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Cerritos College Goes Green with Electric Mini Coopers
College Is the Only School Selected to Participate in Mini E Pilot Program
Two Mini E electric concept cars were put on display in the college’s administrative quad on August 19 for everyone to view. Students, faculty and staff came and greeted the newest addition to the college.
The college received the Mini Es on loan from BMW of North America, which owns Mini USA, on June 29, 2009. It is part of a pilot program that gives the college a one-year lease of the vehicles for about $10 a month each to test them. In return the college will provide feedback to Mini as to how the vehicles drive in real conditions.
“Cerritos College is the only college we are offering the lease in this program,” said Junior Mercado, sales consultant for Long Beach Mini, who delivered the vehicles to the college. According to Mercado, out of 450 Mini Es that exist in the United States, 100 are in California and are being leased to selected corporate, municipal and individual customers.
The two-seater Mini E has a range of approximately 100 - 150 miles per charge and it can get a full recharge in 24 hours from an emergency portable 110 volt plug-in charger and in three hours from a 220 volt stationary charger. Electricity costs approximately three cents per mile while a typical fuel cost runs from 10 to 12 cents per mile.
The vehicles will be used primarily for school business such as off-site events and meetings, and all college employees who are approved by the campus police to drive college-owned vehicles can drive them.
“We have been offered the opportunity to participate in this pilot program because of our great working relationship with BMW,” said Steve Berklite, dean of the Technology Division. “It’s an example of the college’s many continuing efforts to build industry partnerships.”
Wonder how we got them in the quad? Click below and find out!
Those who wish to use the vehicles may contact David Roper, automotive maintenance technician, at extension 2935 or droper@cerritos.edu. To get clearance to drive college vehicles, bring your driver’s license to the Campus Police and fill out paperwork. It may take up to two weeks to get clearance.
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The Campus Connection, August 24, 2009