First Look: MINI E Electric Car

The first of 500 'MINI E' electric cars will soon begin appearing in California, New York, and New Jersey. This will be the largest number of pure electric vehicles in American consumers' hands since the GM EV1 in the 1990s.

Based on the best selling MINI, the MINI E is powered by a 204 hp (150 kW) electric motor mounted transversely beneath the hood. Driving the front wheels via a single-stage helical gearbox, this powerplant offers peak torque of 162 lbs-ft and the ability to accelerate the car from 0 to 60 mph in just over eight seconds. The MINI E weighs 3,230 pounds, about 800 pounds more than a MINI Cooper. Top speed is an electronically limited 95 mph.

The MINI E has a range of more than 150 miles on its lithium-ion battery. Electricity is transferred to the motor at a nominal 380 volts. The battery pack, comprised of 5,088 cells in 48 modules packaged into three battery elements, is located in the rear passenger space. That means this MINI is a two-seater. Charging is handled via a wall-mounted home charger that comes with the car. This high amperage charger allows a completely discharged battery to be fully recharged in only two-and-a-half hours. A full recharge draws a maximum of 28 kilowatt hours of electricity from the grid.

Suspension has been tuned to match the electric variant's new weight distribution so the MINI's legendary agility and handling is retained. The Dynamic Stability Control system has been adapted to the MINI E's wheel loads, and like regular MINIs electrically-powered steering assist is used. The air conditioning's electrical compressor only operates when desired or necessary and the brake system comes with a new electric underpressure pump. Regenerative braking , where the motor acts as generator when the accelerator pedal is released, extends electric driving range by up to 20 percent. In city traffic, about 75 percent of all deceleration can be done without applying the brakes.

MINI Es will be easily identified by their metallic Dark Silver paintwork, Pure Silver roof, and unique graphics. The latter includes a stylized power graphic plug in Interchange Yellow against a silver background. There's also a large logo on the roof with smaller ones on the hood, rear fenders, on the charger port lid, and part of the dashboard trim. The color of the roof edges, mirror housings, interior style cues, and seat seams use the logo's yellow color.

Inside, the MINI's tachometer is replaced by a battery level indicator with power level displayed in percentages. The central gauge includes an LED display indicating power consumption in red and power recuperation in green.

MINI says it will lease its run of 500 MINI Es to select private and corporate customers for one year with an extension option. Leases cover all necessary maintenance and parts replacement. This will be handled at service centers on both coasts staffed by technicians specially trained to perform work on the MINI E's electrical components. At the end of the lease, all cars will be returned to the BMW Group's engineering fleet for comparative testing.

MINI E 'rollers' are produced at the MINI plant in Oxford, England on the same production line as regular MINIs. They are then shipped to a special manufacturing facility in Munich, Germany where the electric motor, battery, electronics, and transmission are installed. Production of the 500 cars will be completed before the end of 2008. Based on the success of this real world testing, BMW could put the electric MINI E in volume production.