BMW Shows MINI E Study Results

The MINI E has been around for a while and it is BMW’s response to the electric vehicle hysteria. The automaker leased the electric vehicle as part of a study, hoping that after a year the drivers will be able to point out all the problems they faced using the EV.

As part of the research, MINI conducted a comprehensive study in cooperation with the University of California (UC Davis) and the people leasing MINI E, and the preliminary results are public. The UC Davis study shows the following:

• The range of about 100 miles is sufficient for most daily needs
• Charging at home provides enough energy for most daily driving
• Demand for additional charging is centered on the place of work, or where sufficient time is spent during the day (shopping centers, stadiums, etc.)
• Driving the MINI E is a delightful experience and there is no sacrifice of "real car" values
• Unmet demands focus on having enough space for four passengers and more cargo to stimulate even more use of an electric vehicle

"There's been a lot of conjecture about electric vehicle user demands and being the first to the market with obtaining ‘real world use' patterns, we're now able to shed some accurate light on this subject," said Rich Steinberg, Manager - EV Operations and Strategy for BMW of North America.

"What they shared with us is that, for the most part, the MINI E suits their daily driving needs and that they really enjoy driving it. This makes us optimistic that electric vehicles have a role in the future of mobility in America by being a part of the overall vehicle mix," he added.