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BMW mull lengthening Mini E lease times

There are reasons to criticize the Mini E leases that BMW is offering – for example, that BMW is using the program to game CARB's Zero Emission Vehicle credit system – but one of the undeniable problems on the ground was some trouble with slow home charging. Because of the trouble with some home chargers at the start of the program, the manager of Mini electric vehicle operations and strategy, Richard Steinberg, told Car and Driver that BMW is considering extending the leases. There are two reasons an extension would be good for ... Read more →

REPORT: Mini's future models roadmapped; big, small, efficient and diesel (maybe) Jeremy Korzeniewski

If you'll please forgive us our one tired cliché of the day... BMW has big plans in store for its smallest brand. In this case, quite literally as the next model that comes from Mini will ...

GM-Volt founder stranded, learns why EVs take so long to bring to market Sam Abuelsamid

Over the last several years, many of the fans of battery-powered vehicles here on ABG have asked quite vociferously why it's taking companies like General Motors so long to bring cars like the ...

MINI selects 40 UK test drivers for MINI E leases Sam Abuelsamid

MINI E - Click above for high-res image gallery Apparently drivers in the UK were not as enthralled by the prospect of leasing the battery-powered MINI E as Americans. While some 10,000 drivers ...

MINI Es gather in Long Beach Sebastian Blanco

Yesterday, about 20 MINI E drivers brought their all-electric rides to Jesse James' Cisco Burger in Long Beach, California for a little plug-in love fest. MINI E driver Todd C. was there and sent ...

BMW accepting applications for lower-cost MINI E leases in UK 2 months ago on Autoblog Green

MINI E - Click above for high-res image gallery Good news for southwest England residents who are fans of EVs and/or the MINI: BMW is now accepting applications for an allotment of 20 MINI E leases. Why is it good news that a company will take your money? Because these leases will be offered ...

Germany setting sights on one million electric cars by 2020? 3 months ago on Autoblog Green

According to a report from the Associated Press (via Drive.com.au), Germany is about to get serious about electric cars. How serious? Chancellor Angela Merkel's Cabinet is currently drafting a plan that would aim to put a million electric cars on German roadways by 2020. To meet that lofty ...

Coda Automotive adds former MINI, VW exec as marketing officer 3 months ago on Autoblog Green

The Coda electric sedan just got a new advocate. Kerri Martin, who used to work for Harley-Davidson, BMW Motorcycles, MINI and Volkswagen "launching, building and reinvigorating some of the world's most iconic pop culture brands" over the past 15 years, has been hired as Coda Automotive's new ...

BMW gets MINI E research assist from UC Davis in year-long study 3 months ago on Autoblog Green

The University of California at Davis has a long history of understanding plug-in vehicles and how people use plug-ins. After all, this is a school with a dedicated Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) Research Center. The latest automaker to benefit from the UCD team is BMW, which is asking ...

EV-TV perfects Porsche, now converting Clubman 3 months ago on Autoblog Green

In the "Can I convert a gas vehicle to electric" installation of our Greenlings series we featured a video of a very sweet '57 Porsche 356 Speedster reproduction from Special Edition that had an electric drivetrain installed in place of its original gas-burner. Jack Rickard, the man behind that ...

Rumor: BMW and PSA partnership will go beyond engine sharing 3 months ago on Autoblog Green

BMW and PSA share a couple powertrains: The diesel Minis have the 1.6 HDi developed by PSA, while the 1.4- and 1.6-liter gasoline engines were co-developed with BMW. However, BMW chief exec Norbert Reithofer has confirmed in the Financial Times that the two European automakers could begin ...

VIDEO: Inside Line resides over the battle of the fuel sippers 3 months ago on Autoblog Green

Fuel efficiency is the big buzz word in marketing circles, and with good reason. 2008's record fuel prices appears to have finally curbed America's appetite for inefficient trucks and SUVs, and customers are demanding less pain at the pump. Several vehicles have been beneficiaries of the green ...

