Having already breathed new life into the ailing Mini brand, the
creative volk at leading German car manufacturer BMW are looking to
build on the associated trend appeal of the existing Mini and Mini
Clubman editions with the decidedly green Mini E.
While the Mini’s impressive fuel efficiency and low CO2 output have
already helped it carve a niche as one of the world’s most eco-friendly
cars, BMW’s new Mini E is a clear and focused attempt to secure
undisputed ecological credentials thanks to the introduction of an
all-electric engine.
According to BMW, the Mini E will be powered by a 150 kW (204 horse
power) electric motor fed by a high-performance rechargeable lithium-ion
battery. Also, the Mini E’s drive will be transferred to its front
wheels via a single-stage helical gearbox, making the car almost
completely silent and entirely free of emissions.
In terms of single-charge distance coverage, BMW claims the Mini E’s
battery technology will give the car a maximum operational range in
excess of 240 kilometres, which is the equivalent of around 150 miles.
Interestingly, rather than rolling out the Mini E for general
consumption, BMW has said that it will initially launch a fleet of 500
vehicles through a pilot project involving select private and corporate
customers in California, New York and New Jersey. The company is also
considering a similar introduction in Europe.
The 500-strong fleet will change hands based on a one-year lease with
an option to take up a lease extension. Further to that, monthly lease
instalments will cover any required technical service requirements
including all necessary maintenance and the replacement of wearing
parts.
At the end of the lease, all of the cars belonging to the pilot project
will be returned to BMW’s engineering fleet, whereupon they will be
subjected to comparative tests ahead of full market production.
“Putting some 500 cars on the road under real daily traffic conditions
will make it possible to gain widely applicable hands-on experience,”
explains BMW. “Evaluating these findings will generate valuable
know-how, which will be factored into the engineering of mass-produced
vehicles.”
Expected to make its industry debut at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto
Show in November, other Mini E performance features include peak torque
of 220 Newton metres, acceleration through to 100km/h (approx. 62mph) in
a time of 8.5 seconds, and an electronically limited top speed of
152km/h (approx. 95mph).
While styled on the current standard Mini design and exuding the same
sense of fun and pizzazz, the new all-electric Mini E will differ
internally with its rear seats lost to make way for the car’s 5,088-cell
lithium-ion battery technology. The Mini E’s lithium-ion battery can be
recharged by simply plugging into any and all standard electricity power
outlets.
