Electric MINI E @ 2008 LAAS

AN ELECTRIC MINI? READ MORE:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/autoshows/losangeles/2008/minie.html

BMW will build 500 copies of its first all-electric vehicle, the Mini E, as part of a pilot project aimed at private and corporate customers in California, New York and New Jersey. The Mini E will be formally unveiled next month at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show.

The Mini E features a lithium-ion battery pack and a 201-horsepower electric motor driving the front wheels through a single-stage helical gearbox. BMW says the motor will produce peak torque of 162 pound-feet and will enable the car to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in less than 8.5 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 95 mph, and the car can travel up to 150 miles on a single charge.

BMW converted the standard Mini into a two-seater to accommodate the battery pack, which can be recharged from any standard power outlet. BMW also will provide owners with a special "wallbox" charging unit that will enable the batteries to fully charge in 2.5 hours.

The Mini E is being assembled through the end of this year at the brand's factory in Oxford, England, with the driveline and batteries installed in Munich.

BMW plans to put cars into the hands of 500 customers on a one-year lease with an extension option. The monthly payments cover all maintenance and other technical service. At the end of the lease, all the cars will be returned to BMW's engineering fleet for testing and evaluation.

All of the pilot cars are painted metallic dark silver, with a pure silver roof. In addition, the cars all sport a serial number on their front fenders, as well as a stylized yellow logo on the roof, the charger port lid and other locations.

Inside, a central gauge and battery-level indicator replace the standard tachometer. Seats are trimmed in yellow to match the car's "E" logo.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Electric
• MINI
• 2008
• LAAS
• LA
• Auto
• Show
• Edmunds
• Inside
• Line
• BMW

[ibpointless2]

Go 150 miles on a charge @ .02 cents a mile, keeps up with traffic no oil change for a year($160) no rising gas prices(too much) no air filter ($20) Waking up every morning with a full tank of gas(full charge) priceless.

[danny2blokes]

Right boys and girls just to clear it all up .... I work At the Mini plant in Oxford .... I Personally worked on the bodies ... we did indeed build 500 for the states .... the will do 90mph and last for 200 miles between charges..... And we built a further 62 for europe but they are all left hand drive cars.... we could only build 10 per day instead of one every 90 seconds, thats how much work we had to do on them ... hope that clears a few things up ..

[andreutzafulger]

coooooooooooooooooooooool



[danny2blokes]

As of last week there will be another 300 built.... the Mini E is still in the testing stage to how good the battery and motors can hold up .... As for the number of seats , as far as i'm aware it will only be a 2 seater ..... The whole rear floor pan has to be taken out so the Battery can fit in the car .... so i'm pretty sure it will only ever be just the two .... I also guess that the Mini E will go into full production after around a year or so of testing

[Spurscoys]

will it come out as a 4 seater? will they make more? the min e is a prototype right it will eventualy come out right?

[Spurscoys]

mini e is a prototype the real version will come out any probily will be a 4 seater well hopefully

[hotcuts6064]

so,that my dream car please to kill electric car.and save $700mill year from sudia arabic they don't like us let them eat sand

[jamie5693]

you get a 7500 tax credit. its actually about 225 then

[eclipsegdr]

Why they don´t do it now!

Come on only 500 and you have to pay 850$/Month and then take it back! Why! That is a joke, no?

If your think in 10 year you can buy your own Tesla for that money. And the best you have no to take it back!

[Cerberus221]

This is BS. They are building 500 of them and only making them available in California. I live in the UK and would happily swap my Cooper S for one of these. Come on BMW Europe wants these badly.