New York Event for MINI E Pioneers

To some, blogs are like graffiti. They seem to be everywhere and everyone has their story to tell. However, once you start to write a blog, you realize that they are more like cave drawings. You discover that people have to actually hunt to find your blog and recognition comes slowly. That’s how it’s been for My MINI E. I write and I pray that others will find it, read my entries and find what they read interesting. When you suddenly discover that your blog is being read it can be quite a surprise.

That is one of the things that happened at the MINI E Event in New York City on May 13. I arrived at the IAC Building around 7:30 PM and wondered how I was going to find the authors of the other blogs I’ve been reading. They would be the only Pioneers I had any knowledge of. I spoke to several people, including BMW and MINI representatives, during the cocktail period but no luck. Then the presentation began. Marc Alt was introduced as the guest speaker. He is a proponent of green design and would speak about sustainable energy sources and how the public can help pressure corporations to move in a more environmentally beneficial direction.

Who's business card is that?

The big surprise was when he opened his slide presentation with a picture of my MINI E Pioneer business card! My friend Raj and I were sitting in the first row and it took both of us a few seconds to realize what was happening. Marc proceeded to talk about my blog as well as others he’d come across and how we’re helping to spread the word about electric vehicles. He pointed out that the MINI E Field Trial is not just a personal experience, it is a social event. He commended me on my attempts to reach out and meet others in the field trial and promote sharing of charging stations. I have to admit that I had the idea for extending the range of the MINI E by charging them at other Pioneers homes since I signed up but I wasn’t the first to publically mention it. At any rate, I had no trouble finding the other bloggers after that. They found me.

But first, back to Marc’s presentation. I expected the event to be a pep rally and it was. But, there were some very important points made. For one, we really are pioneers. We’re not the first. The General Motor’s EV1 had a field trial. It was such a success the car was killed. Perhaps the timing was wrong and things will be different this time. Regardless, we, as Pioneers, have to expect to be stopped in our travels by a very inquisitive public seeking answers and our opinions. Marc pointed out, and I agree, that we will be spokes-persons for electric cars in general. We have more responsibility to the public than just saying, “Yes, I love the car.” We need to let people know that the car is just one part of the equation. Corporations need to know that standards will be necessary to make sure that all cars can be charged at home and away. Also, replaceable battery packs would be convenient. They would let you pull into a service station, swap batteries and be on your way in minutes. However, without corporations working together, there will be no quick way to get back on the road. Corporations are notoriously slow in creating and living by standards. So, it’s up to the public to prod them and the Pioneers are charged with educating the public.

I’ll have more about what I’d like to see in the future in later posts. Following Marc’s talk we got to see and sit in the MINI Es on display. It turns out that I knew a bit more than some others about the car because of my research, other blogs and asking questions at the NY Auto Show. We did get to see under the hood this time. At the Auto Show the hood wasn’t raised to avoid having curious people touching the wrong thing. Most of what is visible is the control unit. It looks like a big toolbox. Here are some pictures from the event:

Cocktail Hour

Under the Hood

Me in a MINI E

Robert in a MINI E

It was great meeting Robert and Tim, fellow bloggers, and Don and his wife from Shelter Island who graciously offerred to allow other Pioneers to stop by and charge up at his place. Interesting also was a gentleman who mentioned that he owns a lot of pay phones in New York City and is currently adding wiring to make them into public charging stations. What a great idea!

The food, of course, was first class. Not being much of a drinker, I didn’t take much advantage of the open bar but it was appreciated none the less. I’m hoping there will be more gatherings of Pioneers over the next year and beyond, both formal and informal.

My test drive is scheduled for May 19. I’ll be back with some more news then.