GoodBye 230!

GOODBYE FOR NOW!

After 3 years and nearly 30,000 miles, we are obligated to turn in "COOPER E 230",

Say Goodbye and hope that the next adventure is as good for him as it was for us.

Now I've returned to buying Gas and Diesel, 

spending what it cost to run the Mini E for two months 

every time I fill the tank with fuel (about once a week).

I was dropped from the BMW Active E program because I asked a few questions

about things that were offered then taken away,

essentially the Dealers were entered into the mix on the Active E and reaffirmed

my hatred of having to deal with a dealer to acquire an automobile.

I will always buy Direct whenever possible, 

dealing with a middle man really blows.

So, I am back to Fossil Fuel, only momentarily, as soon as I can order and purchase

a 100% Electric Car I like - I will do it!

Functional word is like - Don't like the Leaf, 

Don't like Hybrids of any kind - too complex with two systems requiring maintenance,

I want a Real car with Real capacity and Real range!

The TESLA Model X looks wonderful, the Model S will deliver soon, 

I am waiting to see how they do in actual service, we will know by the end of summer.

You buy Direct from Tesla (No Dealer), the car is delivered to your door, 

Service (if you need it) comes to your door (no Waiting Rooms)

It's clean and simple, no oil, gas, diesel, maintenance.....

I can't wait!

The future is almost here!

Last two weeks with the MINI E.

For More Information about the BMW ACTIVE E:

See:

BMW Active E on Facebook

Compare the amount of Electricity it takes to refine one gallon of Gasoline with the Electricity consumption of an Electric Car.

Written by my friend Peter Norby, so well, I am merely repeating it here:

Quick-draw critics of the electric car often criticize EVs because, in their words, “Electric cars simply replace a tailpipe with a smokestack.”

The gist of their argument is that emissions still occur, not at the tailpipe but at the electric power plant. That observation is usually followed by the statement that 45% of our grid electricity is powered by coal and coal is dirty. Thus, the EV supposedly provides no net gain.

The critics may want to look in the mirror — or in their garage.

In California, oil refineries are the second largest users of electricity. Moving water around the state via water authorities is the single largest contributor to state electricity use. And, you guessed it, refining crude also takes a tremendous amount of water!

6 kWh to refine gallon of gasIt is a simple fact that the refining of gasoline requires approximately 6 kWh of electricity per gallon of gasoline.

In fact, electricity and natural gas cost are estimated to comprise 43% of the U.S. oil refineries’ total expenses. If you tack on the energy required to extract and transport the oil to the refinery and then to the gas stations as well as the energy cost of the gas station, I’m sure that number jumps a few more kWh per gallon.

So, let’s be conservative and cut the oil guys a break and say it takes 8 kWh to extract, ship, refine and transport each gallon of gas.

What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Drum roll: It takes more electricity to drive the average gasoline car 100 miles than it does to drive an electric car 100 miles.

Gas cars & electricity useA gas car that runs at the U.S. fleet average of 21 mpg will consume approximately five gallons of gasoline to travel 100 miles. Using our 8 kWh of electricity per gallon figure, this means that gasoline car uses approximately 40 kWh of electricity to drive 100 miles. An electric car will use approximately 30 kWh of electricity (3.3 miles per kWh) to drive the same 100 miles.

In sum, gas cars use more electricity than EVs, thus polluting at the smokestack. And they burn refined gasoline in a very inefficient engine, thus polluting at the tailpipe. In our large urban cities in the U.S., the emissions caused by our transportation fleet account for 70% or more of our man-made emissions and visible particulate matter (smog) and related health care costs. Think of that as smoking two packs of cigarettes.

Electric cars run on electricity created by a mixture of energy sources. Many electric car drivers such as myself quickly discover that making your own electricity via solar PV is the best and cheapest way to fuel (about $0.40 per gallon of gas equivalent). Think of that as cleaning up the air in our major cities, saving money and as not smoking.

Reasons why I don't want to buy another Gasoline powered car.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/12/60-freeway-closes.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/09/phoenix-diesel-tanker-fire_n_1084210.html

and hundreds more, everyday,

After all 

the 

whole 

point 

of 

Gasoline 

is 

that 

it 

is 

Supposed 

to 

EXPLODE!

http://www.smdp.com/Articles-c-2011-10-10-72726.113116-Plugging-in-is-better.html

Peder Norby's fine Post!

Wow, all I can say is I wish I had written this!