Tales of woe from the electric car frontier, MINI E edition 3 months ago on Autoblog Green

We've heard the stories about the charging problems with BMW's MINI E lease program and understand that paying $850 a month for one of these electric cars doesn't appeal to everyone. Still, the issues that some early adopters are dealing with with these EVs are pretty dramatic: the car going ...

Home charging: Renewable energy-powered MINI Es start testing in Munich 3 months ago on Autoblog Green

BMW has officially announced a partnership with the E.ON utility company to test drive 15 MINI Es in Münich, Germany. E.On will provide electricity for the cars in 13 special charging stations near the Museumislen area of town. The juice for these stations will be certified to come from ...

Frankfurt preview: BMW announces plans for MINIMALISM display, special MINI editions 3 months ago on Autoblog Green

The IAA Frankfurt Motor Show is still a month and a half away, but the BMW Group is gearing up to show the world that its three brands – BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce – include efficient and enjoyable driving machines. The BMW Groups vehicles will be displayed on a special circuit track ...

REPORT: No R56-based Mini diesels bound for U.S. 3 months ago on Autoblog Green

And now to repeat one particular bit of news that's been playing over and over like a broken record since the modern Mini first made its appearance Stateside back in 2001 – there's little if any chance that the U.S. market will be blessed with an oil-burning Mini Cooper any time soon. ...

MINI E survives first fender bender 4 months ago on Autoblog Green

MINI E - Click above for high-res image gallery The first accident we've heard of that involved a MINI E resulted in a dent in the rear hatch and not much else. The fender bender – which took place at low speeds and was apparently the fault of a large white van behind the all-electric MINI ...

MINI UK adds new entry-level First model to appeal to scrappers 4 months ago on Autoblog Green

Ever since the modern MINI debuted earlier this decade, it has always been marketed as a premium small car. Even the least expensive variants were pricier than some comparable subcompacts. This has now changed. MINI UK has just added a new, lower-priced model specifically aimed at first time buyers ...

Synergy Innovations bringing electric MINI to Auto X Prize 4 months ago on Autoblog Green

Like BMW's official MINI E, but don't appreciate how the battery pack takes up most of the space behind the front seats? Synergy Innovations, one of the officially registered teams in the Automotive X Prize, is using a MINI as a basis for their prototype electric vehicle powertrain called the ...

MINI explains the drop in estimated range for MINI E 4 months ago on Autoblog Green

Those paying close attention might have noticed that as MINI USA has been delivering battery-powered MINI Es in recent weeks, the range estimate is being quoted as 100 miles. Last November, when we first saw and drove the MINI E, the range was estimated at 156 miles. When we actually drove the ...

1,000 miles in a MINI E, the review 4 months ago on Autoblog Green

MINI E - Click above for high-res image gallery One of the most desired electric vehicles available (somewhat) today is the MINI E. Short test drives can't duplicate what it's like to live with such a car, but there are a multiple blogs being written about the daily MINI E experience. Lyle ...

BMW building more MINI Es for European testing 4 months ago on Autoblog Green

The popularity of BMW's MINI E test program in the United States has evidently prompted the company to expand production beyond the original 500 cars and add a smaller test fleet in Europe. The original plan, as announced last fall, was for 500 of the battery-powered MINIs to be made available ...

New 90 hp MINI One D debuts in Europe this fall with 60.3 mpg (U.S.) on EU test 4 months ago on Autoblog Green

In North America, the Cooper represents the entry point to the MINI lineup, but Europeans have always had the option of the MINI One. Until now however, the MINI One has used gasoline engines. That will be changing come September when the MINI One D goes on sale with a 90 hp version of the ...

Plug In America criticizes CARB loophole that could help BMW with its MINI E 4 months ago on Autoblog Green

BMW has gotten a lot of press (some bad) for their MINI E project. Even though the all-electric car comes with a plug, the plug-in advocacy group Plug In America (PIA) has a problem with the way that the Bavarians might be able to get a lot of legislative good will without really putting EVs on ...

