MINI E does Brighton to London Eco-Rally 2010

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What if racing drivers had electric cars

Lisa Rogers and 1960's Monte Carlo Rally legend Paddy Hopkirk drove the first leg of the 2010 Bridgestone Eco-Rally before handing over to current F1 rookie Nico Hulkenberg and the BBC Click film crew. Watch the video for Nico's take on electric Formula One.

MINI E detail image
MINI E technical image

MINI has always represented engineering innovation and design ingenuity at it best. The MINI E continues that tradition - striking design combined with high performance and a state-of-the-art electric drivetrain.

The MINI E is the first product of BMW's Project i - a program designed to research and develop new types of vehicles for sustainable mobility. The car is being tested on British roads by a mixture of private, corporate and public sector drivers - all of whom will give valuable feedback to the project consortium and UK government.

During everyday usage, the MINI E can travel around 100-120 miles (up to 156 miles in ideal conditions) on a single charge, depending on driving style and conditions, and of course, has the all the characteristic performance for which the MINI is famous. It can sprint from 0-62mph in just 8.5 seconds and has an electronically-limited top speed of 95mph. Power is produced by a front-mounted 150-kilowatt electric motor which generates the equivalent of 201 hp.

The motor’s energy supply comes from a high-performance rechargeable lithium-ion battery which is installed in the rear of the car in place of the back seats. The battery unit – which uses the same technology already widely used in mobile phones and laptops – combines ample storage capacity with remarkable power output. The MINI E can be recharged from empty in around four and a half hours via the dedicated 32 Amp charging point installed by Southern Electric at the MINI E drivers’ homes. The MINI E’s drivetrain features regenerative braking – which claws back the energy lost when the driver releases the accelerator – to extend the range by up to 20 percent.

Stats
Manufacturer: 
MINI
Model: 
E
CO2 (g/km from tailpipe): 
0
Noise at city speed: 
55-60dB
Sound at low speed: 
Almost silent
Max Range: 
140miles
Fill-up time: 
< 5 hrs
Top-up time: 
<1 hr
Power: 
150.00kw
City speed: 
7-10
Top speed: 
95mph
Seats (adult size): 
2
Tyres: 
Continental
Seen at

2010 Bridgestone Eco-Rally
About the Drivers
Guest Driver 1st leg: 
Photo Lisa Rogers, TV presenter
Lisa Rogers has been a supporter of the Revolve Brighton to London Eco-Rally since the beginning. So far she's test-driven a zero emission Nissan FCV and a biothenol Saab convertible. She also joined our People's Eco-Rally in her her own car which is converted to run on pure vegetable oil. In 2010...
Photo Paddy Hopkirk
Paddy Hopkirk won the legendary 1964 Monte Carlo Rally in a Mini Cooper S alongside Henry Liddon. He was elected as a life member of the British Racing Drivers' Club in 1967, and is also president of the Historic Rally Car Register, and a patron of disability charity WheelPower.  
Co-pilot/ Guest Driver 2nd leg : 
Nico Hulkenberg, F1 racing driver
Nico Hulkenberg races for the AT&T Williams F1 team and is already a points scorer in his first year. He is the reigning champion of the GP2 Series, and is a previous champion of both the Formula Three Euroseries and A1 Grand Prix, as part of the winning German team. He has the distinction of...
About the Exhibitor
  • company logo
    MINI
    MINI originally came about because of the fuel shortage caused by the 1956 Suez Crisis. Petrol was rationed, sales of large cars slumped and as a reaction to the German bubble cars, BMC decided to design a 'proper miniature car'.The Mini's space-saving front-wheel-drive layout (that allowed 80% of the area of the car's floorpan to be used for passengers and luggage) influenced a generation of car...
  • company logo
    BMW
    For the fourth year in succession, the 2009 Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) has ranked the BMW Group as the most sustainable car company in the world. The company offers the most efficient cars in the premium segment courtesy of EfficientDynamics technologies.

2012 Eco-Rally Sponsors & Partners

2012 Conference Partners & Sponsors

 

Marc Cieslak joins the 2010 Bridgestone Eco Rally from Brighton to London, which showcases the latest in environmentally friendly car manufacturing - and attempts to find the greenest car of all.

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