Succinctly put, Peder has done some fine research to answer the Questions most often asked, "What about the Energy to produce the electricity you use to charge your Electric Car? ....and.... Smokestack versus Tailpipe emissions"

click on the link to see the research:

http://electricmini.blogspot.com/2011/10/it-takes-lot-of-coal-to-make-gasoline.html


Thank you Peder, see you at the next meet up!

November will be here soon.

November, the END of my Mini E Lease and the beginning of the next stage of this ALL ELECTRIC driving experience.

Nearly two and a half years ago I was privileged to be selected to be a part of the BMW Experimental Electric Car Research program and allowed to participate by daily driving their MINI E. I will always be thankful to BMW for stepping out and initiating this program, they were the 'Pioneers', they stepped up to the plate and took the Mini and converted it with then 'state of the art' tech and actually put more than 500 of them on the road for real world, every day testing.

Now with more than 25000 miles of wonderful, trouble  free, All Electric driving on mine, I am coming to the realization that the end is near, November almost here and I will have to decide to continue with the BMW Active E lease (next phase) or purchase one of the many new choices that didn't exist when I started driving the Mini E more than two years ago.

I'm in the process of analyzing what is available, the numbers, what makes sense, what doesn't - and why.

It's not easy.

I love the Mini so much, I hate to see it go.
It has proven perfect for my daily use, I could be happy just keeping it.

But I understand, I knew, that it was temporary, there would be an end, it's OK I'm really excited to see and experience what's next.

Not really wanting to be a Guinea Pig at my own expense, I think the lease is probably the way to go to continue to avoid the minor problems any new technology will naturally experience, also smooth out the learning curve of  technological advancement and avoid the pits that are going to naturally occur.

Think I'll let the Tech mature a little before committing my hard earned dollars, and keep leasing, happily doing this to reduce trips to gasoline stations,
really don't want to return to consuming that toxic fuel.

So bring on the Electrics, give me proven reliability, give me choices, I'm ready for ownership.

What could be more fun?

Got a chance to take the Mini E Racing this past weekend!

My utilitarian, 'car of choice', daily driver, actually got invited to race with other Electric cars on the track at Laguna Seca, California, the one with the infamous 'Corkscrew' turn.

With 24,000 miles now after two years of All Electric driving almost everyday and with 5 months to go on our lease extension before we have to give up COOPER E 230, we decided to go for it and enjoy the capabilities of this wonderful little car.

My son Jamie and I loaded the MINI E into our car trailer and hitched up to the F250 Diesel, towed the 400 miles to Laguna Seca, near Monterey California, and spent the weekend racing on the track.

Best weekend ever!

 Charging in the paddock with Leafs, Teslas, Volt and a bunch of converted Porsches, a Fiero, etc.

 A line up of Teslas.

Kleen Speeds purpose built race car, runs in the high 100's.

My son Jamie driving the Mini E 230 in the famous 'Corkscrew'!

End result is we surprised everyone and ourselves with decent times, beat one of the Teslas by 2 seconds and learned a lot about driving the track at Laguna Seca!


http://www.examiner.com/green-transportation-in-national/refuel-brings-tesla-s-and-more-to-laguna-seca-for-3rd-year-of-electric-racing?fb_comment=34801311

Yes, this Electric Car experience has been truly one of the most fun experiences I've had!

Is anybody out there?

Probably no one reads this anymore, only 11 followers, don't know how many happen on it by accident, only a very few even bother to comment. I know I haven't been really regular with my comments I guess I just don't want to waste anyones time with meaningless rambles.

I started this because I was extremely excited to be taking part in what I think is the Future of personal transportation.

Electricity!

Clean, efficient, responsible, easily renewable, readily available Electric Power.

I love automobiles! I am an Industrial Designer, I design and build Motion Picture Sets and Props.
Relatively well known for Special Effects miniature work on many major science fiction future thought projects, I've designed and built many things wind, pedal, gravity and engine powered (gasoline, steam, battery electric) as well as participated in the design of future Space travel.

The MINI E has proven to me we are ready for Battery Electric Automobiles.

The Active E, Nissan Leaf, Tesla roadster and Model S are the most exciting things to happen to transportation design in a 100 years.

They are actually reaching the marketplace. 100 years ago Battery Electrics were in competition with gasoline for the domination of transportation as a replacement for the difficult to maintain, unpredictable, underpowered, short range, polluting Horse.

