MINI E
Verdict on the car that’s leading BMW’s electric revolution.
The MINI E is supremely clever – it not only has the styling of a normal car, but it’s just as fun to drive, too. And while the battery power costs owners two rear seats, what they gain instead is a guilt-free vehicle that will be exempt from road tax and congestion charging, while keeping the ozone free of carbon emissions, too. We look forward to sampling this technology on a BMW model in the near future.
It's the car that’s charged with kick-starting BMW’s all-new electric range. But how does MINI’s battery-powered E model cope on UK roads?
At first glance, there’s little to distinguish the MINI E from conventional models – aside from exterior badging, yellow colour-coding and a plug socket beneath the filler cap.
But climb inside, and it’s obvious the car has had a major overhaul. The rear seats are gone, with the space taken up by the MINI E’s lithium-ion battery, while on the dash, a charge meter replaces the rev counter. Owners should expect at least a 100-mile range when this reads 100 per cent. A power indicator also shows drivers whether this is being drained or boosted, with the help of its clever regenerative braking.
Press the ignition button, and there’s an eerie silence. But the lack of engine note is no reflection on the car’s power. With 220Nm of instant torque, it’s more than a match for the firm’s Cooper S hot hatch, from which it also borrows its brakes and suspension. Unlike the flagship, however, there’s no gradual build-up of power in the MINI E. Instead, it comes in a great jolt, with 0-60mph possible in 8.5 seconds.
What makes this model so different to drive is the regenerative braking. Simply lifting off the throttle is enough to halt the car, so there is virtually no need to use the brake pedal around town.
Sadly, this MINI won’t make it into production (see Page 16). Instead, it’s showcasing technology to be used in a BMW-badged family car, expected by 2015. In the meantime, 40 members of the public will trial the technology until next summer, at the subsidised rate of £330 a month.
Rival: Renault Zoe
More than merely a pipedream, Renault’s five-seat Zoe Z.E. supermini is powered by a 95bhp electric motor capable of 100 miles fully charged. It goes on sale in the UK in less than 18 months.
