Upcoming first long trip

So virtual rumble strips! I didn't realize the 2022 LCI came with that feature.

 

I found I have to use low regenerative braking when I have the dogs as passengers to avoid throwing them around at stop signs; it is pretty weak (some might say smooth). I think I have to take my foot off the accelerator about twice as far away from an intersection as high regen.

 

Pooch-protection is a good reason.

 

I tried the lower regen setting a couple times when I first got it--mostly when I got on the highway. I have since learned (and strongly prefer) to modulate how much regen I get via the accelerator pedal with the default higher regen setting. Instead of treating it like an on/off switch, I use it as a "how much do I want to go" control. As I approach a stop, I want to go "less fast the closer I get", so I slowly release the accelerator to gradually increase the amount of regenerative braking.

It's basically what "one pedal driving" is all about, but I don't think I've heard/read anyone discuss how the smoothness of transition between acceleration and braking is up to the driver's finesse.

 

My comment about the ACC being too sensitive was to mean that it picks up the car ahead to far back and tries to match their speed from what feels like way to far back. Our Toyota does the same and really makes it hard to use with any cars around.




Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs

 

Compared to my Bolt, the Mini does a lot to smooth out the transition. The Bolt does exactly what you tell it, which can be jerky until you are used to it. The Mini will smooth some of that out for you, making it a much more enjoyable ride. You don't have to focus so much on foot position.

At the same time, the high regen for the Mini is pretty modest compared to the Bolt. The Bolt's max regen is the strongest on the market, so I have had to adjust my stopping distance when driving the Mini. Once or twice I've had to hit the friction brakes simply because I was used to the Bolt.

 

It’s been a few months since I watched SE recharge videos, and I can’t find what I’m looking for. At a DC fast charge does anyone know the estimated time for a full charge, assuming you get the full juice from the EVSE? I know it’s around 35 minutes to 80%. We decided to try a road trip tomorrow - 90 miles each way. There is an Electrify America station at our destination, so I plan to try that. Depending on range remaining when I arrive, I might need to charge beyond 80%.

 

The specs according to this Inside EVs article showing Fastned's measurement of the SE's charging curve:

• DC fast charging 0-80% in 35 minutes (at up to around 50 kW); 0-100% in 1.4 hours

Of course, starting from a higher state of charge than 0% should mean less time.

Oh, and this Inside EVs road trip article has more real-world examples in table format that are probably more relevant to you. For example, they charged from 17% to 95% in 42 minutes.

 

It slows down a lot after 80%. It took me about 20 minutes to go from 80% to 90% the only time I tried a DC charging station. I've read it could take nearly an hour to go from 80% to 100%. However, you're probably not going to be arriving at the EVSE at 0%, so it will take you less than 90 minutes to get to 100%. Those last few % will try your patience to the max.

Check out the charging graph in this article.

 

I've never done a complete 0-100, but regularly do 30-100. According to the new app, this takes 1 hour (exactly). On another occaision, I did 20-100 in 1h7m. This would suggest a time for 0-100 of around 1h20, maybe a few mintues extra as the charging ramps from around 40kW when the battery is at 0. If you are road tripping, I would suggest a 10-90% approach. Charging doesn't significantly drop off till somewhere north of 90%, and you want to leave a bit in the "tank" for emergencies. If you have the time, an extra half hour or so will get you 100%.

 

Thanks for the quick replies - that is exactly what I needed! Sounds like 1.4 hours worst case, but hopefully a bit less. We know the area where we are charging has plenty of food / shopping to keep us busy as I monitor the charge status. I installed the Electrify America app tonight and created an account. I will report back with my trip results! I plan to go in Green mode and stick to the speed limit on the first half of the trip.

 

Same here. Just did a c. 600m round trip in a day and felt comfortable using CrCon nearly the entire time. Tech keeps the charge needle on the low side, something I only got used to in my 400th EV mile. I used to floor it like an ice, but now more elegantly press the pedal. Still can get hella fast speeds, but much less draw on the energy o' meter. And my drive scores in the app are coming in at 4.5 now, including the long trip with mostly CrCon.

 

I never floored any of my ICE cars the way I do my SE. I hated calling attention to my juvenile behavior when I pushed the pedal to the mat. I floor my SE much more often, believing I am audibly invisible. Maybe when I turn 80 (or collect a few speeding tickets), I'll grow out of it.

One of our finest researchers, @vader, convinced me acceleration wasn't necessarily a range-killer in this post when he showed a graph and wrote, "So hard acceleration to 50kph could actually be beneficial to crawling up to 50kph - even with the inefficiencies of the motor. As soon as you pass 50ish, then friction is against you and you will lose out." Of course, for long trips, the emotionless cruise control can help you get further down the road, but it takes a lot of fun out of driving.

 

You should be able to do it if you keep your speed at or below 70mph. I drove a Cooper on an 1,100-mile road trip and I charged every ~85 miles or so.

Check out the post: https://insideevs.com/reviews/410446/video-mini-cooper-se-1111-mile-trip/

 

I will write up today’s trip results later - bottom line - until the charging infrastructure improves in South Carolina, I will not even do the 180 mile trip we did today again. We made it home okay, but with only 10 miles to spare on the battery and had to switch to Green+ for part of it.

 

And how did the car drive, compared to your old 2009 Mini-e? Is there a part of you that would like a connection to that humble beginning, or have you mostly moved on?