MINI Countryman E/SE (2024)

MJohnston

I'm sniffing around one of these to downsize a bit from my iX (which I love, but too big and too expensive) and an interesting thing I've noticed is that you can add a technology pack (Level 3) to these that will allow for 22kW AC charging.

So now I'm curious — is this actually a useful feature in Ireland? It'll work at 22kW with existing array of eCars chargers, won't it?

drunkmonkey

Isn't it 3.7kw max without it. Is there much price difference between the petrol and one of these. I'd be inclined to go ice in a mini.

MJohnston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121768319#Comment_121768319

7kW max I would imagine. There's around an 8k difference between the base models of each, though I don't know how comparable they are

drunkmonkey

Petrol all the way I think, you'll never make it back between the higher depreciation and fuel savings. 7kw is still terrible slow if you have to use a charger when away from home, 22kw is better but still rediciously slow.

liamog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121768841#Comment_121768841

If you're really looking to charge the Countryman on a journey you'll use its 130kW capable CCS charging instead. The standard AC charger is 11kW which is pretty much industry standard. Personally I wouldn't bother paying to upgrade to a 22kW onboard AC charger.

MJohnston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121768841#Comment_121768841

I should have stated that I already have had a couple of EVs and will never go back to petrol/diesel. That's not part of the equation for me.

MJohnston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121769222#Comment_121769222

So the Level 3 Package also includes most of the semi-autonomous driving features, which means I'd probably opt for it anyway, but it's something I'm curious about

liamog

I was strongly considering the countryman before I bought the Model Y. Ended up not waiting as needed the bigger car earlier and was worried the price would come in way too high for what I wanted. Just gone through the configurator, to get a BRG with Level 3 pack it's showing 65k. I think that's way too high for the current market.

zg3409

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058336168/mini-countryman-e-se-2024

At home even with a 22kW capable car you will only still get 7kW max rates.

When out and about if the car has CCS that's what you need to use for maximum speeds mid trip. Paying for 22kW option will make no difference.

If staying away from home overnight and you opt for a slow ESB charger to park at for multiple hours then you will fill your car 3 times faster than home, but it will still take multiple hours, so will only really make a difference if say stopping for lunch and only option is a slow ESB charger with no faster CCS charger in the area. It can be useful as often the slow ESB 22kW chargers are not that busy outside of Dublin.

It's slightly different in mainland Europe where many homes have 3 phase and home chargers can often be 22kW.

Personally I don't think it's worth paying extra just for this, maybe if you had a massive 60+kWh battery it might save you a few hours a year.

drunkmonkey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121769222#Comment_121769222

Your right on that, no point getting the 22kW unless you've got 3 phaze at home or maybe work. I'd read the specs for the older one.

It's not listed on the mini site but it looks like the max the new one will take is 95kW at a fast charger.

liamog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121769546#Comment_121769546

It's listed on the configuration site. There's also the MINI Cooper E/SE which have 75kW and 95kW DC charging.

MarkN

Just to add - this isn’t about not being useable at home, 22kW is an absolute must have if you do charging outside the home. No more relying on chargers that are often full, no more idiots tapping on your window asking “when you’ll be done” and no overstay fee (before 8 hours). It’s the difference between passive charging and not in my opinion. If you have a charger near a meeting, near your gym, near where you have dinner in a restaurant, it is a wonderful thing to have.

If you truly never really rely on public chargers, then I wouldn’t bother.

liamog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121769855#Comment_121769855

Even in that scenario I'd say it's barely a nice to have rather than an absolute essential. It's not worth installing 22kW AC chargers in enough places to make it viable.

CrowdedHouse

On a side note I went to look at one (not electric) yesterday, they're a big bruiser of a yoke 😀

kanuseeme

You can get a mini convertible EV now, that must be one of the first EV convertibles,

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307139620506?sort=price-desc&fuel-type=Electric&make=MINI&postcode=bt808wd&advertising-location=at_cars&fromsra

I am pro AC charging, I prefer to charge when I stop rather than stopping to charge. No inconvenience other than getting the cable out of the boot.

3 hours would fill the battery to 100%

Not a big fan of paying extra for it, hard to justify it when a zoe had 22kw standard.

3d4life

There is a thread on a Mini EV that a scottish guy got at

https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/515708-my-2023-mini-cooper-s-level-3-electric-leased-from-motability-and-it-will-be-with-me-for-3-years-used-as-a-2-seater/

Not exactly what you are looking at but not a million miles off either :)

( He has a disability and so qualifies for Motability. )

MJohnston

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121769855#Comment_121769855

Yeah see I've an apartment in Dublin where getting a private charger installed is going to be a huge pain in the arse, so I'm fairly reliant on public charging. I'm liking the idea of being able to pop into Dundrum for shopping, and get maybe 10% out of their eCars chargers rather than 5%

liamog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121770544#Comment_121770544

The outgoing Mini Electric hatch is a very different car to the new Electric countryman. The new Countryman is built on the same platform as the BMW iX1. The old electric hatch had the electrics from the BMW i3. The new hatch is from a joint venture with GWM and is a similar platform to the ORA 03, previously know as the Ora Good Cat.

MarkN

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121769871#Comment_121769871

There’s 22kW AC chargers everywhere?

liamog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121774926#Comment_121774926

I didn't think many new ones were being rolled out anymore.

MJohnston

Plenty of legacy ones about though

MarkN

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121775330#Comment_121775330

Didn’t hear that, shame if that’s the case.

carsfan2

Had a nose around one of these in local BMW dealer.

substantial car, in no way a Mini in size.

I was very impressed and surprised how nice it was.