Comments on: Mini-E Hits Pothole, Shuts Down: Electric Car Durability in Question http://gas2.org/2009/10/30/mini-e-hits-pothole-loses-power-electric-cars-must-be-more-durable/ What is the future of fuel? What's new? What's next? Since 2007, Gas 2 has covered a rapidly changing world coming to terms with its oil addiction. Sat, 26 May 2012 14:59:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Tom M http://gas2.org/2009/10/30/mini-e-hits-pothole-loses-power-electric-cars-must-be-more-durable/#comment-12652 Tom M Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:35:30 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=3955#comment-12652 I'm also one of the Mini-E Trial lease participants. I, like Ken have had the car since mid June and I have driven it over 12,000 miles. I had to have one of the battery modules replaced because it was defective, but that's it. I drive the car 600 miles a week and I drive it hard. As far as I'm concerned, the car is wonderful. The acceleration is superb, the handling reminds me of my 94'RX7 and the electric drive is smooth as silk. I read about Lyle's pothole issue, but I haven't heard of anyone else in the program experiencing that he did. Car's break down, even the most reliable ones. My 2005 Civic needed a new tranny after 42K. My 2 year old Toyota Tacoma's fuel pump went when I was halfway over the Triborough bridge. I had traffic backed up to the Bronx! Of course you will hear stories about breakdowns of Mini-e's, but like Ken above (and most of the other 450 Mini-e drivers) I love the car and wish I could keep it forever. I’m also one of the Mini-E Trial lease participants. I, like Ken have had the car since mid June and I have driven it over 12,000 miles. I had to have one of the battery modules replaced because it was defective, but that’s it. I drive the car 600 miles a week and I drive it hard. As far as I’m concerned, the car is wonderful. The acceleration is superb, the handling reminds me of my 94′RX7 and the electric drive is smooth as silk. I read about Lyle’s pothole issue, but I haven’t heard of anyone else in the program experiencing that he did. Car’s break down, even the most reliable ones. My 2005 Civic needed a new tranny after 42K. My 2 year old Toyota Tacoma’s fuel pump went when I was halfway over the Triborough bridge. I had traffic backed up to the Bronx! Of course you will hear stories about breakdowns of Mini-e’s, but like Ken above (and most of the other 450 Mini-e drivers) I love the car and wish I could keep it forever.

]]> By: Tom M http://gas2.org/2009/10/30/mini-e-hits-pothole-loses-power-electric-cars-must-be-more-durable/#comment-36340 Tom M Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:35:00 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=3955#comment-36340 I'm also one of the Mini-E Trial lease participants. I, like Ken have had the car since mid June and I have driven it over 12,000 miles. I had to have one of the battery modules replaced because it was defective, but that's it. I drive the car 600 miles a week and I drive it hard. As far as I'm concerned, the car is wonderful. The acceleration is superb, the handling reminds me of my 94'RX7 and the electric drive is smooth as silk. I read about Lyle's pothole issue, but I haven't heard of anyone else in the program experiencing that he did. Car's break down, even the most reliable ones. My 2005 Civic needed a new tranny after 42K. My 2 year old Toyota Tacoma's fuel pump went when I was halfway over the Triborough bridge. I had traffic backed up to the Bronx! Of course you will hear stories about breakdowns of Mini-e's, but like Ken above (and most of the other 450 Mini-e drivers) I love the car and wish I could keep it forever. I’m also one of the Mini-E Trial lease participants. I, like Ken have had the car since mid June and I have driven it over 12,000 miles. I had to have one of the battery modules replaced because it was defective, but that’s it. I drive the car 600 miles a week and I drive it hard. As far as I’m concerned, the car is wonderful. The acceleration is superb, the handling reminds me of my 94′RX7 and the electric drive is smooth as silk. I read about Lyle’s pothole issue, but I haven’t heard of anyone else in the program experiencing that he did. Car’s break down, even the most reliable ones. My 2005 Civic needed a new tranny after 42K. My 2 year old Toyota Tacoma’s fuel pump went when I was halfway over the Triborough bridge. I had traffic backed up to the Bronx! Of course you will hear stories about breakdowns of Mini-e’s, but like Ken above (and most of the other 450 Mini-e drivers) I love the car and wish I could keep it forever.

