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Electric Mini Cooper Has Rough Start

TopSpin writes "BMW's limited roll out of the electric version of its Mini has met with complaints from early adopters including less than advertised range, cold weather charging problems, bulky batteries and connection issues. Richard Steinburg, BMW's manager of electric vehicle operations, assures everyone that the manufacturer is 'learning quite a bit as we go.' Drivers are paying $850/month for the privilege of helping BMW learn how to build EVs, while also helping BMW meet alternative fuel mandates so that other models can continue to be sold in select markets."

11 of 308 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Electric car with problems? by MrEricSir · · Score: 5, Funny

    Cnosidering the plolution caused by bruning stuff, I don't think bio feuls will slove all your porblems.

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  2. I guess I'll say it... by swanzilla · · Score: 4, Funny
    FTA:

    BMW initially had to learn about infrastructure of houses and electrical-regulatory agencies in introducing the electric Mini to the U.S., Steinberg said. A key problem was getting approval for the recharging plug, which was originally designed for the European market, according to the executive.

    You Europeans and your superior plugs...you may have won this battle, but we will win the war.

  3. Re:Electric car with problems? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    But, I'm happy with my porblems, and I don't want them sloved!

  4. Do the Google! by idontgno · · Score: 3, Funny

    Call it a beta!

    Of course, BMW's demanding a lot of money, so maybe the Google example isn't the best.

    Do the Microsoft! Shell out your hard-earned money to be part of their QC team!

    Flameage and massive negative moderation in 3...2...1....

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  5. Re:Electric car with problems? by Tanktalus · · Score: 5, Funny

    $75 for popcorn? You mean the theatres will give us a discount? Awesome!

  6. Re:Electric car with problems? by Carbaholic · · Score: 2, Funny

    Leave it to slashdotters to want to refactor our transportation infrastructure in order to make it more scalable :)

  7. Re:Electric car with problems? by masmullin · · Score: 2, Funny

    Ddi yuo cnosider all the pssobilts ob bio feuls?

  8. Re:Electric car with problems? by shermo · · Score: 2, Funny

    You must love 'up to 50% off' sales.

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  9. Re:Electric car with problems? by Buelldozer · · Score: 2, Funny

    I think that an electric heating wand that goes up your ass would tend to decrease the cars popularity rather sharply, except perhaps in San Francisco.

  10. Re:Electric car with problems? by tftp · · Score: 3, Funny

    Openning the window may help with that.

    I'm unsure how should I respond to that :-) May I ask, have you driven a car in Canada, in winter? I suspect not, because you need an ice scraper to remove the *thick* ice from the glass (outside) before you can hope that the heat from the heater will melt the rest. Without the heater all the windows will be opaque in, say, 10 seconds after you get in.

    But yes, opening a window is a popular way to look outside, and I did that more than once. That assumes that you *can* lower the window - and that is not always true. And in any case, driving with window(s) open in winter, when it is snowing, is not my standard of comfort. Note that in the car comfort often translates into safety.

  11. Re:Electric car with problems? by HereIAmJH · · Score: 2, Funny

    Most apartment car parks here don't have power sockets nearby.

    That's a small problem, I just bought a generator. I can even take it with me for long trips.

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