tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190868915638772041.comments2023-09-11T21:43:53.725-04:00Robert's MINI E Field TrialUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190868915638772041.post-61749437723297780412010-06-12T19:50:10.613-04:002010-06-12T19:50:10.613-04:00Best of luck Robert! It was great meeting you and ...Best of luck Robert! It was great meeting you and good luck with the move.<br /><br />TomTom Moloughneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00302557992187975325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190868915638772041.post-60123162680989515812010-06-10T09:47:51.029-04:002010-06-10T09:47:51.029-04:00Todd and Kari, yea its a great lease deal if you p...Todd and Kari, yea its a great lease deal if you put a lot of miles on it. When they picked up my car, the driver said I had the most miles of any returns so far, said one car only had 300 miles on it, the driver was afraid to drive it more then 5 miles a day ... thats just sad. This experience has really given me a better understanding of distances, and what is reasonable.<br />I'll be driving electric again, just nows not a good time.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05065916334723386509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190868915638772041.post-74316769535638513802010-06-09T18:57:13.173-04:002010-06-09T18:57:13.173-04:00Hi Robert...have enjoyed your blog. We're sta...Hi Robert...have enjoyed your blog. We're staying on for a second year. Driving 20k a years makes the $$ numbers a little easier to swallow.:)Todd and Karihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06793171948218590454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190868915638772041.post-71001717955442073342010-05-19T10:12:25.386-04:002010-05-19T10:12:25.386-04:00Congrats Robert!Congrats Robert!Todd and Karihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06793171948218590454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190868915638772041.post-51367777314294101672010-05-18T20:55:16.737-04:002010-05-18T20:55:16.737-04:00Congratulations Robert! I proposed to my wife whil...Congratulations Robert! I proposed to my wife while vacationing on Oahu so Hawaii is special to us too! You are right, Hawaii would be great for EV's. The Islands are so small the range wouldn't be a problem at all. All you would need is a solar system to generate your power and you're good to go.Tom Moloughneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00302557992187975325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190868915638772041.post-42378539929239491172010-04-01T08:27:10.045-04:002010-04-01T08:27:10.045-04:00Thanks Tom,
If I drove the way you do, I'd kee...Thanks Tom,<br />If I drove the way you do, I'd keep the MINI E too, but the Volt fits my driving habits better. I'm still not sure what the real world driving range on the Leaf is going to be especially in the cold, I hope they dont promise too much and get people disappointed, but the price is great. Another get together would be great, hopefully we can make itRoberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05065916334723386509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190868915638772041.post-43907931439894517332010-03-30T17:38:28.403-04:002010-03-30T17:38:28.403-04:00Hey Robert,
Great report, congratulations on being...Hey Robert,<br />Great report, congratulations on being picked to do the test drive.<br />I too like the volt and am considering buying one. But I would buy it for my wife to use and for long family trips. I drive a lot (my mini-e has over 25,000 miles already!)and I'm afraid I'd be burning too much gasoline with a Volt so it's not what I'd want to drive every day 130 miles or so. The Leaf just announced pricing and it's about $32K, 25 after the fed rebate so I'm really thinking hard about it. Maybe they'll be both a Volt and a Leaf in my garage by 2012! I'm going to arrange another get together before the cars go back in June so I hope you can make it.Tom Moloughneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00302557992187975325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190868915638772041.post-3228862742781363802010-01-20T23:51:14.924-05:002010-01-20T23:51:14.924-05:00Good to have you back Robert. About a week after I...Good to have you back Robert. About a week after I got mine back (in service 24 days) I got a call that I would be getting a check to reimburse me for the months lease payment also. Then I got a letter stating the same. It's good to see that MINI is doing this when the cars are out for extended periods.Tom Moloughneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00302557992187975325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190868915638772041.post-11635377880276045842010-01-20T20:51:44.754-05:002010-01-20T20:51:44.754-05:00Great News Robert! Wow, a month without the MINI ...Great News Robert! Wow, a month without the MINI E. Not sure I could handle that. <br /><br />ToddTodd and Karihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06793171948218590454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190868915638772041.post-84499508165979485132010-01-19T01:12:02.327-05:002010-01-19T01:12:02.327-05:00The Chrysler body parts never did give names to th...The Chrysler body parts never did give names to their cars, instead consistently using letters and numbers to designate the coupes, <br /><br />sedans and the SUVs. With the Chrysler body parts Q45 being the flagship sedan, the Chrysler