]]> By: ken barbour http://gas2.org/2009/10/30/mini-e-hits-pothole-loses-power-electric-cars-must-be-more-durable/#comment-12651 ken barbour Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:56:05 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=3955#comment-12651 Im really tired of reading all this negativity about the mini-e. Mine has 10,300 miles on it since june 18th of this year. I have dragraced it, autocrossed it 64 laps, towed trailers with it, and driven it to many different states. I have had only one problem with it-the front tires wore out from me spinning them too much. Yes, the car is that fast! Way faster than a regular MINI, 15.9seconds in the quarter mile with me driving. I have never had any electronics replaced. I cant be the only one without problems. Why is nobody talking about how much faster the car is than a gas car? The car is amazing. Now if we can only stop the petroleum industries from influencing the press we read Im really tired of reading all this negativity about the mini-e. Mine has 10,300 miles on it since june 18th of this year. I have dragraced it, autocrossed it 64 laps, towed trailers with it, and driven it to many different states. I have had only one problem with it-the front tires wore out from me spinning them too much. Yes, the car is that fast! Way faster than a regular MINI, 15.9seconds in the quarter mile with me driving. I have never had any electronics replaced. I cant be the only one without problems. Why is nobody talking about how much faster the car is than a gas car? The car is amazing. Now if we can only stop the petroleum industries from influencing the press we read

]]> By: ken barbour http://gas2.org/2009/10/30/mini-e-hits-pothole-loses-power-electric-cars-must-be-more-durable/#comment-36339 ken barbour Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:56:00 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=3955#comment-36339 Im really tired of reading all this negativity about the mini-e. Mine has 10,300 miles on it since june 18th of this year. I have dragraced it, autocrossed it 64 laps, towed trailers with it, and driven it to many different states. I have had only one problem with it-the front tires wore out from me spinning them too much. Yes, the car is that fast! Way faster than a regular MINI, 15.9seconds in the quarter mile with me driving. I have never had any electronics replaced. I cant be the only one without problems. Why is nobody talking about how much faster the car is than a gas car? The car is amazing. Now if we can only stop the petroleum industries from influencing the press we read Im really tired of reading all this negativity about the mini-e. Mine has 10,300 miles on it since june 18th of this year. I have dragraced it, autocrossed it 64 laps, towed trailers with it, and driven it to many different states. I have had only one problem with it-the front tires wore out from me spinning them too much. Yes, the car is that fast! Way faster than a regular MINI, 15.9seconds in the quarter mile with me driving. I have never had any electronics replaced. I cant be the only one without problems. Why is nobody talking about how much faster the car is than a gas car? The car is amazing. Now if we can only stop the petroleum industries from influencing the press we read

]]> By: Paul http://gas2.org/2009/10/30/mini-e-hits-pothole-loses-power-electric-cars-must-be-more-durable/#comment-12650 Paul Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:01:47 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=3955#comment-12650 This is a PRO EV blog, don't act all surprized when you get a negative reception to a negative story. Here's the sort of PR your story has generated http://www.mlive.com/mudpuppy/index.ssf/2009/11/still_want_one_electric_car_hi.html "bit of Skepticism" ??? You're being IGNORANT. More ignorance feeds more ignorance... publisizing every minor fault of the 100 or so actual test EVs on the road is ANTI EV. This is a PRO EV blog, don’t act all surprized when you get a negative reception to a negative story.

Here’s the sort of PR your story has generated

http://www.mlive.com/mudpuppy/index.ssf/2009/11/still_want_one_electric_car_hi.html

“bit of Skepticism” ??? You’re being IGNORANT. More ignorance feeds more ignorance… publisizing every minor fault of the 100 or so actual test EVs on the road is ANTI EV.

]]> By: Paul http://gas2.org/2009/10/30/mini-e-hits-pothole-loses-power-electric-cars-must-be-more-durable/#comment-36338 Paul Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:01:00 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=3955#comment-36338 This is a PRO EV blog, don't act all surprized when you get a negative reception to a negative story. Here's the sort of PR your story has generated http://www.mlive.com/mudpuppy/index.ssf/2009/11/still_want_one_electric_car_hi.html "bit of Skepticism" ??? You're being IGNORANT. More ignorance feeds more ignorance... publisizing every minor fault of the 100 or so actual test EVs on the road is ANTI EV. This is a PRO EV blog, don’t act all surprized when you get a negative reception to a negative story.

Here’s the sort of PR your story has generated

http://www.mlive.com/mudpuppy/index.ssf/2009/11/still_want_one_electric_car_hi.html

“bit of Skepticism” ??? You’re being IGNORANT. More ignorance feeds more ignorance… publisizing every minor fault of the 100 or so actual test EVs on the road is ANTI EV.

