FIRST Impression: MINI E Brings Together Excitement And Efficiency

In the day and age where alternative energy vehicles are becoming more important to manufacturer’s and their future, it was only a matter of time before the quirky little guy got in on at the act.  Yeah, I am talking about MINI.

With the automotive world going through a paradigm shift towards zero emission vehicles and various alternative energy methods, it was only natural for BMW to get involved in some fashion.  Although the hydrogen 7-series was an innovative take on the possibilities of the future, it does not seem realistic in the near-term.  So, it appears the brand went back to the drawing board and came up with something more pragmatic. 

Hence, the MINI E.

As the first installment of BMW’s latest project, Project i, it is a valuable guinea pig.  Essentially, the mission of Project i is to research and develop a vehicle from the ground up that will serve the wants of the world’s booming cities.  In a recent press release, BMW said that it feels this is where vehicle growth will coming from within the next couple decades.

This makes me wonder, if New York City and Los Angeles are crowded as is, what will they be like in 20 years?  I guess this makes sense that the word on the street is hinting at the return of the iconic Isetta.   

Regardless, AutoSpies recently had the chance to drive the MINI E until we became uncomfortable with the charge level, which was about three hours.  Although that is considered a paltry amount of time behind the wheel of any car when trying to get a feel for it, you have to remember that this is one of 450 automobiles to be leased within the US – 250 in LA, 200 in the NY metro area – according to Nathalie Bauters, MINI Communications Manager at MINI.  Needless to say, this was an exciting and rare opportunity.

This became compacted when I got my first look at the BMW garage at its North American headquarters in northern New Jersey; there were only two MINI Es.  Which neatly brings up an observation: there are only two ways to separate an E from the gasoline variants.  One is the number of decals, stampings and unique greenish yellow that is used as an accent.  Another is by the thick cable hooked into where you would normally fuel a gasoline-powered vehicle. 

Otherwise, it is the same handsome-looking vehicle.  This makes the E relatively subtle, unless of course you decide to have “MINI E” scrawled on the doors, like my test vehicle.  Hey, sometimes you have to impress the Joneses and make sure they know you are saving the world.

Let’s get down to the basics, what really matters.  The E is powered by a high-performance 5,088 cell lithium-ion battery.  This equates to 204-horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque.  Not bad, for a vehicle weighing in at just over 3,200 pounds.  Mind you this is more than 30-horsepower greater than a Cooper S, but do not get too giddy; an E does weigh about 500 pounds more than an automatic S.  0-60 comes in an acceptable 8.5 seconds, MINI claims.  Mated to the powerplant is a Getrag single-stage helical gearbox, which was derived from the Cooper S’ transmission, said Bauters.  Essentially, this means it is a one-speed. 

It is certainly not a race car but it does have enough pep to get you from “A” to “B.”  Planting your foot through the accelerator provides a sound similar to a jet engine preparing for take-off.  Torque comes on nearly instantly and the wheel is pulled pretty seriously, because of this it seems as though the car is faster than a Cooper S.  But, when you get on it while merging onto a highway, the difference is obvious.

Although I consider myself a purist at heart, I came to enjoy the sound it made.  Initially, I assumed that I would loathe the whining noise but it grew on me.  Most of the time, if feathering the throttle or applying slight pressure to maintain pace, it is silent.  It does not come off as eery or timid, in fact, it was another plus.

Almost as interesting as the sound in the E is the way the car comes to a stop.  Once you let off the throttle, the electric motor acts as though it is a generator.  This provides braking force and feeds energy back into the motor as regenerative braking.  Although regenerative braking is not groundbreaking technology, it is vastly different in the MINI E.  This is because it is so much stronger than experience has proven in other alternative energy vehicles. 

While driving the Lexus HS and Toyota Prius you still have to hit the brake in order to slow down appropriately.  In the E, you can let off the throttle and most likely you will have to hit the accelerator to get to the light or stop sign.  When you let off the gas it is as though the E becomes stuck in molasses. 

MINI claims that regenerative braking can extend the range up to 20 percent and that calculation is about right.  Several times during testing I saw the charge pick up approximately three to six percentage points.  As long as you are aware and mindful, it is easy to “fight” depleting the battery. 

Around the bends, the MINI handles exactly as though a MINI should.  When putting the additional weight into the car, the engineers ensured that weight distribution would remain balanced.  By doing so, the handling capabilities remain akin to the Cooper S.

After becoming more familiar with both the E and Cooper S, it is clear the tuning to the steering weight and feel is similar to BMW.  Both MINI’s felt very similar to my E46 330Ci in twisties.  This translates into a heavier steering weight with direct inputs and sharp agility.  And, in a front-wheel drive car?  It was sort of mindboggling.  Now, if MINI could somehow eliminate its unruly torque steer on a hard launch, that would be ideal. 

Because the E is using a cocktail of parts from the Cooper and Cooper S, its suspension remains about the same.  It is a taut example with sportier intentions; however, it does not favor the bumps and road imperfections.  Although it is not teeth chatteringly bad, it is harsher than expected over New Jersey’s potholes.  Float is non-existent at highway speed and the suspension is tuned to keep the car planted in elevation changes. 

Knowing that the E is fun to drive is a welcome surprise, but more important is how it performs in terms of charging; one of the more controversial issues about electric vehicles. 

To charge up the MINI it is an incredibly simple task.  It is as though you are plugging in a refrigerator.  Granted, a big refrigerator with a larger appetite.  Although the Li-ion battery can be plugged into standard outlets, the charge time can vary due to the amount of power flowing through a city’s electrical grid. 

This issue has been countered by the inclusion of a “wallbox” that has been installed in each consumer’s home.  A wallbox provides higher amperage and cuts down longer recharging times.  Depending on which system is used – a 220 volt 32 amp system or a 48 amp system – a totally drained E battery can take three to five hours or two to three hours to charge, respectively.

Mileage wise, MINI says that the car is able to achieve 100 miles on a single charge, with one member of its dedicated Facebook group attaining over 141 miles on a single charge.  My experience was slightly different.  I drove just over 55 miles with another 19 left, according to the on-board computer.  Assuming I could have worked regenerative braking magic, I feel somewhere between 80 – 85 miles would have been possible.

To me, this further proves the need for the E.  Knowing that an individual’s driving style and an area’s environmental conditions play a monumental part in an electric car’s range provides clarity behind the one-year testing of the E. 

Bauters said the one year turnaround “will ensure that we (BMW/MINI) have free access to the used MINI E vehicles after completion of the project and be able to evaluate the know-how gained.”  

What was shocking about the car was the fun-factor.  Electric cars are supposed to be boring, quiet and librarian-like.  But, that is not what was seen here.  This was some of the most fun I have had driving, period.  Although it pains me to write that, there was something magical about sliding behind the wheel of the E, knowing I was not polluting the Earth while squealing tires around a hairpin turn.   

Following my testing of the E, I was provided a Cooper S for comparative purposes and it continued to prove to me the greatness of the MINI E.  For instance, the cramped rear seat is useless anyway and I could not break 25 miles per gallon in the course of a week.  And, the E drove identically to the regular gasoline variant.  It was stunning.

Clearly, the future for electric cars is huge.  Once the hurdles are cleared, it is very possible that these project cars find a home in each and every one of our driveways.  Assuming they become more practical and are anywhere as good as the MINI E, I will not be complaining.   


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