Battery technology didn't progress as rapidly as the easier to produce and procure petrochemicals so oil won out and became the fuel of choice. As the Infrastructure filled in and gasoline stations replaced Livery Stables, the world rapidly and radically changed.

We now possess the Battery technology we didn't have 100 years ago, our Finite Fossil fuels are depleted, It's time for another radical change in the way we think about doing things.

If you are in the market for a new commuter vehicle, Please,
Go test drive a Volt, Leaf, or at least a Hybrid and by the end of this year there will be even more choices Ford Focus, etc, etc.

pluginamerica.org

Please consider a battery Electric or Hybrid vehicle and include it in your future plans, we can't afford not to!

Sure like the way my Electric Car smells!

Now the detractors like to say that it takes energy to make the Electricity you are using to charge your car and that energy has to be made somehow. For some reason they always equate making energy with burning oil.

Electricity CAN BE and IS made any number of ways.
Wind, Solar - Photovoltaics, Geothermal, Hydrologically and many more.
Storage is now accomplished better than ever before and improving all the time.

NEWS FLASH: We don't have to burn Finite Fossil fuels to produce electricity.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist or genius to figure that out.

I simply like the way my garage smells when I start up my Electric Car,
when I drive past joggers and bicyclists they smile,
Silently gliding on Electric power is a pleasure you will miss out on until you make the decision to
hang up the Gas nozzle and don't go there ever again.

I still go to the gas station occasionally to fill up my Diesel Truck and my 'other' Antique Dinosaur car BUT My Primary Use Vehicle is Electric and will be from now till forever!

Projects!

I have considered the Electric Mini E as a project I have taken on to help demonstrate the 'Viability' of the All Electric Car in Every Day use.

I have many 'Projects' (because I am a 3 Dimensional person) not necessarily all compatible in Philosophy.

A long term Project, begun when my brother acquired the car in 1963, is the total restoration of a 1956 Ford Thunderbird!

Stored by my brother in a Barn in Petaluma California since the 1980's, I was given the rolling carcass, accompanied by a multitude of parts in boxes and milk crates, in 2004. My sons and I drove my F250 Diesel North and with a rented flatbed trailer brought the Bird pieces home.

What a fun project for a father and his mid twenties sons!

Tearing down, stripping paint, removing the Motor for complete engine rebuild, familiarizing with parts in boxes, locating resources, we found that there were only 14 Bolts holding the body to the frame! A friend in Costa Mesa had a body 'Rotator' so we moved the car to his shop and pulled the body off the frame.

Complete rebuild of suspension and undercarriage as without the body it's relatively easy to run new (stainless steel) gas lines, brake lines, etc.

Adding Disc brakes to help stop the brute force produced by the Hot Rodded 292!

The car had been Hot Rodded in 1959, so we restored it as a piece of history, 

A California Hot Rod circa 1959-60.

After 5 years of off and on effort, lots of cash, the car is now finished, a perfect 1956 Ford Thunderbird: California Hot Rod.

OK, now that it's done, I love driving it!

But, who can afford to drive it?

Not Me!

In the first 200 miles, I filled the tank 3 times, 45 gallons!

A little more than 4 miles per gallon!

This car is the reason Electric Cars make sense! Electric car detractors like to talk about range anxiety!

RANGE ANXIETY! I get over 100 miles out of a tank on my Electric Car and less than 80 in the Bird!

I plug in at night while I sleep (something everyone has to do) and my Electric car is full in the morning.

The Bird, I have to find a Chevron station, as it won't even run on Arco or anything with gasohol in it.

By the way I've always hated Gassing up in Gas stations!

In 16 months I have driven 21,000 miles on Electricity, saved thousands of dollars in fuel not bought,

I have experienced the past and I have seen the future!

You ask why? Why did I even bother to restore the Bird? 

It IS a piece of history, it's gorgeous to look at, to drive, to ride in, it is a rolling, living, Work of ART.

The worst part of this is the way my garage now smells!

Electric Cars and Rain.

Just got back from a long drive in pouring rain in my ALL Electric Mini E.

Some people have some objection to this, I've had NO problems or fears of driving in the rain.

The Car still performs flawlessly rain or shine!

There are SO many little reasons people give for not trying an Electric car but it is my experience that the moment you get in and try one those dissipate and you are overwhelmed with the freedom of driving on pollution free, efficient, inexpensive and readily available Electricity!