]]> By: Steve Shurts http://gas2.org/2009/10/30/mini-e-hits-pothole-loses-power-electric-cars-must-be-more-durable/#comment-12649 Steve Shurts Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:38:45 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=3955#comment-12649 To Michael's point: It really doesn't matter how simple or complex the electronics in an electric or hybrid are. The point is that any transistor junction can only sustain a certain temperature before going into thermal runaway and then failing. The way around that is to cool the junction. That can be done by a number of methods: heat pipes, heat sinks, air flow or liquid coolant. The conditions that will cause failure in either technology are the same. Their will be a greater chance of failure when you have a greater number of components. But when you subject the components to extremes, they are going to fail. Stressing components by running them up to a near failure, will, over time, guarantee a failure at some point in the future. The real issue is whether or not the failure conditions can be controlled. They likely can be controlled; however, I am willing to bet that it is easier to control them in a hybrid vehicle than in a purely electric vehicle (see my first post). Any technology purporting to be the "know-all to end-all" will need to operate pretty flawlessly. I have owned several ICE powered vehicles in my lifetime and the only one that ever left my stranded was a second-hand Gremlin that had been neglected and sitting for a couple years before I started driving it. To Michael’s point: It really doesn’t matter how simple or complex the electronics in an electric or hybrid are. The point is that any transistor junction can only sustain a certain temperature before going into thermal runaway and then failing. The way around that is to cool the junction. That can be done by a number of methods: heat pipes, heat sinks, air flow or liquid coolant.

The conditions that will cause failure in either technology are the same. Their will be a greater chance of failure when you have a greater number of components. But when you subject the components to extremes, they are going to fail. Stressing components by running them up to a near failure, will, over time, guarantee a failure at some point in the future.

The real issue is whether or not the failure conditions can be controlled. They likely can be controlled; however, I am willing to bet that it is easier to control them in a hybrid vehicle than in a purely electric vehicle (see my first post). Any technology purporting to be the “know-all to end-all” will need to operate pretty flawlessly. I have owned several ICE powered vehicles in my lifetime and the only one that ever left my stranded was a second-hand Gremlin that had been neglected and sitting for a couple years before I started driving it.

]]> By: Steve Shurts http://gas2.org/2009/10/30/mini-e-hits-pothole-loses-power-electric-cars-must-be-more-durable/#comment-36337 Steve Shurts Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:38:00 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=3955#comment-36337 To Michael's point: It really doesn't matter how simple or complex the electronics in an electric or hybrid are. The point is that any transistor junction can only sustain a certain temperature before going into thermal runaway and then failing. The way around that is to cool the junction. That can be done by a number of methods: heat pipes, heat sinks, air flow or liquid coolant. The conditions that will cause failure in either technology are the same. Their will be a greater chance of failure when you have a greater number of components. But when you subject the components to extremes, they are going to fail. Stressing components by running them up to a near failure, will, over time, guarantee a failure at some point in the future. The real issue is whether or not the failure conditions can be controlled. They likely can be controlled; however, I am willing to bet that it is easier to control them in a hybrid vehicle than in a purely electric vehicle (see my first post). Any technology purporting to be the "know-all to end-all" will need to operate pretty flawlessly. I have owned several ICE powered vehicles in my lifetime and the only one that ever left my stranded was a second-hand Gremlin that had been neglected and sitting for a couple years before I started driving it. To Michael’s point: It really doesn’t matter how simple or complex the electronics in an electric or hybrid are. The point is that any transistor junction can only sustain a certain temperature before going into thermal runaway and then failing. The way around that is to cool the junction. That can be done by a number of methods: heat pipes, heat sinks, air flow or liquid coolant.

The conditions that will cause failure in either technology are the same. Their will be a greater chance of failure when you have a greater number of components. But when you subject the components to extremes, they are going to fail. Stressing components by running them up to a near failure, will, over time, guarantee a failure at some point in the future.

The real issue is whether or not the failure conditions can be controlled. They likely can be controlled; however, I am willing to bet that it is easier to control them in a hybrid vehicle than in a purely electric vehicle (see my first post). Any technology purporting to be the “know-all to end-all” will need to operate pretty flawlessly. I have owned several ICE powered vehicles in my lifetime and the only one that ever left my stranded was a second-hand Gremlin that had been neglected and sitting for a couple years before I started driving it.

]]> By: Chris DeMorro http://gas2.org/2009/10/30/mini-e-hits-pothole-loses-power-electric-cars-must-be-more-durable/#comment-12648 Chris DeMorro Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:19:10 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=3955#comment-12648 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. 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.

]]> By: Chris DeMorro http://gas2.org/2009/10/30/mini-e-hits-pothole-loses-power-electric-cars-must-be-more-durable/#comment-36336 Chris DeMorro Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:19:00 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=3955#comment-36336 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. 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.

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