Acid test for the Mini E 25,000 miles under power

As one of the first eight months ago was Tom Moloughney a Mini with electric drive. Since then reeled from the owner of the car 25,000 miles - as much as no other life tester. SPIEGEL ONLINE he told of his experiences.
That was with the Mini really random. When Tom Moloughney googled about a year ago for the first time since the Chevrolet Volt electric car, he landed on the side of BMW. The automaker sought by advertisement on the Web 450 U.S. test driver for his electric car Mini E. For one year, individuals would try out the tramp. "Great opportunities I have not calculated because there were already then 20,000 applicants," says Moloughney, a restaurant owner in the U.S. state of New Jersey. But a few weeks of its online application, the phone rang - and the caller actually wanted to arrange a handover date for the Mini E. Since the late thirties through the town of Montclair stromert and nothing is in its mobility behavior is as it was. His Mercedes M-class, he has since sold his Porsche Boxster is get flat tires, and his Toyota Tundra comes only on holidays used. Moloughney almost always ride with the Mini E - and then its counter is already at 25,000 miles. This is equivalent to 40,000 kilometers. "According to my research, there is no one in America and probably anywhere else in the world, which is already such a long distance run with an electric car," says Moloughney. "Maybe I should knock times when the Guinness Book."
It is Moloughney for an electric car anything but an ideal choice. For while the average U.S. citizen travels less than 60 miles per day and should get with the limited range of battery cars is no problem, are between home and restaurant Moloughneys for 40 miles. "More than round trip initially were not in there," recalls the e-car pioneer. Even this distance, the car managed to sometimes just barely. "Although I am never left lying. But the battery indicator tipped several times in the red zone."
Meanwhile, what makes him so no longer a little nervous. For now, he knows his Mini E exactly. "Even if the display range has expired, are always 10 to 15 miles in battery," says his experience. While BMW about 100 miles (160 km) range promises Moloughney has managed even 128 miles on a single charge.
The car was also the infrastructure. Only BMW installed a socket in Moloughneys domestic garage, then another charger at his restaurant "Nauna's Bella Casa." The range problem is it no longer, and besides, the restaurant is now a meeting place for a few dozen mini-electrical tester from the area who gather here once a month to the table.
Purchases must be stacked in the passenger seat
"When I arrive at the restaurant, I stopper the car, and after two hours the battery is full again," said Moloughney. The daily workload of his Mini E with serial number 250 is tight. "Actually, I'm constantly on the move. The bank, to shop, to delivering," says the restaurateur, the small company car vollpackt often up to the roof with canned tomatoes, prosciutto and pasta. This is to be understood literally, because the trunk is too small. And where else is the back seat, sits the battery.
ADVERTISEMENT At first glance, the electric Moloughney adventure for a costly affair. "$ 800 per month fee charged for the mini car is a conventional small car there for less than a third of the price," he says. But he saves elsewhere. Electricity is cheaper than gasoline, and because the Mini is leased, pays the bills, most of the manufacturers, even a set of winter tires, he got free. "To change the oil, the car must never again," says the e-auto-tester. Because the bottom line is the bill for Moloughney rises, he applied already for the extension of trial period for another year - at the BMW calculates only $ 600 per month.
When it gets cold, the battery capacity shrinks significantly
For a few days of the Mini is powered by solar power, the Moloughney created on the roof of his house. Even with the handling of the electric compact car, the test driver is completely satisfied. "I have often at the speed limit of 95 miles per hour scratched," he says proudly and enthusiastically by crisp Go-kart ride. Even with ice and snow, there were no problems with the car. However, the battery enjoys in cold over much less capacity, criticized Moloughney. And he total the car had a little too small - there is no easy to hold.
 Total Moloughney is convinced of the technology and from the electric mobility in general. He meticulously recorded each electrically driven mile and documented his mobile life with the Mini E in a separate blog that he updated several times per week. The relationship with its parent gas station attendant has unfortunately cooled significantly. What else would say, communicates Moloughney per plate. It bears the inscription "E-F-OPEC" contributes. "The E is for Electricity, what OPEC does, everyone knows - and that F can be imagined."