Out in the early morning on a full charge, after an hour of driving errands I pull into the garage, plug in and sip cheep electricity (as it is still off peak until noon) refilling while I take care of home business then unplug my car at noon and with a full battery continue on with the day. This packs many more than the 120 miles I normally get on a full battery.

Many more miles than I can possibly use in a normal day.

Need to occasionally go much further than 120 miles, I use my other car (or rent one)!

Thats how I roll!

December, the end of TwentyTen!

Well, I'm back from Hungary.

It took a little longer than expected, you see Angelina Jolie decided to shoot her movie in the same castle we were using and she bumped us from October to November which put us into a different weather pattern and made shooting even colder and if-ier.

We lucked out though and had unusually great weather for November and finished in 30 days of shooting.

We had Russian VOLGA's, LADA's, belching gas and diesel fumes, all manor of vehicles supporting us.

I didn't touch a steering wheel for two months though and was driven or walked everywhere I needed to go.

Returning home I couldn't wait to see COOPER E and jump in for a drive!

I feel like I need to air the fumes of Eastern Europe out of my chest, it's amazing how much cleaner the air really is in California!

It seems the rollout of the New Electric Cars is picking at an amazing pace, just since I've been gone the Leaf has hit the road, so to the Chevy Volt (friends got theirs) Think City and more, it's really exciting, people will soon learn the fun and freedom of driving pollution free electric vehicles not tied to War Oil.

Well, Happy Holidays and Happy New Electric Year 2011, I'm back and will try to catch up on E-News.

Read This about Lithium Ion and Batteries!

I get a lot of questions about "Lithium Batteries, environmental effect, short supply, recycling, etc etc, Read the following link for a more informed view of where it's coming from, how much there is and how recyclable it is.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/08/life-cycle-analysis-lithium-ion-batteries-electric-cars.php?campaign=weekly_nl

Might have to leave the Mini E behind!

I've got a gig in Hungary for the month of October.
It's GOOD to have work - but NOT good to have to leave my little Electric car here!

A friend (a Writer) has asked me to Art Direct his movie, we will be shooting in a wonderful French Renaissance mansion, built in 1883 on a large wooded property about 40 km from Budapest.
Needless to say the property has been through a lot in the political turmoils of the last century and has picked up a wonderful patina of age and neglect that is perfect for this film.
The Manse will act as our scripts 'Castle' and provide the ambiance for the 'Vampire' story he has written.
Shooting the whole month of October and into the first weeks of November, we are hoping for some snow to enhance the final scenes.

I'll be examining what's happening in Hungary on the 'electric vehicle' front and will report if I find anything of interest.

My wife and son will have to put some miles on lil' Cooper E for me while I'm gone.

Meanwhile, Cooper E is performing perfectly, I just couldn't be happier, it IS the perfect run around, commute, go here, go there, short hops and longer vehicle for me!

Go try one (an Electric Car or Hybrid), give it some thought, keep a record of your daily mileage and you might be surprised how easily your commute or the majority of your running around fits within 100-120 miles.

Think about this - when day is done, you simply plug-in and charge while you sleep, on cheap off peak electricity, when you awake, your tank is full, you've spent less than $3 for electricity, unplug and go do stuff!

My tank (battery) is simply always FULL!

See you in November,
(if the movie turns out good I may tell you it's name, otherwise...well, see ya).

Gone Racing!

My sons and I were invited to participate in the Monterrey Historic Car Races (now sponsored by Rolex) at Laguna Seca this year. The only catch - my youngest son wanted to go see his favorite band (Gogol Bordello) perfom in San Francisco at Golden Gate Park on Saturday. 

Not wanting to drive the extra 4 hours to drop him there and pick him up later, primarily not wanting to miss any of the 18 races per day Sat and Sun, I concluded that since we 'have the equipment' we would load the Electric Mini E in our car trailer, tow it to Monterrey, drop the trailer at our Hotel and son #2 would drive the F250 to San Fran and see his band play.

Son #1 and I then had two wonderful days of driving our Electric Mini E among some of the Rarest, most expensive, even Priceless Historic Racing Cars in the world.

There were 3 Bugatti Veyrons (most expensive and fastest production car in the world) there and we were the Only Mini E. We generated some interest even though everyone was there for the gasoline explosions while racing these rare cars.

The Massive 1917 Hall Scott factory racing car, 4 cylinders, 10 litres!

Each cylinder is 2.5 litres.

They fired it up for a qualifying race and blew the valve in number 2 cylinder, right out through the head!