body parts found its place in the <br /><br />American market.The Chrysler body parts never did give names to their cars,instead consistently using letters and numbers to <br /><br />designate the coupes, sedans and the SUVs. <br /><br />Thanks<br /><a href="http://www.iautobodyparts.com/%20%20%20Chrysler%20body%20parts/" rel="nofollow"><br />Chrysler body parts<br /></a><br />http://www.iautobodyparts.com/ Chrysler body partsChrysler body partshttp://www.iautobodyparts.com/chrysler/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190868915638772041.post-80111395962212051422010-01-16T20:40:46.450-05:002010-01-16T20:40:46.450-05:00Robert, as long as you get it charged before the b...Robert, as long as you get it charged before the batteries get cold there is no problem. When you start driving there won't be any regen until the batteries warm up but that does not take too long. <br /><br />A 900 watt space heater in the passenger foot well plugged into 120 volts keeps it warm enough to charge for me. If it is below freezing and you are parked outside the space heater needs to run 100% of the time. I left mine at work with the heater running 30 minutes on and 30 minutes off one night when it got down to 10 degrees F and it stopped charging at 40% because the batteries froze.<br /><br />If you have a 20 amp circuit, it can support the slow charger and the heater if nothing else is on the circuit. That is what I usually do at work during the day. I leave the heater on even during the day now, since it seems to charge faster and the gauge is more accurate when the batteries are warm.Jim McLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04514394481037410280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190868915638772041.post-32802336801108778622010-01-13T11:29:27.272-05:002010-01-13T11:29:27.272-05:00Funny you note how warm your Z3 is. When I had the...Funny you note how warm your Z3 is. When I had the loaner pickup, I couldn't believe hot hot the heat was. I had to turn it off after a few minutes. That's not the case with our MINI's. The heater barely gets the cabin warm on the real cold days and you have to leave it on all the time or you'll freeze. Unless your Jim Mcl (#458), he's got hot water bottles, heated socks, blankets, etc. I don't think he even uses the heater! That's part of the reason why he's still getting 100 miles per charge.Tom Moloughneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00302557992187975325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190868915638772041.post-48232120460989541922009-12-22T09:52:39.913-05:002009-12-22T09:52:39.913-05:00Robert, I'm having very similar issues as you ...Robert, I'm having very similar issues as you are having! <br />#321<br />Forest Hills, NYdamonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18215998554667372573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190868915638772041.post-24250106271887718562009-12-21T11:21:07.119-05:002009-12-21T11:21:07.119-05:00Hey Robert don't feel so bad, you're not a...Hey Robert don't feel so bad, you're not alone. MINI-E #250 was just towed from my house in Chester. Red Battery icon came on when I tried to charge it last night. I was at 55% charge at the time. Battery temp was a cool 42 degrees. I guess our cars will get to spend some quality time together with the flying docs!.<br />TomTom Moloughneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00302557992187975325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190868915638772041.post-14461422571814403782009-12-20T18:29:09.088-05:002009-12-20T18:29:09.088-05:00Hi Robert...sorry to hear about your problems. Hop...Hi Robert...sorry to hear about your problems. Hope they get you back on the road quickly!<br /><br />Todd #140<br />Long Beach, CATodd and Karihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06793171948218590454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190868915638772041.post-80589684425950711722009-12-18T12:38:04.062-05:002009-12-18T12:38:04.062-05:00Does/can your Mini-E heat itself up when plugged i...Does/can your Mini-E heat itself up when plugged into the mains?Dan Weberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06626675217693199470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190868915638772041.post-39846970273384549222009-12-16T22:06:26.841-05:002009-12-16T22:06:26.841-05:00You have to turn up the fan or that "Positive...You have to turn up the fan or that "Positive Temperature Coefficient" heating element will stop generating heat to protect itself. It takes a long time to cool off and reset, it seems to me. I often turn the fan up to 3 in the cold if I have the range.<br /><br />This is very different than conventional hot water heaters that are hottest on the lowest fan setting.Jim McLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04514394481037410280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190868915638772041.post-24995181825738356552009-12-15T11:04:25.647-05:002009-12-15T11:04:25.647-05:00Thanks for your well wishes, I got #304 back on fr...Thanks for your well wishes, I got #304 back on friday with a new PCU and its running great again.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05065916334723386509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190868915638772041.post-48143879347169037782009-12-09T21:54:50.507-05:002009-12-09T21:54:50.507-05:00Sorry to hear about that Robert. The funny thing i...Sorry to hear about that Robert. The funny thing is I had the drive to neutral jump today also and I have not seen that for about 4 months. I also got a "red gear" warning icon right after it went into neutral. I shut down again and restarted and everything was fine since. StrangeTom Moloughneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00302557992187975325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190868915638772041.post-25345749933358517342009-12-09T20:33:34.686-05:002009-12-09T20:33:34.686-05:00Robert
