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!

Did I ever tell you how much I like driving an EV?

14,000 miles in Eleven months!
An average of 44 miles per day, every day!

Sure there have been a few 150 and 200 mile days,
and a few days when the car never left the garage,
PROOF that, even in Los Angeles, California, the 100 - 120 mile range is totally
adequate for daily run around and commute,
(for me and I would bet, in reality, millions of other people who currently don't think a BEV is for them).

Sure, I do own another car (Diesel), it's a truck, which I need for pulling heavy things, but the BULK of my transportation needs are more than adequately covered in my 100 (120) mile 'Range' of Clean, Quiet, Smooth, High Performance, Exciting ALL ELECTRIC powered MINI E!

When I have to, or want to, travel outside the range of my MINI E
I have the option of using my truck (which is very comfortable)
for long trips.

There are four drivers in my family and four vehicles, one of them is Electric.
Which one do you think gets driven most? (because it's more fun to drive)
Which one sat so long it's batteries went dead? (Hint: Diesels have 2 batteries)

The ACTIVE E is coming!

http://wardsauto.com/ar/mini_bmw_ev_100519

MINI E Meetup at AC Propulsion.

Fourteen cars!

Got together today at AC Propulsion in San Dimas, California, the Company that produced the Motor, Battery and Electronic controllers for our BMW converted MINI E's.

A very interesting tour of the facility, looking inside the components of the car (that are sealed in ours) a chance to satisfy some of the curiosity of what's in that gold box under the hood and what's really occupying the back seat!

http://www.acpropulsion.com

Tom Gage, CEO of AC Propulsion, shows the Dyno test stand where Motor Armatures are tested.

Afterwards we got together at a Red Robin Restaurant for some food and friendship, Nice People, Nice Day!

DINOSAUR

AND MY BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) IS EVEN MORE FUN TO DRIVE - WITHOUT ALL THAT COMPLEXITY AND POLLUTION!

Moving Parts.

At one time or another
in my 67 years of life
I have experienced the
FAILURE OR necessary REPLACEMENT
of at least one (and more) of these
CRITICAL parts of automobiles I have driven:

Spark Plugs
Coil
Starter Motor
Solenoid
Thermostat
Radiator
Coolant, Anti Freeze
Hoses
Fan
Fan Belt
Oil

Carburetor(s)
Manifold Gasket(s)
Lifters
Valves
Pistons
Piston Rings
Freeze out Plugs
Crank
Cam(s)
Rod(s)
Fuel Pump
Fuel
and More!

NONE 
of these parts
EXIST
in my 13,000 miles
of travel spanning these 11 months.

BATTERY
ELECTRIC
VEHICLE!

Another year, still working on that Carbon Footprint!

Yes, I'm in the process of signing up for another year of test driving the MINI E!

It's just too much fun to drive and the clean, guilt free, feeling I get when running my little errands, 40, 80 and 100 miles a day, is just too good to give up and return to driving a fossil fuel powered vehicle!

My Diesel truck is wonderful for those long runs, hauling things and it will last twice as long now that I am putting upwards of 15,000 miles a year on the Electric MINI E and NOT on the truck!

I REALLY HOPE manufacturers will recognize the need for and find ways to economically build Battery Electric Powered Vehicles for the mainstream buyer!