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August 19, 2009 RSS

MINI E #111: Peter Trepp - Blissfully driving his prototype MINI E into ‘MINI E stardom.'

When it came time to selecting customers to participate in the field trial for the 100% electric MINI E, MINI didn't turn to celebrities. Instead, they used an extensive application process to identify the most qualified participants. Peter Trepp, a venture capitalist specializing in environmentally focused companies and passionate advocate for the future of electric cars fit the bill perfectly and is now the proud driver of MINI E #111.
 
Peter Trepp
 
Trepp was the first of the chosen few to receive his car at his home in Pacific Palisades, CA on May 22, 2009. He was interviewed by NBC the very day he received his brand new MINI E, and shortly thereafter USA Today and CNBC among other media outlets flocked to report on his story.
 
Peter loves his MINI E #111
Trepp's luck in securing one out of approximately 600 prototype MINI E, available worldwide, combined with his passion for cars and his diligent proclivity for blogging car nuances, have helped propel him into a ‘MINI Celebrity' across the globe and he records his ongoing adventures in his blog. Trepp also enjoys sharing his MINI E experience in real-time by giving people test drives. He reports that, "virtually everyone I've taken for a test drive comes back feeling like they just stepped off a roller coaster with that 'can we go again?' look on their face." 
 
 
Peter's every day interactions are fascinating as they pave the way for what is sure to be many people's experience when changing from current cars to the electric ones of the future. This is one of the many reasons that we dub all the drivers of the MINI E "Pioneers".
 
Peter Trepp and MINI E #111
He has had his blog already read over 22,000 times, with still another ten months to go before his one-year lease expires. Trepp hopes the MINI E will one day be the standard of electric automobiles. As Trepp writes on his blog, ‘One friend summed it up nicely for me, "...I can see the future when I drive this car."
 
 
Related Links
 
Peter's Blog
 
Peter in USA Today
 
Peter's CNBC interview
 
 

Comments

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spraginsb
posted by: spraginsb | 08/25/2009 01:12 pm
 
Mini Thank you for going forward with this feet that others due to greed no names mentioned General Motors abandoned. If you would like to know of General Motors blunders and why I will not support there electric car, research "Who killed the Electric Car". This is a documentary on how General Motor had an electric car but fell short with greed. I commend Mini for moving forward in a technology in which needs to be pursued. When we can leave oil and push for a greener earth. I will be there when these babies hit the market.
spraginsb
posted by: spraginsb | 08/25/2009 01:14 pm
 
*feat :)
Ex-MINI-E Pioneer
posted by: Ex-MINI-E Pioneer | 08/25/2009 01:35 pm
 
I drove the MINI-E and it's a wonderful car. Once you drive electric there's no going back. Electric cars like the MINI-E are high-performance car by nature. Electric motors have way more torque than gas motors at all speeds. Even thought I love this car I was thrown out of the program by MINIUSA for being honest about the real agenda for this car. That is that this cars was made in only 12 months just to gain as many California Zero emission credits before the law changed on June 30th 2009. The MINI-E is just a conversion made with third party of the shelf parts from ACP, an American company. The MINI-E will never be a real production car because of it's weight and other poor efficiencies that BEV need for the best range possible. Several MINI-Es have been leased to Pioneers that relied on the over promised range of this car and have returned it. Sad because BEV are the future and should be honestly marketed by the OEMs. The Chevy Volt, a serious built from the ground up BEV car is being made by some highly experienced and crazy smart people. I leased the GM EV1 and drove it for 3 years and was a part of the cancellation story of that car. But I think the Volt will be a great car and I'm looking forward to it. GM is still a top heavy company laced with bad decision makers. But I hope they can not screw-up the Volt.
evforreal
posted by: evforreal | 08/25/2009 03:58 pm
 
I swear if I hear one more person mention "Who killed the electric car" I will puke. Battery tech was not good enough for EV's then. Just because the car worked for a very few people who leased it. Leased because they could never have paid the real cost. GM did not build 100,000 dollar cars to lease for pennies on the dollar. Cars that would only have worked for a very small population. Grow up. Where were the EV's from Ford, Toyota, Honda, VW, etc. They do not exist. GM at least tried what no one else would try and they get 10 myears of grief for it. Get a life. The 90's are over.
evforreal
posted by: evforreal | 08/25/2009 04:06 pm
 
I swear if I hear one more person mention "Who killed the electric car" I will puke. Battery tech was not good enough for EV's then. Just because the car worked for a very few people who leased it. Leased because they could never have paid the real cost. GM did not build 100,000 dollar cars to lease for pennies on the dollar. Cars that would only have worked for a very small population. Grow up. Where were the EV's from Ford, Toyota, Honda, VW, etc. They do not exist. GM at least tried what no one else would try and they get 10 myears of grief for it. Get a life. The 90's are over.
mreinhardt
posted by: mreinhardt | 08/25/2009 06:46 pm
 
I drove also an MINI E, but in Berlin. I love my baby ....
TomMolog
posted by: TomMolog | 09/11/2009 10:28 am
 
Mini E #250 here. I have a blog on my experiences with it at : http://minie250.blogspot.com/ if anyone is interested.
Tom

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