ElectricMiniLaMonica

Martin LaMonica of CNET's Green Tech blog takes the electric mini for a ride in California and gets a tour of the interior and engine with James Hunt of BMW.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• CNET Green Tech
• Martin LaMonica
• electric Mini

[Vidiot1955]

At some point the people who test drive and review these electric cars have to start talking about cost per mile. Since it makes no sense to talk about mpg with an electric car, and since no one thinks about the cost per mile of a gasoline car, the obvious question is, "What's the cost per mile of this car, and how does it compare with the cost per mile of a gasoline Mini Cooper?"

[CNETGreenTech]

I agree with you. There is a conversion of electric miles to mpg, but it's a bit of a kludge. Cost per mile is easier to compare though people are just starting to use it.

[mallermedia]

Great technology, wonderful car, but dude...what a lame video. The least you could do is properly de-interlace the video and pay attention to lighting so that we can see what you're aiming at. A little production value wouldn't hurt. ;-)

[CNETGreenTech]

It's a combination of cinema verite and gonzo journalism. Production values were a secondary consideration :)

[rangerev]

I am so sick of people trying to compare a brand new technology to an old one. Did you think of the cost of a new vinyl record player vs the cost of that original Sony CD player? How about the cost of that 14k plasma a few years ago compared to a tube t.v. Nice original $500.00 I-phone. Whatever. People are stupid and pathetic. It's pretty freakin' simple. Stuff get's cheaper when you start making more of them. Either get on board or get out of the way.

[AthleteTO]

I find it amusing how everyone is so harsh on this car. Geez - We've gotta start somewhere, folks! So props to Mini/BMW for at least making an effort, and it will only get better from here.

[BMWpower414]

they say that it has the equivalent to 200HP. thats pretty good for an electric car!

[azaas]

i'd love to have that car!!!

[Chick6517]

I like this vid! haha they should have this song standing by at every wedding just in case the groom backs down haha she really looks hot in the alley scene with the bangs and the butt shorts. that look just fits her.

[robm425]

In a perfect world I would have 2 cars. 1 electric mini with a 100mile range to commute and turbo diesel for road trips

[smak9120]

you can forget about going past 50 miles, and I hope you don't get lost. There are no electric stations. you would need to use someone's outlet. Not good for travel. Maybe if it can go 1000 miles on a single charge, then we can start talking

[cragosm]

What does a $850/month lease actually mean in terms of the price of a new Mini-E when they finally ramp up production?

[cragosm]

It's a matter of economies of scale. Power plants, though a major producer of pollution in absolute terms, produce far far less per unit of energy produced than small gasoline engines, be they in generators, cars, or your lawn mower. Google it if you want numbers, but there is a quite substantial positive impact, even if you're switching from a gasoline-powered car to an electrical car powered off of even the current generation of coal-fired power plants.

[budgiesmugglers]

I don't see how this car is any more environmentally friendly than a gasoline car. You just shift the pollution from the cities to the power plants...

Unless solar power is pursued at a higher priority this really isn't helping.