A Mini App question

[azausa]

Going to the https://www.miniusa.com/owners/community/mobile-apps.html, Mini says that one of the App Feature Highlights is Electric Range Planning, how do you do this? Does the Mini App now have an ABRP capability?

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[CuriousGeorge]

Going to the https://www.miniusa.com/owners/community/mobile-apps.html, Mini says that one of the App Feature Highlights is Electric Range Planning, how do you do this? Does the Mini App now have an ABRP capability?View attachment 22661


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If you go to the map/routing view and enter a destination that can't be reached without recharging, the app will pick intermediate stops for you to try to get you there. You can specify starting charge, minimal arrival charge, and which charging operators you prefer, but that seems to be about it.

I haven't used the app or ABRP to make a detailed comparison, but the MINI app seems pretty basic. That said, given the limited range and the charging infrastructure where I live, it's not like there are a lot of options to sort through.

One thing that I will say is that the MINI app has been wrong on charger locations more than once. Either they didn't exist (or no longer existed), weren't actually accessible (e.g., a car dealerships that don't provide public charging), or were no where close to where they were claimed to be (e.g., at a Shell station, when in fact they were in the shopping center parking lot across a major boulevard). I certainly wouldn't want to try to travel any significant distance using only the app as my guide.

 

[azausa]

Thanks CuriousGeorge. I’ve got version 4.5.1. Though it seems our NZ version of the Mini App is lagging behind, when I put in a destination, the Mini App tells it is out of range and that the nearby charging is at the destination and shows no intermediate stops to charge

along the way.


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[CuriousGeorge]

Thanks CuriousGeorge. I’ve got version 4.5.1. Though it seems our NZ version of the Mini App is lagging behind, when I put in a destination, the Mini App tells it is out of range and that the nearby charging is at the destination and shows no intermediate stops to chargeView attachment 22664View attachment 22665 along the way.


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Version 4.5.1 (33531) here.

I assume that there are chargers along the route, which the app doesn't realize?

 

[azausa]

Just updated to 4.5.3. Yup, there are chargers along the way, thing is it sees the list of chargers and tells that the destination is out of range.

Yup, still using ABRP for route planning then the chargers that ABRP identifies I load them as stops in the MINI app then send them to the SE.


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[Racejoe]

When road tripping I use the MINI navigation in the app, ABRP and PlugShare. In general, I find the MINI app to be on the optimistic side, ABRP is on the pessimistic side. I use PlugShare to confirm that charging stations exist and how reliable they might be. After planning, I use MINI navigation to execute the trip.

 

[insightman]

When road tripping I use the MINI navigation in the app, ABRP and PlugShare. In general, I find the MINI app to be on the optimistic side, ABRP is on the pessimistic side. I use PlugShare to confirm that charging stations exist and how reliable they might be. After planning, I use MINI navigation to execute the trip.

Thanks! It's great to hear the voice of experience when it comes to road-tripping.

I've taken just one trip long enough to require charging twice en route to my destination. Do you do take your SE on long trips frequently? How long was the longest? How low do you typically allow your charge level to get?

 

[Racejoe]

Thanks! It's great to hear the voice of experience when it comes to road-tripping.

I've taken just one trip long enough to require charging twice en route to my destination. Do you do take your SE on long trips frequently? How long was the longest? How low do you typically allow your charge level to get?

I have had my SE for a little over a year now. I have done a couple of longer trips ~300 miles each way, and a bunch of shorter ones that take a recharge for the round trip. I have planned a bunch of others, but haven't driven them yet. I find it pretty fun to do one in the MINI, although does take longer, it makes for a fun adventure. I plan the routes targeting not getting below 10%, but usually I arrive at the charge stops with more than that. The lowest I have ever taken it was 6%? Maybe a little lower. I was pushing it on a round trip and the way back was HEAVY rain which took some range out, but still made it no problem.

 

[MichaelC]

When road tripping I use the MINI navigation in the app, ABRP and PlugShare. In general, I find the MINI app to be on the optimistic side, ABRP is on the pessimistic side. I use PlugShare to confirm that charging stations exist and how reliable they might be. After planning, I use MINI navigation to execute the trip.

This has been my approach as well, and I agree with your observations. I also cross-check remaining travel distance with the GOM's estimate for additional confidence, since it is notoriously pessimistic.

 

[Racejoe]

This has been my approach as well, and I agree with your observations. I also cross-check remaining travel distance with the GOM's estimate for additional confidence, since it is notoriously pessimistic.

Me too (checking GOM vs travel distance) and I am still playing with doing that trip to the Tail of the Dragon. A couple of new charging stations are going in that will streamline the trip quite a bit.