Mini Introduces New Cooper SE Electric With Lackluster Range

by Chad Kirchner

Published: July 9th, 2019

mini introduces new cooper se electric with lackluster range

A few short years ago, there were very few players in the electric vehicle marketplace, with cars like the first-generation Leaf topping out with 73 miles of range. Since then, we’ve seen EVs like the Tesla Model 3 that are rated with 310 miles of range and some models can go even farther between finding a charge point. In this growing and competitive market, Mini introduced an all-new electric Mini, called the Cooper SE.

The Cooper SE is an all electric car with a 135 kW electric motor good for 181 horsepower and 199 lb-ft of torque. Mini doesn’t cite U.S. EPA estimated range numbers, but they are claiming a range of 235 to 270 kilometers. A direct conversion to miles would be — checks notes — 146 miles. Since the European testing cycle is optimistic, the EPA range is likely to sit around 114 miles according to Automotive News.

That’s missing the mark. By a lot.

Maybe it’ll make up for the lack of range by fast charging? Mini says that the Cooper SE will be take advantage of 50 kW fast charging. The Leaf Plus can use a 100 kW fast charger, and Tesla’s later Supercharger stations can pump out the juice at 250 kW. So does it make up for it in charging? No.

Maybe the driving experience will be better in this than other EVs? Mini claims that the Cooper SE is only 319 pounds heavier than the Cooper S with the automatic transmission. On a car this size, that weight would be noticeable if you drove them both back-to-back, but at 3,009 pounds the Cooper SE is still pretty light. Though there aren’t too many people who climb out of a Model 3, especially the Performance version, and think that the experience wasn’t fun.

Mini suggests a 0-60 mph run in 7.3 seconds and a top speed of 93.2 mph. Car and Driver tested a Kona EV and it did the same run in 6.2 seconds (and our first drive proved it to be more sprightly than advertised around town). Nissan’s Leaf Plus has a top speed of 99 mph; the Kona can do 104.

So why choose the Mini Cooper SE over the competition? Because it’s a Mini? Like the bigger, PHEV Countryman SE with an electric range of just 12 miles, the Cooper SE misses the mark on competitiveness. It looks great, especially with the concept’s wheels and the yellow trim pieces, and it’ll surely drive well on a back road. But Minis aren’t usually cheap transportation, making this an expensive city runabout once the brand publishes the official MSRP.

Minis are some of the best driving front-wheel drive cars on the planet, but this one reeks of emissions compliance. Mini is a better car company than this. In this competitive segment they need to do better.

[Images: Mini]

#BEV #Cooper #Electric #ElectricVehicles #EVs #MINI #SE

Chad Kirchner

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Add Lightness on Jul 10, 2019

More range = more potteries = more weight. Within reason, I like lightweight cars more than the heavier versions.

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- Lockstops on Jul 10, 2019
  
  I agree. Most people buying a car like this don't need more from an EV, as longer trips will be handled with the charging stops which don't take too long (as long as the charging station is working and is not occupied). Bigger, heavier batteries make a lot less sense. An EV is a big compromise and I also consider this to be the better choice. What is interesting is the proposed, possibly upcoming feature of the Fiat Panda which will be all-electric: it will have small batteries and for long trips you can go to a pick-up point (probably service center?) to add on more battery modules which will result in a very large battery pack to give you a very long range. Sounds good and efficient: you'll have the required battery capacity instead of lugging around a lot of dead weight.
  
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Lockstops on Jul 10, 2019

Well, what is Mini going to do when the Honda e comes out? The Honda will be rear wheel drive, have almost the same power (150hp vs. 184hp), more torque (300Nm vs. 270Nm) and has a marginally larger battery (35,5kWh vs. 32,6kWh), and DC charging is double (100kW vs. 50kW). What if the rumours of pricing are true and the Honda e only costs about 30k€ and the Mini 31k€, with the Mini expected to be much more basic equitpment-wise, with customers having to spend about 40k€ for the Mini to be well optioned out vs. the Honda e having the better equipment level at around 35k€? What does speak for the Mini, a lot, is that it has a heat pump as standard equipment which is an absolutely huge advantage for efficiency in most climates for most of the year. While it is possible that the Honda e will also have a heat pump it's very doubtful.

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- Lockstops on Jul 10, 2019
  
  BTW why are people comparing this to Tesla Model 3?? This and the Honda e are expected to start at well under 40k€, closer to 30k€, while the Model 3 starts at well over 45k€!
  
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- HotPotato on Jul 11, 2019
  
  @Lockstops Because the Model 3 is literally the benchmark against which all other EVs are judged. Compare it to a Hyundai Kona instead. It still shows poorly. I hear what you're saying though. An actually-mini Mini is a city car; it doesn't need long range. Mini is a luxury/niche brand; it doesn't need good value.
  
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- Dal20402 on Jul 11, 2019
  
  @HotPotato The Model 3 is overrated. In our recent purchase, we compared a Model 3 against a Chevy Bolt. The Bolt won the comparison, and probably would have won even with closer real-world pricing (we got our Bolt for nearly $10k off MSRP before tax credit). Granted, one of the demerits from our perspective (overly showy styling) is probably a win for most buyers, but we were also unimpressed by poor ergonomics, build quality issues, a harsh ride, a reckless attitude toward safety in the design of driver aids, and our lack of confidence in long-term support.
  
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