Lithium-ion Mini Cooper on cover of Sam's Club Christmas catalog
Hybrid Technologies all-lithium Mini Cooper is on the cover and on sale through a Sam's Club magazine called Source Guide. The price for the 2008 Model is $65,000 and it's ready for immediate delivery. Recently, we told you about a promotion Sam's Club did with Hybrid Technologies where they sold a single electric Smart car. Seems like that promotion must have been a success if Hybrid Technologies' Mini is now on the cover of the Sam's Club's catalog. Below the fold is a video test drive of the Mini by Popular Mechanics Magazine.
Have an electric Holiday everyone!
[Source: Hybrid Technologies]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dave 8:52PM (12/03/2007)
Has anyone ever bought one of these? And if so, what are the reviews? It seems they're available NOW (which is more than I can say for any other EV in the ballpark) and reasonably priced. DOES IT PERFORM?
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GoodCheer 10:04PM (12/03/2007)
The most interesting thing in that report was the claimed range of >200 miles. I would dearly like to see that backed up by independent testing, or an EPA range. If HYBT can deliver that for $65k I would call them a real player on the market.
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GoodCheer 10:18PM (12/03/2007)
Yup, I just had to go back and check. The video says
top speed > 120 mpg
range > 200 miles
but this press release says
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0334996.htm
top speed > 90 mph
range > 100 miles.
While the HYBT homepage says
top speed 80 mpg
range > 120 miles.
So what's the real story. I'm fine with companies taking some time to iron out their specs as they narrow in on a price point and components, but by the time a vehicle goes on sale at Sam's Club, all that should be known and documented.
Tesla has an EPA certified range. Does this car? Are these vehicles subject to a separate round of crash-testing, or do they slip in as a Mini?
I want for these guys to succeed, but they really need to get their act together.
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Mort 10:20PM (12/03/2007)
Woohoo!
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why not the LS2/LS7? 7:55AM (12/04/2007)
I do not believe it is possible for this car to make 200 miles for $65K. The cost of the donor Mini plus the batteries would equal the cost of the car, leaving no room for profit or engineering costs.
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Dave 8:17AM (12/04/2007)
Why not - you are assuming they intend on making a profit. They may only be breaking even, they may have a tremendous source of funding behind them to do the development work, if anyone knows...
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Don A 8:45AM (12/04/2007)
The Performance Specs Listed at Sams Club are:
Speed 80+ mph
Acceleration 0-60 mph in 9 sec.
Range 100+ miles
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Mike 8:46AM (12/04/2007)
They have been losing money at a pretty good clip. Here's a quote from their 10-k "Our auditors have expressed substantial doubt concerning our ability to continue as a going concern." they lost $13M in 2006 and $11M in 2007. Also from the 10-k "As of July 31, 2007, we had cash on hand of $3,775. Our liabilities at the same date totaled $1,537,496."
That's right they had cash of $3700 and owe $1.5M. Not good.
These guys are running on empty and need some more financing, they just secured a $4M loan from Wyndom Capital and say they need $2M more to launch their products.
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Tim 10:42AM (12/04/2007)
$60,000.00?!?!?!
for a Mini?
I'll wait for the Chevy Volt!
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vfx 1:49PM (12/04/2007)
I'm so leery of HT. Do a Google search and find some spurious stories on their dealings.
I wish AC Propulsion would have chosen the Mini rather than making the Ebox. They went practical not sexy.
You can buy and Ebox today but you have to want an EV for reason other than showing off. I've driven it and it is cool but not REAL cool like the Mini.
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