I offered condolences and they chuckled and said "oh we have a spare engine."

This is one of the two cars we were there to support,

an ARGO.

600 horse power, 1300 pounds.

The other car, 

1981 Lotus Factory F1.

Both cars are owned and driven by my friend Jeff,who invited us to crew for him at the races.

We put 100 miles on the Mini E traveling each day from Monterey and Salinas to the track and back.

Sunday morning Son #2 returned with the truck and enjoyed a day of racing with us.

Sunday night we packed up the Mini E with about 8 miles left on the ODO, hitched up the trailer and headed for the 7 hour drive home, 

what a great weekend!

Moving into August

Nothing new to report, just thought I would let you know I am still here and loving the Electric Life!

I am constantly amused at the comments made by those just discovering the fact that the Electric Car is Here! Comments like:
• "Oh' it's a commuter,
•.... what if I want to go to Las Vegas?,
•.....It's a Novelty,
•......only a 100 miles, what do I do if I run out of charge?

All of these comments/questions are so simple to answer it doesn't make any sense to even respond, it just shows how little thought is given to the possibility that this change could actually happen and be beneficial to all.

• Yes, it's a commuter, I put over 15,000 miles on mine in one year!
• Want to go to Las Vegas? Rent a car or even faster, fly.
• Sure it's a Novelty but only for the moment, soon there will be thousands of them driving, silently, cleanly, swiftly on all our highways.
• If you run out of charge, merely Plug it In, go to sleep, go have dinner, enjoy a sunset, visit with friends, Do Something while your car charges for a couple hours, then drive home (Hopefully you are driving somewhere to actually Do something).

The POINT IS you charge your batteries while you are doing something outside the car!

One of the silliest is "So your car is Electric, the Electricity has to come from a Powerplant that is producing pollutants" The answer to that is that it is much easier to control emissions at the smokestack than at the tailpipe, besides, here in California, much of our power is generated in cleaner ways, Solar, Wind, Nuclear, and steam.

An Electric car is responsible for a minutia of the pollution a Gasoline powered auto produces.

The most important use of my Electric car is all the little short trips/errands (15,000 miles last year) that go into the makeup of everyday life!

Think about it, investigate, there are now coming available many choices,
• Tesla
• Think City
• Smart
• Nissan Leaf
• Chevy Volt
• http://www.pluginamerica.org/vehicles

I love my MINI E, I only wish I could buy it!

TOTAL COST for the Year May 31, 2009 to May 31, 2010!

Just some rough Math to round out the cost of driving this Electric Car.

My total mileage for the year came in at 14,000 miles on May 31, 2010.
I was a few miles short so drove around the block some to make it exactly 14,000.

Divide 14,000 miles by the cost of the Lease at $927.50 (incl Tax) for eleven months
( I was given one month free in the beginning).
Total Cost of lease - an Expensive $10,202.50 for eleven months (those who adopt early pay the price)
Total cost of Electricity (Energy) - TOU off peak - an INexpensive $540 for the 12 months.
Insurance (the part not covered by BMW) $286 for the 12 months.

Total cost of operation (based on 14,000 miles of use),
Lease, Tax, License, Electricity and Insurance = less than 79 cents per mile!
Total cost of Energy (alone) = less than .03 cents per mile!

It is the most expensive CAR PAYMENT I have ever had.
However, it is the CHEAPEST CAR (and most fun) TO OPERATE I have ever driven.

Looking Forward!

Well, the year has ended, 14,000 Total miles of pollution free Electric driving has proven to me that this system really works and is completely viable for everyday use, even in the 'Urban Sprawl' of a place like Los Angeles and Orange Counties California!

Yes, the freeway acts to both Reduce and Extend range (depending on time of day you choose to use it)
Yes, it's cool to use the HOV lane in a ZEV (Zero Emissions Vehicle) while riding alone
(however only on short runs as high speed does swallow range!)
and
Yes you have to THINK about your route, range, available chargers, speed, drafting,
but that's REALLY FUN for me, those things, coupled with the outstanding Performance and Handling, takes the boredom out of a drive that has become, well, boring!

So, BMW has asked if I would like to stay on and I answered with a resounding YES!

I'll be continuing to drive this wonderful little car for another year, till May 2011!

I'll also be watching the developments as other Electric Cars roll out on the market, eagerly watching performance and range figures and realities,
it's a great innovative time we live in!

Here's to - looking forward!