Electric MINI on charge at last

It's the spark we have been waiting for from BMW – the electric MINI is here! These are the first official pictures of the battery-powered hatch, and although it looks very similar to the standard car, under the skin it couldn’t be more different.

The MINI E is powered by an electric motor producing 204bhp and 220Nm of torque. Bosses claim a 0-60mph time of 8.5 seconds and a limited top speed of 95mph.

The lithium-ion battery pack propels the car for 150 miles on a single eight-hour charge. But owners will be able to slash this to only two-and-a-half hours if they have MINI’s high-voltage ‘wallbox’ fitted in their garage.

Each model in the initial production run will get the colour scheme shown here, with the stylized yellow plug symbol on the bonnet, roof and charging socket.

Inside, the rear seats have been removed to create space for the sizeable battery pack. The central gauge and battery level indicator are also new for the MINI E; they feature yellow lettering against a dark grey background, and display the remaining charge as a percentage.

After the car debuts at the Los Angeles Motor Show in November, BMW plans to build a fleet of 500 MINI Es, all of which will be leased to US customers next year. This will enable the company to gather real-world feedback. Eventually, the scheme will be rolled out across Europe before the car reaches full production. The E will be made at MINI’s plant in Oxford. BMW will then ship engine-less MINIs to Munich where they will be fitted with the all-electric powertrain.