UK will spend £25 million ($40 million U.S.) on huge electric car test program 4 months ago on Autoblog Green

The electric vehicle money is flowing everywhere. Following the U.S. DOE's announcement yesterday, the UK has announced it will spend £25 million ($40 million) on a large project to get EVs and "ultra-low carbon vehicles an everyday feature of life on Britain's roads in less than five ...

BMW gets approval for UK MINI E test fleet 4 months ago on Autoblog Green

Ford isn't the only automaker involved in a new EV test program being funded by the Technology Strategy Board in the UK. BMW will also be a part of the year-long, £25 million field test with its MINI E. Scottish and Southern Energy will be testing the cars along with the Focus EVs we ...

MINI E recipient starts a blog about his electric adventure 5 months ago on Autoblog Green

Pasadena, California resident Mark Winkworth is one of the 450 individuals in Southern California and the New York/New Jersey areas that made it through the MINI E screening process. After having received the word that he had been accepted back in May, he'd been waiting (im)patiently until this past ...

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept gets a steal of a deal on MINI E lease 5 months ago on Autoblog Green

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) is getting in on BMW's MINI E action in a big way. The LA County Board of Supervisors have given their approval to a deal that will see a squadron of 17 of the AC Propulsion-electrified retro-cutes join the force as part of the testing program ...

Meet a MINI E that will only use solar power 5 months ago on Autoblog Green

The all-electric MINI Es are starting to be delivered, and AutoblogGreen reader David VM. will do something a little extra with his new ride: power it completely by solar power. David has started up a new blog called MINI E 19 (his car is #19) and the first entry talks about the initial week ...

Spy Shots: Rolls Royce Mini one-off 5 months ago on Autoblog Green

People love to imagine bigger and better things for the long-running MINI. Whether it's a new Speedster version or a revived MINI Moke, the platform inspires daydreaming. Apparently, it aspires, too, to a more pimed out existence. Rumors of a Rolls Royce-branded MINI have been floating around ...

Underwriters Lab holdup means some MINI Es will take all day to charge 5 months ago on Autoblog Green

With MINI Es finally being delivered to the 450 test drivers in New York and California, a problem has cropped up that will limit the ability of many of those people to actually use the car. When MINI USA was taking applications for leases on the new EV, among the requirements were a garage with ...

First MINI E delivered to customer 5 months ago on Autoblog Green

Despite thousands of people signing up for a chance to lease the MINI E, only 500 are being produced at this stage, with 50 of those destined for Berlin. Now, after months of winnowing down the list, the very first car has been delivered to one very happy customer. After meeting all the ...

Rendered Speculation: MINI Speedster, chop the windshield, drop the back seat! 6 months ago on Autoblog Green

One of the few brands to show any growth in 2008 was MINI, thanks to a combination of high fuel economy and fun to drive characteristics. The MINI convertible, in particular, is a fun sunny day conveyance. However, the back seat of the MINI is so small that it's virtually useless. What better way ...

Spy Shots: Could this be the face of BMW's Project i? 6 months ago on Autoblog Green

Take a good look at the spy shot above. The car you see is obviously a MINI of some sort, though nobody seems quite sure what to make of it. There's certainly a possibility that it's nothing more than a clay mock-up of a possible design direction that didn't make it into production, but it could ...

Hydrogen-powered salt flat racer concept fleshed out, complete with goldfish 7 months ago on Autoblog Green

Remember the 5th Annual LA Auto Show Design Challenge from a few months back? Designers put pen to paper (or, probably more accurately, mouse to mouse pad) in an effort to imagine what eco-friendly racecars would be like in the year 2025. The winning entry was the Mazda KAAN from the Mazda North ...

Spy shots: MINI non-Crossman hits the Nurburgring 7 months ago on Autoblog Green

The promised fourth variant of the MINI is coming soon, likely at the 50th anniversary celebration this August. This new, larger crossover is getting closer to production and that means it needs to go through the now de rigueur prove out on that toughest of all race tracks: the Nurburgring ...

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