To drive, it’s remarkably Mini-like. It might be an obvious thing to say about a Mini, but the salient point is that I don’t think it loses anything over a stock version. This one is entirely standard aside from the obvious. It looks stock, the interior is largely unchanged and the suspension is the same too, as the conversion only adds a handful of pounds. There is even a non-functional choke cable. Like the inoperative temperature gauge, it could undoubtedly be repurposed for the right idea and price.
You start by turning the key, causing the battery light to come on to let you know the car is ready to go. You don’t have to use the clutch to get it into gear, but it does make the action slightly smoother. Letting go of the clutch completely before driving off is weird, but it’s another thing that sets driving this car apart from the modern automobile.
I was recommended to go in second gear, but since the motor controllers aren’t as sophisticated as in a modern EV, the car tends to kangaroo a bit. Leaving first gets rid of it. Electrogenic can fit a different control module which smooths it out, but it’s around £1500 extra.
You can choose to just put it in third gear and be done with the shifting, but shifting makes a difference to how lively the Mini feels and it really adds to the experience. The downshift is very special, however, as there is no motor to give auditory feedback on where in the rev range you are and how quickly you can release the clutch.
Don’t think, however, that this is a modern, quiet electric vehicle. There’s a bit of whine coming from the engine, which is eerily reminiscent of a stock Mini. Since the suspension is standard and the conversion added a minimal amount of extra mass, the EV Mini drives much like a standard Mini.
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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-06-20 23:01:25
