MINI E does Brighton to London Eco-Rally 2010
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.
I can scarcely find the words to tell you how much I loved this car....the best things come in small packages? In this case it's definitely true. The car has all the sleek, compact beauty of the modern mini, but shifts from a standing start like a rat out of an aquaduct. It's almost too relaxing to drive, quiet, smooth, no gears to think about...just have to make sure the music is loud enough to keep you awake if you're driving on your own. If these prototypes make it to production, I'm going to be first in the que to buy one.
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Submitted by Lisa Rogers on 19 July 2010 - 4:42pm.Post new comment