MINI E
Plug-in newcomer faces big test on British roads
Does an electric MINI make sense in the real world? Pretty much. The main drawbacks are that it lacks rear space – and a charging infrastructure. But it’s fast, fun and easy to drive as well as being eco-friendly and road tax exempt. You can’t buy the car right now – it’s really a test bed for a BMW-badged model due in a few years’ time. But you can help in the development process: MINI is currently leasing the E to selected UK drivers and, while that trial ends in June, you can apply on www.electricmini.co.uk to be part of the second phase.
It's not only Nissan that is plugging into the future – MINI has embarked on its biggest adventure yet, with the ‘E’.
What is it like to live with on a daily basis? Aside from the bright exterior stickers, the biggest visual difference is on the inside – the car’s lithium-ion batteries take up all the space in the back, so there are no rear seats. Instead of a rev counter, there’s also a charge meter and a power indicator on the speedo, showing whether energy is being drained or boosted.
To get going, all you do is insert the key in the slot – just like a regular MINI. Press the start button and a few lights appear on the dash, but apart from that there’s no sound whatsoever. Select Drive and you’re off.
With 204bhp and 220Nm from the front-mounted electric motor, acceleration is strong. MINI claims 0-60mph in 8.5 seconds, but with all the torque available straight away, plus no gearchanges to punctuate thrust, few cars are faster from a standing start.
Regenerative braking takes some getting used to, though.
Lift off the throttle and it’s like you have hit the brakes, as the energy goes into the batteries. Thanks to Cooper S suspension the E handles brilliantly, although there’s no ‘creep’ so parallel parking can be a jerky affair.
What about range? Well, the E arrived with us 75 per cent charged and showing a range of 65 miles (fully charged it can do 100 miles). However, after only 12 miles of commuting the range had dropped to 33 miles. Finding on-street charging points is hit-and-miss, too. But ultimately the Mini E is fun and eco-friendly.
