Californians Won't Have to Wait Long for Electric MINI
It's not fair, really. Californians are almost always the first to get any new automotive technology. We buy the most cars and have the most stringest emissions regulations, and that combo makes for a great testing ground. That's why Californians can rest assured they will be among the first to get their hands on one of several hundred electric MINIs.
By next summer -- quite likely before the Chevy Volt makes its debut, BMW will conduct a field trial with "real consumers" (read: not celebs). While initially BMW said California would receive the cars, it's not clear right now whether this first batch might go to other states as well. (Here's hoping.)
According to Automotive News, the cars will be built in Oxford, England without engines, gearboxes, or fuel tanks, and shipped to Munich for fitting with electric powetrains, before being sent to the U.S. The following 12-18-month period of "extensive testing" will be used to help BMW refine its technology before bringing the cars to market.
As evidenced by the well-attended 2008 Plug-In Conference, going on now, just about anyone who is anyone is talking about electric cars. Whether you're talking hybrid or hydrogen, though, infrastructure is the main obstacle to success. That's why GM is banding with 30 electric utilities to work on making sure the U.S. can make a smooth transition from petroluem to electricity as a fuel source. (Of course, there's always the question of dirty, coal-powered electricity plants, but that's been labeled an "upstream" problem by the automakers -- not something they can do much about.)
The Conference continues through Thursday, so expect more to come on this hot-button issue. And look forward to the MINI... maybe you'll be one of the fortunate few.
- Posted by
- Joanne Helperin July 23, 2008, 6:00 AM
- Permalink
- Categories:
- Fuel Economy
- Technorati Tags:
- Electric Cars, Emissions Regulations, MINI, Plug-In Conference
It's so unfair! We still can't even get an Altima Hybrid in Texas..... :(
I know Texas is a big state, but what about buying one from out of state and either driving it or having it shipped to you?
By the way, my Nissan Altima Hybrid is not giving me even the EPA estimated mileage (31/35) yet. (I'm getting 27.69) Granted, it's only on my second tank, but it looks as though short hops and stop-and-go traffic (which is the vast majority of my driving) really drives down the MPG. :( Unlike the Prius, the Altima doesn't thrive on this because it doesn't drive on electricity alone.
That is ceertainly a possibility, Joanne, but it depends on how Nissan might behave when it's time for service.....or if there is a warranty issue they may have to fix.
On their website, they've written something like "service options may be limited outside of these states......", you know, the states where the hybrid is sold.
On the whole, it doesn't sound like they'll get angry if a person from out of the 8 states buys one.
But I read about a story in the 1990s where GM refused to service a guy's EV1 when they eventually found out he lived outside of one of the states the car was supposed to be sold. They refued any other support. I don't remember exactly how it ended but I think he had to return the car.
Joanne, I'm sure your Altima can drive on electricity alone at low speeds. I'm pretty sure it does. Check the manual again. If it can't, it's useless....and it's not much different from those cars in Europe which shut off the engine when the car is not moving.
But it should drive on electricity alone at low speeds because I heard it's the same technology as in the Camry Hybrid, and I know from a test-drive that the Camry Hybrid goes on electricity alone at under 20 mph or so.