MINI News - BMW brings Hydrogen 7 fleet, MINI E to UN Climate Change conference

BMW brings Hydrogen 7 fleet, MINI E to UN Climate Change conference

Filed under: Hydrogen, BMW, MINI

21 of BMW’s Hydrogen 7s are serving as shuttle vehicles during the UN Climate Change conference this week in Poznan, Poland. A pair of all-electric MINI Es are also on hand to show off the German automaker’s zero emission skillz. To deflect hydrogen critics, BMW made sure to run the 7’s hydrogen combustion engine on “climate neutral hydrogen.” It appears this hydrogen was made by electrolyzing water using renewable energy. The understatement of the day comes toward the end of the press release (available in full after the jump) where BMW says that “The key for both hydrogen power and electromobility lies not only in the ability of the vehicles to run CO₂-free but also in the development of supply chains and infrastructure to provide them with clean hydrogen and electricity. This represents both a political and an economic challenge.” Yup, that’s about right.

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading BMW brings Hydrogen 7 fleet, MINI E to UN Climate Change conference

BMW brings Hydrogen 7 fleet, MINI E to UN Climate Change conference originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[tags]mini cars, mini news, mini models[/tags]

MINI News - BMW to use MINI E platform for future electrics

BMW to use MINI E platform for future electrics

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, BMW, MINI

We’ve spent plenty of time going over the design of the new MINI E electric car since it was formally unveiled at the LA Auto Show. We’ve been inside, underneath and even behind the steering wheel a few times, and we can therefore say with authority that the car works as advertised. There are a few niggles, especially the loss of the back seat, reduced cargo area and some rather aggressive regenerative brakes, but all in all it’s a solid first effort. That’s exactly how BMW seems to view its first EV, with the goal of further refining the same basic system for use in other future models, including for electric versions of its 5 Series and range-topping 7 Series sedans.

Because the 5 and 7 are much larger cars, there is more room to hide the lithium ion battery pack away and the added weight won’t be nearly as noticeable. After the size of the EV components are further reduced, the 3 Series is likely to get an EV option as well. Besides four-door passenger cars, BMW is likely to use some variation of the MINI E’s electric drivetrain in its upcoming city car. Sounds like the future is, ahem… electric at BMW.

Gallery: MINI E

[Source: Auto Express]

BMW to use MINI E platform for future electrics originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MINI News - MINI E regenerative brakes will turn on brake lights without hitting the pedal

MINI E regenerative brakes will turn on brake lights without hitting the pedal

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, MINI

An interesting question came up the other day regarding my quick drive review of the new battery powered MINI E. I noted that the MINI uses much more regen than other electrically-driven vehicles that I’ve tried, with deceleration on the order of about 0.4 g. That’s actually pretty heavy braking. The deceleration from most braking by drivers in typical operation is less than 0.2-0.25g. With conventional friction brakes, as soon as the brake pedal is applied, a switch on the pedal arm turns on the brake lights, warning following drivers that you are slowing down. Since most cars with regenerative braking usually don’t give that much decel without applying the brakes, it’s not a problem. We checked MINI spokesperson Nathalie Bauters who told us the brake lights come on when the deceleration tops about 0.15-0.2 g, or just a bit more than you might get from engine braking. So with the MINI E you need to adjust your driving to modulate light braking by adjusting pressure on the accelerator instead of the brake pedal.

[Source: MINI]
Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

MINI E regenerative brakes will turn on brake lights without hitting the pedal originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MINI News - MINI Cooper D could arrive in America sooner than we thought

MINI Cooper D could arrive in America sooner than we thought

Filed under: Diesel, MINI

Last summer we had a chance to drive a European spec MINI Cooper D (that’s D as in diesel) and loved its combination of fantastic handling, torque and 47 real world mpg. Shortly after that we had the chance to speak with MINI USA VP Jim McDowell and asked about the possibility of the diesel MINI coming to America. At the time McDowell told us that there were two roadblocks to that happening. They needed a 50 state legal version of the diesel engine and more production capacity. This week in Los Angeles we had the chance to talk with McDowell again and the subject of the MINI D arose once more.

Basically, things have changed. In July, the MINI factory in Oxford England was running full tilt to keep up with demand. Since then, the collapse of the financial markets has meant a drop in sales, including MINI sales, across the board and around the world. That means more supply is now available than demand and we could get more MINIs in America if needed. The other issue is the technical one about US certification. That, too, is being addressed. According to McDowell, BMW is working on a Tier 2 Bin 5 compliant version of the MINI D engine. Instead of urea injection for NOx reduction, this would use a lean NOx trap like the Jetta TDI. While McDowell wouldn’t commit to a time-frame, it looks like we may get the MINI D sooner rather than later.

[Source: MINI]
Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

MINI Cooper D could arrive in America sooner than we thought originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MINI News - LA 2008: Live reveal of the MINI E

LA 2008: Live reveal of the MINI E

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, BMW, MINI, LA Auto Show

This afternoon BMW representatives took the wraps off the first “production” MINI E, #1 of a run of 500 that will be leased to customers in the southern California and metro New York areas starting in January. Dr. Friederich Eichiner presented the electric car to the press on the roof top terrace at the Beverly Wilshire hotel explaining the purpose of the program. BMW has built these cars as the first stage of “Project I” where I stands for either ideas or innovation. Eichiner told the media that “individual mobility will still play a key role” going forward and with increased urbanization electrically driven vehicles like this one will be increasingly important. BMW and other manufacturers have to learn how to reconcile that need for mobility with environmental concerns and plug-in vehicles are just one element of that. BMW is using the MINI E as a means to learn how these vehicles are used and how they work in the real world. Learn more about the MINI E program after the jump.

Related:

• LA Preview: Officially, official: the MINI E!

Continue reading LA 2008: Live reveal of the MINI E

LA 2008: Live reveal of the MINI E originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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