MINI E E

Although it looks like any other Mini, this car has no internal combustion engine and no gearbox or clutch in the traditional sense! The normality of the driving experience contrasts sharply with the wackiness of the Mini's, um, non-oily bits. Under the sealed bonnet lies a 204hp, 220Nm, 380V electric motor that drives the front wheels via a single-stage helical gearbox. Mini claims the 0-100km/h sprint takes a sprightly 8.5 seconds and this level of acceleration certainly felt feasible when we tested the car (see our reviews section). With that much power and better aerodynamics than a normal Mini, the E could easily top 200km/h but there are limitations to how securely you can hold down half a tonne of batteries in the event of a crash, particularly when they're positioned behind the occupants in a car never designed to have half a tonne of dead weight in the back seat. Although there's a lot more work to be done before the public flocks to electric power, the Mini E does at least prove that it is a feasible and realistic alternative to oil, which isn't something you could have said about any previous electric vehicle. Mark our words, within a decade the electric car will be a relatively common sight on European and Irish roads. Within two decades, one will be sitting on your driveway. And you'll love it! For more information log onto www.cbg.ie

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Autos & Vehicles

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