Glad you made it to the dealer under your ...Robert<br /><br />Glad you made it to the dealer under your own power. If it makes you feel any better, I am on my third Power Electronic Unit (the big magic box). But not for driving problems, just charging problems. I have only had the jump to Neutral once.<br /><br />Jim McL #458Jim McLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04514394481037410280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190868915638772041.post-27343214318679819482009-12-09T13:42:49.253-05:002009-12-09T13:42:49.253-05:00Hi Robert....sorry to hear about your malfunction....Hi Robert....sorry to hear about your malfunction. Hope you're back on the road again soon!Todd and Karihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06793171948218590454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190868915638772041.post-53505333383903353572009-12-07T14:20:41.022-05:002009-12-07T14:20:41.022-05:00I didnt have a thermometter handy but I would say...I didnt have a thermometter handy but I would say It feels like about 80 degrees with my hand over the vent, with the outside temp in the 40's Outside temp makes a big differance.<br />My MINI E is going in for the regular service at the end of the week and I'll ask them to test the output of the heater.<br />Anouther anoying thing about the heater is that on a cold day you cant really turn it off, or you'll be blown with cold air even with the fan off, pressing the recirculate button every two minutes doesnt count as a reasonable course of action. Also I think the MINI's ventalation system fails to heat your lap no matter how you turn the air flow dial, even when I can feel a little warmth on my toes my upper legs are always cold in this car.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05065916334723386509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190868915638772041.post-21709085221384743402009-12-05T10:23:19.450-05:002009-12-05T10:23:19.450-05:00Robert
With the car at 50 degrees F, fan on lowes...Robert<br /><br />With the car at 50 degrees F, fan on lowest and heater on max, my thermometer said 105 degrees after one minute. I am reading one inch from the heater vent by my feet with the control set to floor vents only.<br /><br />Fan up to #2, the thermometer was past the limit of 130 degrees after another minute.<br /><br />Fan up to #3, after another minute I read 125 degrees.<br /><br />Fan at max, after another minute it read 123 degrees. This is total of 4 minutes now.<br /><br />I had the windows open, car in garage, recirculate off.<br /><br />The last reading was 119 degrees after 6.5 minutes total with the fan on max since minute 3.<br /><br />Call the dealer, they will fix it for you.<br /><br />I'm going to let my heater run until the battery is down below 50% if I have time. I'll post the time results on my blog.Jim McLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04514394481037410280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190868915638772041.post-1112710612206714192009-12-04T21:59:34.093-05:002009-12-04T21:59:34.093-05:00I have measured my heater at over 100 degrees F, I...I have measured my heater at over 100 degrees F, I think yours is broken. I'll measure again to be certain. We use the heater on short trips, and it is toasty even when it is in the 30's outside.<br /><br />To save range, try preheating your cabin with this:<br /><br />http://www.warehouseautoparts.com/Specialty_Line/Kat/Kats_37100_interior_900_watt_heater.htm<br /><br />On long trips I wear long underwear and when the weather is in the 30's, I also put a blanket over my lap. So far I'm still not using the heater on long drives until I get close to home and I am sure I have the range.<br /><br />Not using the heater is not unusual in cold parts of the county where people dress warm in case their car breaks down, which might be lethal in casual clothes. If one dresses warm anyway, why bother turning on the car heater? Hybrids also get lousy mileage when the heater is on.Jim McLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04514394481037410280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3190868915638772041.post-59581078664741534812009-12-02T13:02:50.236-05:002009-12-02T13:02:50.236-05:00Last night it was the coldest I've driven the ...Last night it was the coldest I've driven the car in so far. The outside temp was 30 and my battery temp was 50. I had the fan on the second setting and the heat turned all the way up. I had a 45 mile drive to do and after about 5 minutes the cabin started to feel warmer and ten minutes in it was comfortable. I left the fan on the second speed the whole trip and it was fine, not "hot" but comfortable. I can see now that in really cold conditions the heater is just barely sufficient. If you turn up the fan to the fourth and highest speed, it literally blows cold air as the fan must overpower the heater coils. I can definitely see your concern now that I have paid closer attention to it.Tom Moloughneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00302557992187975325noreply@blogger.com