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Infrastructure Hurdles Hinder Mini E Trial

 
4 895 views September 21, 2009

MINI E

MINI E

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Being a pioneer isn't easy. Just ask BMW North America CEO, Jim O'Donnell. As the German automaker continues to test 450 electric Minis (aptly called Mini Es) in New York, New Jersey and L.A., creating the charging network has proven challenging.

"We are learning a heck of a lot just about the sheer infrastructure," O'Donnell, told Autoweek. "When we bring out another electric car, we will be in a great position because we know all the wrinkles."

Mini had planned to install 30 fast-charge boxes in New Jersey, but regulatory issues have bogged the program down. Installation of the 240-volt charger requires not only an agreement with the local power company, but an approval from municipal inspectors to ensure code compliance. Each box must be UL approved and costs between $1,500 and $1,800.

The advantages of the fast-charge boxes are significant. Whereas a Mini E takes 21 hours to charge from a conventional 110-volt source, the fast-charge boxes do the work in just 3 hours. Nevertheless, with new technologies come new obstacles. O'Donnell says New Jersey's approval process has been especially difficult, because while each of the charging system components are certified, the system as a whole is not.

One BMW spokesman put the issue in perspective. "We are dealing with only three metropolitan areas of the United States," he said. "Think about when you start to build the national network and all those local codes."

Indeed.

Source: Autoweek





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Comments (4)

  1. By Jason M. Hendler Posted: 9/21/2009 11:47am PDT

    Yep, in spite of the impetus to move to vehicle electrification, it is going to be a very slow process to achieve acceptance for any particular solution for the home charging infrastructure.
     
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  2. By  Jeff Posted: 9/21/2009 3:18pm PDT

    That is one of the great things about this test. It is getting some of the cities and industries thinking about this a bit before every Prius driver in the world starts plugging in. Lucky for me in the program, everything went smoothly including wiring our 50 year old apartment building.
    We just had a meetup of 18 mini-e's in Long Beach and someone from Edison came to talk to people about how it was going. They are a bit behind the ball but putting people on it now.
    I am hopeful (3000 miles and rolling all electric).
    -J
     
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  3. By carcus1 Posted: 9/21/2009 6:05pm PDT

    That $1500 to $1800 charger price is waaaaaaay too much. I'd expect that price to come down to a few hunderd (installation NI). I can't imagine what's in that box that could make it worth $1800.
     
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  4. By ken Posted: 9/22/2009 7:06am PDT

    The wall box is NOT a charger. All the electronics to charge the car are in the car already. The wall box is just some kind of expensive safety device. Its empty inside. Electric cars do not need any new infrastructure. All we need is an outlet to plug them in. I have plugged my electric cars in at many different spots with no special equipment. and by the way, i do have a MINI E with 7k miles on it already and there has never been any problems with it contrary to what you hear.
     
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