The electric car? It's easy to use, will become acceptable - and the savings add up

摘要

Over the past six months I have been one of 40 drivers in southern England driving the prototype BMW E-Mini. I have been interviewed by researchers from Oxford Brookes University examining how I have come to terms with the car. The electricity used to charge the car has been recorded daily on a smart meter. An on-board computer has kept all the data about my driving, to which I trust the police will not have access. The car has been nippy and fun; but before I start to read like a car sales brochure let us consider the results in three areas: usability, acceptability and its contribution to carbon reduction.