Mini-E Hits Pothole, Shuts Down: Electric Car Durability in Question
One major obstacle on the road to widespread acceptance of electric cars is reliability. Electric cars are still relatively new ground, and anybody who has ever gotten a cellphone wet or left a laptop in a car during a hot summer day (guilty on both counts) knows that electronics are very sensitive to the elements. Apparently, they are also sensitive to potholes.
One of the “lucky” few who were given an Electric Mini to test out—the founder of GM-Volt.com found out just how sensitive when the Mini came to a dead stop in a construction zone after hitting one such pothole.
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It should be noted that these are prototype cars, not production ready models, so some kind of failure was pretty much anticipated. When Lyle over at GM-Volt.com hit a pothole though, the power electronics unit failed (for the second time), popping his car into neutral and preventing any kind of motorized motion.
He made it the first 5,000 miles of his car’s life without any major issues, but having the power electronics unit fail is a pretty big deal, and underscores the importance of extended and rigorous testing of electric cars. It’s important to get it right the first time; an initial failure can doom a product for the rest of its existence.
This is especially crucial in extreme climates like the hot and dry Southwest or the damp Northwest. Although lithium-ion batteries have done a great deal to improve extreme temperature performance, electric cars and hybrids are still affected in cold climates where their battery life is shortened and MPG ratings are lessened. There is a greater drain on the electronics due to having the heat on, road resistance from snow and slush etc. Who likes to drive in a cold car? The same could be said for air conditioning; it may not directly impact miles per gallon, but draining all that electricity will surely shorten your overall range.
If electric cars don’t deliver as promised, or worse, leave their owners stranded in an extreme climate on a consistent basis, it could provoke a very negative response from early adopters.
Electric cars also need to take care of a lot more sensitive equipment than current conventional automobiles. Yes, it is true, cars are more computerized now than ever, but the basic premise of internal combustion remains unchanged. You pretty much have to pour water down the intake of a combustion engine to ruin it. How will an electric car react to a prolonged rainy season? Will leaving your ride in the hot sun for six hours fry the delicate electronics?
These are all questions that need answering sooner rather than later. But this is why they have prototypes and testing, after all. I just know if my car ever crapped out after hitting a pothole, I’d be a lot less gracious than Lyle! Oh, and if you’re asking “What does this have to do with the Volt?”—Lyle contacted a GM rep about what kind of testing they are doing on the Volt. The short answer; a lot. From climbing mountains to extended driving, GM is putting the Volt through the wringer. So make sure you check out his post at GM-Volt.
Source: GM-Volt | The Truth About Cars
While the dream of plugging your car in and having it recharge at night while you sleep or being able to drive cross country, stopping at battery swap terminals may be the ideal, issues such as the effect of heat and cold on electronics will be an issue. I worked R&D in electronics for a number of years and electronic components work much better in the cold than the hot. Unfortunately, batteries, to a certain extent, work better in the heat than in the cold - but not necessarily the heat of Tuscon in the summer.
Not particularly wanting to be stranded in either situation, I believe that current technology will be best served by the continued usage of a backup power source, like the Prius of Ford Fusion. The waste heat of the engine can be used to warm the batteries in cold and the engine can power air conditioning or heat sinks for the electronics in the heat.
Doesn’t anyone question the integrity of this incident as the driver (whom just happen to get a Mini for testing) runs a Volt forum? I would say that just one instance is not bad (if it is truly the case). I have owned new vehicles that have left me stranded for a myriad of reasons and the Mini is looking good to me. I would surely purchase the Mini over the Volt just for quality control reasons alone.
I suppose I should have included this in my post (duh) but this is not an isolated problem. There seem to be plenty of problems with the battery charging module as well, for example;
http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/mini-e-talk-2010/170179-mini-e-problems-issues.html
http://mini-e.blogspot.com/
You can Google Mini-E problems and lots of stuff come up, but again, this IS a prototype car…it is designed to be tested and in all likelihood, break.
I love the Mini! After pulling into work, I stick in my pocket and walk into the office.
Sorry - Left out the “it”…
In the Boy Scouts you would be the one who “pisses” on the campfire! “If electric cars don’t deliver as promised, or worse, leave their owners stranded in an extreme climate on a consistent basis, it could provoke a very negative response from early adopters.”
I don’t know who pays you for writing these articles, but they should ask for their money back. It is evident your intent is to put “fear” and “doubt” into the minds of anyone intending to buy an electric car. I can only surmise you are employed by BIG OIL in doing so.
Having driven well over 100k miles of pure battery electric driving in the past 10 years (a leased 1999 Honda EV+ and a owned 2002 Toyota RAV4EV) I have never been shut down by a pot hole or any road condition. I don’t think that either of these reports have any merit as to anything to do with the inherit reliability of an electric car. Both of those vehicles are essentially hand built prototypes.
Any more stories like this and I’m going to unsubscribe.
Are you going to write up every minor fault report found on another blog as “Electric car durability in question”?
There is an entire industry employing 10s of millions of mechanics to fix ICE cars that break down… I’d hardly call a fault with a plug in an EV worthy of mention, let alone some trashy tabloid like traffic generating headline!
electric cars do not need very complex electrics. All they need is power control unit. I think hybrids have to have more complex electrics because it need to control the ice engine and electric motor.
Sorry, but I think a bit of skepticism is healthy and important to ensuring that whatever electric cars DO make it to market are not garbage. Hitting a pot hole and having your car cut out on you is a pretty big deal to me. You’d think it is something the engineers would have taken consideration, and as I’ve shown in my previous comment, it isn’t an isolated incident.
Ya’ll are too sensitive sometimes.