Don't creep me out

There has been some discussion about dialing in simulated 'automatic like' creep into EVs, just like a gas car with an automatic transmission. If you drive an a gas car with an automatic you know that when you take your foot off of the brake the will start to roll forward if you are in 'Drive'.  EVs do not do this by nature and engineers have been looking at programming this into EVs so they feel more like gas cars....this is just ridiculous. Here is a hint - EVs are not gas cars so why should they act like them.

I feel like we are taking a step backwards here...EVs are the new transportation technology, why carry over legacy characteristics - now is the time to do it a new way, a better way, the right way.  The only reason we have creep in gas cars is because it was too difficult or expensive to engineer it out.

Tesla dialed 'creep' into their Roadster - I did not like it, felt weird. My foot is not on the accelerator and the motor is not turning so why should I be moving.  Unlike a gas car electric motors do not turn or run until you tell them to - gas cars are always running when on - it is why they creep with automatic transmissions...they are always engaged when placed into 'Drive.

These days of intelligent vehicles there is little fear of rolling back on on a hill as most cars have hill assist to prevent this...I'm sure engineers could do that in any direction the car is pointing...just please no creep.

Is creep making the car more dangerous?  Let's think about it...you can't here it or feel it when your EV is on so what is there to tell you the car is rolling forward very slowly, after taking your foot off of the brake, other than your wits which these days are absent in most drivers due to all of the distractions we face in a modern car.

One must wonder if any unintended acceleration accidents are because drivers who took their foot off of the accelerator while in 'drive' were caught off guard when rolling forward, panicked and then slammed their foot back down on the accelerator thinking it was the brake.

ActiveEveryday

I have had the ActiveE for about one month and have done just over 1,600 fun miles, I'm really liking this EV.  I use it daily which would explain my play on the name in the title....this EV is active and everyday.

I use the ActiveE whenever and wherever I can

I may not put on the miles like some of my other fellow Electronauts but I do lots of short trips which is a real test of the usefulness of a car, I can tell you this car is useful and fun.  With my commute and errands I easily rack up over 40 miles a day with lots of start/stops.  What I mean by start/stop is turning the car off for a bit while I do my errand.  These trips could be a mile down the road or 10 miles to the next town....it really depends on the need but with the ActiveE it is easy.  I hop in and turn it on and I'm off enjoying my little drive.   On the weekends I often do 100 miles or more and my family is along for the ride.  We take lots of different trips here and there all in comfort, a real testament to the effectiveness of this EV as a daily car.   I do not think twice about using it - it is our first choice and I find myself looking for errands so I can go for another quick trip.   I would say the ActiveE meets 80% of our transportation needs - that is huge.  We still have our diesel SUV for the long trips and hauling all the family stuff but it is now the 2nd car.

I think BMW engineers also shop at Costco - like a glove

A gem of an EV

The weather is improving and I'm getting used to this EV. I'm still on the 110 which is forcing me to perfect my distance skills. Today I reset the mls/kWh tracking to zero to see what I could get, the temperature was a comfortable mid 60s. The higher the number the further you can drive....well after about 20 mins I hot the upper 3s and then I settled into 4 finishing up at 4.2 and the computer told me I could get 118 if I kept going at that pace. Wow, that is awesome.

My drive consists of a few full stops and some steep uphills and downhills with an average speed of 40mph. Temperature really plays a roll and later in the day as it cooled my range and mls/kWh dropped a bit but still with some meaty range left.

You could be one of the 700

The ActiveE is not just for test drivers or engineers, the public has a chance of driving one of these beauties. Only 700 will be offered.

Interested? Go to the official BMW ActiveE website and sign up...you could be driving electric...you never know.