Be first to drive E

04th September 2009

Ever dreamed of being a test driver? A project to study MINI’s new electric model means you can do just that.

The company is looking for 40 motorists to become guinea pigs in the MINI E UK research project – and the first round of applications to take part has now opened.

All you have to do is visit www.electricmini.co.uk and fill in your details. Each electric car will be available to lease for six months from December, although there will be a second round of applications next year.

However, not everyone can get involved. You must live within a triangular area between Andover in Hampshire, Oxford and west London. A full list of eligible postcodes is on the website.

Taking part costs £330 per month, which includes VAT, insurance and maintenance by a team of dedicated MINI UK ‘flying doctors’, but you have to pay for the electricity used.

Charging will cost around £1.50 off-peak or £4 peak. You must also have a private garage, car port or parking space. “This is not only for safety and security reasons, but primarily to ensure that a high-power charging unit can be installed by Southern Electric,” said a MINI spokesman.

The trial follows similar studies in North America and Germany. Oxford Brookes University’s Sustainable Vehicle Engineering Centre will manage the data generated.

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