BMW says it is loaning 10 Mini E electric cars to the City of New York to be used as in New York’s Street Condition Observation Unit (SCOUT), which prowls the city in search of graffiti and potholes. The 10 Mini Es are part of the 500 the automaker is bringing to the United States as part of a research and development trial run.
Of the 500 vehicles being brought over, 450 will be leased – at $800 a month – in the New York/New Jersey and Southern California markets. The other 50 will be used for publicity programs like the SCOUT initiative in New York City.
Not only is BMW hoping to get the word out about the all-electric Mini, it’s also hoping to collect real-world use data in a variety of conditions. The automaker hopes to take the lessons learned with this effort and apply it towards larger, more functional cars; the Mini E’s battery pack takes up most of its back seat and trunk areas, severely limiting its usefulness.
Leftlane recently had a chance to test the electric Mini E at the Los Angeles Auto Show and we were impressed with the little car’s get-up-and-go, as well as its refinement.
01/15, 3:42 PM
posted by:
Borat
I wish whoever authored this article knew a bit about NYC not from Charles Bronson movies. It is very difficult to find graffiti in NYC. The cost of a studio in Manhattan is between $2500 – 3500/month. People who can afford such prices don’t have time on their hands to “beautify” the “hood”. There are not that many of potholes either. Cant compare it to ‘60-’90s.
01/15, 3:54 PM
posted by:
AnonymousCoward
Guess the Mini is a real product, available today… Not some vapor-ware in the sky dream like that Volt Mr. Putz promise to build sometimes in the future when the tax payers have saved his ass…
01/15, 4:41 PM
posted by:
Borat
Hey Coward, I copyrighted my right to use Putz in association with Mr. Lutz. Please respect intellectual right of others
01/15, 4:52 PM
posted by:
AnonymousCoward
OK, I go with Nutz then…
01/15, 5:07 PM
posted by:
Borat
Thank you
01/15, 5:12 PM
posted by:
Andrew
Hey Borat, we don’t tell the mayor what to do with his city inspectors:
http://home2.nyc.gov/html/ops/html/customer_service_group/customer_service_group.shtml
Read the third paragraph.
01/15, 6:11 PM
posted by:
moparsalesman
At least they don’t have to worry about getting car jacked. No respectable street thug would be caught dead in a mini
01/15, 7:04 PM
posted by:
Mutant@DCX
$800 a month? give me a 650i instead.
01/15, 9:05 PM
posted by:
Borat
Andrew, you can only get a job as city inspector if either you or someone in your family pleased former Gov on NY. It is a coveted spot and cost a lot of either $$$ or political connections to get. What do you think you can get it by passing post office exam?
01/16, 8:26 AM
posted by:
Need more oil for GM
Will there be tow trucks following these around the whole time? That’ll get expensive.