produce motion,
engines contain their own fuel
source, as opposed to motors which
draw on an external source.
Due to their rapid acceleration,
EVs are known for their " fun-todrive "
factor. For that reason, MINI
is an ideal
" transition "
platform for EVs. Famous for its
" go-kart " handling and acceleration,
we found that the EV drivetrain
accentuated the Mini driving " goodness. "
The only difference between
driving the MINI IC and the MINI EV
was the " drag " when one lifted off
the accelerator pedal. That " drag " is
from the transmission being used as
a generator to recharge the battery
pack.
Our test vehicle was literally
the EV version of the combustion
engine MINI. With the same timeless
design elements, quality
assembly and materials, convenience
features and ergonomics that
still makes MINI a favorite among
driving enthusiasts.
Ironically, with the use of a
plastic engine/motor cover, the
difference in outward appearance
between the EV MINI and the combustion
engine MINI is just subtle
badging. Even the gas cap/plug port
are at the same location!
However, that's part of the strategy
for the eventual integration of
EVs into the mass market. Years
ago, BMW developed a common,
modular chassis that could be
used for combustion engine,
hybrid electric, or full electric
powertrain/drivetrains (may as well
cover all the bases) decreasing the
development and assembly costs of
the resultant product line. This
makes it much easier to develop a
positive business case.
Having the vehicle have the
same " Ultimate Driving Machine "
driving dynamics, regardless of the
powertrain/drivetrain is key to market
acceptance. The dirty little secret
that neither Prius nor Tesla owners
will admit is that their
vehicles are miserable to drive. Their
extreme chassis stiffness produces a
very harsh ride.
HOWEVER, " Mini " was also an
accurate description of the battery
pack. This smaller battery pack limited
the range to a little over 100
miles, when fully charged. Sane
people would never attempt to use
the MINI Cooper EV for our standard
Northern California evaluation, but
not performing a " real-world " evaluation
of any product does our readers
a disservice. Driven by the progressive-elitist
" let them eat cake "
attitude and the obscene increase in
gas prices ( " Buy an EV! " ) we threw
caution to the wind and drove our
MINI close to 1000 miles in " real
world " urban, suburban, and freeway
conditions. We learned that the
immediate mass market adaptation
of EVs is far from certain and that
any politically forced market transition
will be anything but smooth.
A smooth transition to EVs
■ (From the Left) You'd better have something to do while you're charging. Note that the plug port is at the same location as the gas cap.
■ (From the Left) The more powerful the charger, the faster the charge time. Outside the Silicon Valley, this was a common message for the chargers.
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derBayerische January/February 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of derBayerische January/February 2023