What's adorable, drives on E, but doesn't need gas?

November 23, 5:43 PMLA Pop Media ExaminerAdrienne Gruben

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Nothing's gonna change your world? Try a car with a plug. 

One of pop cultures sexiest subsets? Cars. Especially in relation to fan clubs for Potsie from Happy Days. Ok fine, not sexier than having a car passenger who's a blow up doll. Wait, that's about cars!

That should be plenty to excite you about the LA Auto show here through the 30th. And even with the the scarcity of car loans, you can still afford a Ferrari key chain or have a buddy photograph you blowing a kiss to a distracted car show girl.

I think the most pop culturey moment came when BMW unveiled the MINI E (electric) for the press. MINI cooper has a long pop culture history. Peter Sellers, Princess Margaret and David Bowie drove MINIs. Twiggy appeared in ads for them. The Beatles drove one in Magical Mystery Tour, and Ringo drove the same hippied out MINI to George Harrison's Memorial Garden dedication. Designer Mary Quant based her miniskirt on them. And British popstars James Blunt and Lily Allen drive them. 

But MINI's proudest pop culture moments are the car chases in both Italian Jobs. And the MINI's re-emergence symbolizes the rise of "cute" and the waning popularity of cars that would lose handily to a Sherman Tank in a game of chicken.

BMW has finally realized its long hope of an electric car on the road. You remember BMW’s electric concept car pacing the 1972 Olympic Marathon runners. Ok me neither, but a German born American won that year. Was this his “KITT” from Knight Rider? The Germans love Knight Rider.

BMW CEO Dr. Norbert Reithofer spoke with actual glee about the 500 Mini E’s becoming available for an $850/mo, 1 year lease to Southern Californians and New Yorkers by year’s end. At that price, he should feel glee. And like on American Idol, the audience controls the outcome because before going into mass production, BMW will integrate any customer feedback that isn't, "Can you guys write me a doctor's note for the airline?" And for those whose regular MINI Coopers are their binky, Reithofer added, “The MINI E has gone through the same rigorous development process as a regular MINI.”

So how long will it stay on the road before it’s a pain in the rear? If you have an electrician (NOT your brother-in-law again) come over and install a 220 volt wall box outlet-your oven requires 220 volts-the MINI E can go for 156 miles on a 2 hour charge. And if you get stuck at Grandma’s house in the country, there’s an 110 volt plug-in to get you back home-ten hours later. Plenty of time to fraternize with Grandma’s hot neighbor. Or watch Lawrence Welk show reruns.

When it came time to give up the goods, Reithofer announced, “Such a special car needs a special guest!” Even the most cynical journalists’ eyes widened. I thought, “David Hasselhoff?” And then he said, “L.A. Deputy Mayor Janelle Erickson!” Um, who? Over confused clapping, Erickson said, “The MINI E fits into the Mayor’s commitment to being the biggest green city in the nation.”

There’s that word again. If I hear one more actor talking about being green and changing light bulbs (which have bio-degredation issues), I'm going to drive him out to Victorville in a MINI E and leave him there without power. I'm all for true green living, but it’s complicated. Especially if you get your MINI E’s electricity from a coal source. You’re just passing your high emissions buck to someone else. And paying to have your carbon footprint erased every time you offend (which doesn't always work) is like Britney Spears singing, "Oops I did it again!" But at least she admits it.

After the unveiling, I took my first test-drive ever, and drove my first electric car, ever. Given my novice status, like Mark Cuban on Dancing With the Stars, I invited one of the German fellas dressed in black to join me as backup. When Daniel, a 6ft tall Ryan Phillipe look-alike stepped up, I begrudgingly accepted. Anything for an article.

Differences from the regular MINI: no back seat to make-out in-unless you want to make-out with the battery, some design features, oh and that giant, yellow E on the top of the car-and on the hood, next to the right taillight, over the outlet cover. The next tattoo sensation?

Right before we took off, I became the tiresome electric car newbie who’s like, “Is it on? I can’t hear a thing!” Driving the MINI E was a blast, but a few things to note: you aren’t accidentally slamming on the brakes when you remove your foot from the pedal-that’s deceleration from the regenerative braking; do not try to go from 0-60 with one hand on the wheel and one around your Starbucks - unless you want to hear Daniel exclaim, “OH S#!T HAPPENS!” Much better than a blow up doll.