Mini E Pioneers Discover Good Clean Fun, Study Says

DAVIS, Calif. — A study finds that the first drivers to experiment with the Mini E were surprised to discover how much good, clean fun electric vehicles could be — but there were complaints too.

"Many of the participants in this study were unaccustomed to such a nimble vehicle and told us a lot about the fun they discovered," said a new study by researchers at the University of California, Davis, who teamed up with BMW. "In particular, the combination of 'clean and fun' was important. Many interviewees described driving the vehicle faster than previous cars and impressing their friends and families."

But there were gripes about adjusting to an electric vehicle, the study noted.

The greatest challenge to the energy storage of the Mini E was cold weather, says the report, noting that many drivers in the New York area complained of severe drops in performance of the battery. Surprisingly, the pioneers told researchers that limited cargo room and no backseats were bigger drawbacks than the Mini E's range. The rear seats were eliminated to accommodate the lithium-ion battery pack.

Drivers told the UC Davis researchers that they had to adjust their driving styles. They would slow down or try to maximize regenerative braking to recoup energy. Most reported seldom needing to step on the brake pedal, unless a full stop was called for.

The electric Mini Cooper was a critical litmus test for BMW as it develops alt-energy vehicles. Early adopters of the car paid $850 a month to lease the Mini E.

Inside Line says: A new study discovers the good, the bad and the ugly about the Mini E.