Living EV-Only With Our Long-Term Mini Cooper SE and a LiveWire One
Two short-range urban EVs show me the pros and cons of electric life.
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Electric vehicles are more common than ever, as are public charging stations that offer Level 2 or DC fast-charging. But there are a lot of folks who are still hesitant to take the plunge on EV living. I'm one of them, so I decided to spend a month exclusively driving EVs -- specifically, our long-term Mini Cooper SE and a LiveWire One motorcycle.
We've talked about our long-term Mini on CNET before. And while I generally agree that it's fun to drive, nicely equipped and easily the best car in Mini's current lineup, I'm not so sold on its EPA-estimated 114 miles of range, which, frankly, I've yet to see.
Still, as a city car, the Mini SE excels. Its small size and nimble handling make it a breeze to whip around in Los Angeles traffic, and it's easy to park in tight city spaces. The ride is on the stiff side, but it's not overly bouncy or jarring, and the interior is nicely appointed, with enough room in the back for a large grocery trip.
My issue with the Mini comes down to charging speed. Plugged into a DC fast-charger, the Mini maxes out at 50 kilowatts, and because the battery isn't that big (32.6 kilowatt-hours), this means going from 15% to 80% usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes. If this car had more range, that wouldn't be too big of an issue, but it's less convenient when you have to charge this frequently. I understand that a lot of EV buyers will likely install a Level 2 home-charging setup, but not everyone can. Looking at you, people who rent or live in apartment or condo complexes.
As basic transportation for me and my wife, the Mini is good but not ideal. With a few modifications to my home setup, I could make it work easier, but in a world where I need to rely solely on public charging, a longer-range EV is a must. More range means more money, though, and the Mini SE's $30,750 starting price (including destination) is definitely attractive.
Like the Mini, the LiveWire One -- the new name for the Harley-Davidson LiveWire I reviewed in 2020 -- doesn't offer a staggering amount of range, but that's less of a concern on something as specialized as a motorcycle. The LiveWire will do over 100 miles in the city when ridden in a spirited fashion. It's very cool; when you get above 60 mph, the sound of the wind rush overtakes the sound of the electric motor and tires, so it almost feels like you're flying. It's addictive.
A very good pair.
The LiveWire is capable of DC fast-charging, but as with the Mini, the experience is a mixed bag. I frequently have to disconnect and reconnect the cable in order to get the 15.5-kWh battery to charge. The LiveWire can't accept Level 2 charging, which is a major bummer, so my lack of a home charger is a moot point in this case. Instead, I have to plug into a 110-volt household outlet, and the LiveWire takes about 8 hours to charge this way.
The LiveWire is a lovely bike, but at about $22,000, it's way too expensive -- and that's a drop from when the original Harley-Davidson-branded version launched. The bike's issues are less the fault of LiveWire specifically and more the realities of electric motorcycles in 2022. They just haven't received the same kind of development investment as cars, but at least products like the LiveWire feel like real motorcycles, rather than just jumped-up e-bikes.
So what did going electric for a month show me? First, I haven't lost any enthusiasm for EVs -- cars and motorcycles alike. This month of all-electric motoring showed me just how close these cars and bikes are to not needing any justification for people like me to buy them. Get a home charger and you're fine. Now I'll just wait for the public infrastructure to catch up.
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