MINI E delayed? Not exactly, but it is perhaps too popular
Click above for a high-res gallery of the MINI E's unveiling
The new MINI E is proving once again that there is a significant pent up demand for electric vehicles. Apparently, BMW is grappling with roughly 1,800 applicants and only 450 cars to deliver. Sounds like a good number of electric MINI hopefuls are going to miss out. While it's certainly good news that so many people have put their names on the list to get a gas-free car, BMW is reportedly finding it tough to sort through all of the worthy individuals, making for extended delays in vehicle deliveries.
There are a number of guidelines that must be met to receive a new MINI E, such as the average daily driving distance required. So far, the list has shrunk down to 1,000 applicants that have made it through the first set of cuts. All those who are chosen will live in or around Los Angeles, New York or New Jersey, have a lockable garage and will need to pay $850 a month for a one-year lease.
Gallery: MINI E live reveal
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Leviat 10:39AM (2/09/2009)
I wanted to try one out pretty bad but let's be honest, $850 a month to "beta" test out a company's product is kinda of ridiculous. I hope that when (if) the product comes to market, they can bring in under the $30k price point, but I won't hold my breath.
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Tim 11:22AM (2/09/2009)
I wonder how many applications they would have received if the cost would have been less than $200.00/mo?
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jharlan 11:33AM (2/09/2009)
I'll be glad to wait until something practical and reasonable comes along. BMW won't have this spotlight for long.
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gorr 12:49PM (2/09/2009)
Why are they modifiying small cars like this mini to promote, demonstrate, experiment, sell or rent an electric car??? Silly. First, they put a law in europe and u.s.a to limit the co2 avereage of car manufacturers, so if you convert to battery a big bmw suv like an x5 with a v8 engine , you lower the average co2 by a bigger margin and you protect a product that is more profitable because of the higher selling price and bigger profit margin because deluxe vehicule have 20% profit margin and small economic cars have a profit margin of 10% or less. So 80 000$ by 20%= 16000$ profit and 20 000$ by 10%= 2000$. So bmw is a crook working for goverment subsidies and green terrorists leaded by green site like here. These subsidies are driven by goverment to protect petrol trading and pollution.
Bmw can convert for no added cost cars like bmw serie 7 or big suv with batteries plus small gasoline battery recharger. Battery only don't work because of the few power, few range and long recharging time. These minimalist problematic small cars won't sell nor do good as long as there is stupid subsidies and tons of regulating laws promoting petrol use while saying that 5 000 politicians and 30 000 madscientists are working and doing big science researchs on energy .
Bmw won't sell more cars if they market this small car because it will replace a small gasoline car sale. If they market a big battery suv or serie 7 then it will maybe add sale in total because they have difficulty selling big cars actually. So the subsidies and the work of bloggers have put all the car manufacturers in a kind of bankrupcies and the taxpayers are financing them with absolutelly no profit in view.
We been rob of everything by state terrorists since 11 sept 2001, where they hack the computer of every bloggers, cia, afs-trinity, tesla, big-oil, us army, pentagone, project better place, media, aol, abc news, GM, income tax, etc. They all have access of what you type, to what site you visit, to your income, to your contact list and to your income tax report and your bank account. If you do a move then all your life fall with numerous attack and suing to court problem with income tax and contact list that suddently don't work. They even put special internet site that suddently appear with your picture and special tv program that suddently appear in your house. Mercedes and toyota and gm are part of it and they cannot commercialize the car propel forward by water.
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jpm 9:35PM (2/09/2009)
wow gorr, your comment exceeded the length of the article as usual.
just to let you know, I didn't read it, and I doubt anyone else did either.
Romulus 7:05AM (2/10/2009)
Sometimes when you try to make a clear point, no one wants to read your comment because it takes too much time. Try to make a point in two sentences - maybe someone will actualy read your comment ... You see, if you make your comment too long, than it becomes boring. When it is boring, no one wants to read it. When people dont read it, it becomes more boring, and boring, and boring ... Buy a dog or something ...
Cooper 230 5:12PM (6/01/2009)
Those of us who were lucky enough to be chosen are happily paying the small price for Clean Air! I have taken delivery of the car it has replaced a diesel burner, and I absolutely love it!
BMW is great company that has the Future in hand.
You need to learn more about the subject before you fill the air with bullshit.
Mike 1:59PM (3/04/2009)
Wouldn't it be sick if somehow the mini E went the way of the EV-1 ? All the people who ' leased ' them and liked them were not allowed to buy them. They were all taken back and destroyed. So much for our 'free' market system.
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