On 13 Dec 2009 at MINI'S Oxford plant, 40 electric MINI East cars were handed over to their test drivers, who are all members of the public. This marks the outset of 2 consecutive six-month field trial periods which will evaluate the psychological, social and technical aspects of living with an electric car. The findings will be used both to inform the BMW Group engineering teams, as they create zilch emissions vehicles for the future, and the wider world to help guide ability providers, policy makers and component manufacturers in their determination making.

The BMW Grouping has played a pioneering role in the development of sustainable private ship through ever more efficient petrol and diesel fuel power plants. This is being achieved through the comprehensive application of a broad range of technologies, collectively known as Efficient Dynamics. More than ane.6 million cars worldwide have been sold with Efficient Dynamics applied science integrated into their design. The company as well has a long-term delivery to the development of both hybrid and hydrogen powertrains.

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"This is a celebrated day for MINI and for the BMW Group" said Tim Abbott, Managing Director of BMW Group (UK). "Information technology is fitting that the brand with its inspiration in the oil crisis of the 1950s is over again at the forefront of energy efficiency with a car that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

"I would like to thank our partners in the consortium – Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), Oxford Brookes University, the South East England Evolution Agency (SEEDA), Oxford Urban center Council and Oxfordshire County Council" he added. "Information technology is simply through such partnerships of technical, commercial, academic and political competences that nosotros can accomplish our goal of sustainable mobility."

The trial is a collaborative effort inside a BMW Group UK-led consortium. Boosted funding is provided by the Government-backed Engineering Strategy Board and the Department for Transport (DFT) as part of a UK-broad plan involving trials of 340 ultra-low carbon vehicles from several manufacturers.

The MINI E pioneers package

To cover the research and investment costs of the project a MINI E would unremarkably toll in the region of £550 a month to lease, withal role funding from the Government's Technology Strategy Board means that the lease price to MINI E pioneers is just £330 per calendar month, which includes VAT, insurance, service and maintenance. Over and above this payment, the only other costs that MINI E pioneers volition incur are for the electricity they use when charging their car. A full charge at dwelling house (for a completely flat battery) costs only £one.fifty when using off-top electricity or around £four.00 when charging during height hours. This translates to just over a penny a mile when charging off-peak.

The BMW Group United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland Consortium

Following the launch of the MINI E research projects in North America and Germany, the Great britain trial is a collaborative attempt from a BMW Group United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland-led consortium.

Scottish and Southern Free energy is responsible for the electrical infrastructure in the field trial expanse and through its supply brand Southern Electrical is committed to supplying 'green energy' from sustainable sources to all MINI Due east drivers. Part of the trial involves measuring the loading on the electricity supply network, which can only exist done by testing the MINI Es in a network area owned and operated by Scottish and Southern Energy.

"This pioneering trial will help us ameliorate empathise the usage patterns for electrical vehicles, a key outcome for the free energy manufacture over the coming years," said Marker Mathieson, Managing director of Distribution for Scottish and Southern Free energy. "Information technology is clear that electric vehicles will play an of import role in a lower carbon futurity. As a company with considerable investment in renewable energy generation, this is something we are already firmly committed to."

Oxford Brookes University's Sustainable Vehicle Technology Heart will manage the collation of qualitative and quantitative inquiry throughout the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland trial. This will include analysis of commuter experiences with the MINI E, also as reviewing the technical information provided by the data-logging units fitted to every MINI E.

The consortium is strengthened by public sector organisations from the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), Oxford Metropolis Council and Oxfordshire County Council. Pam Alexander, SEEDA Chief Executive, said: "SEEDA is delighted to be contributing £825,000 to this exciting collaboration. Nosotros aim to drive growth in the South East through innovation which creates prosperity and loftier value jobs. A core aspect of our focus is to develop green technology and a sustainable transport infrastructure to win global market place share in the technologies that will deliver a depression carbon future."

SEEDA, Southern and Scottish Energy, Oxford Metropolis Council and Oxfordshire County Council are trialling 20 of the MINI E trial cars in a fleet environment. This requires the establishment of an appropriate technical infrastructure in each organisation'south local area and contributes further to the consortium'due south common objective of being at the forefront of sustainable ship initiatives.

MINI Eastward specification and performance

The MINI E'south electrical bulldoze train produces a peak torque of 220 Nm and a power output equivalent to 204hp. Drive is delivered to the front wheels via a single-stage helical gearbox. This unique engine and transmission arrangement powers the MINI E seamlessly to 62 mph in 8.5 seconds and on to an electronically-limited peak speed of 95 mph.

Based on the familiar MINI Hatch, MINI E is a two-seater because the space usually used by rear passengers is reserved for a lithium-ion battery. This land-of-the-art rechargeable battery unit of measurement combines loftier output with ample storage capacity and a remarkable power output. It has a maximum capacity of 35 kilowatt hours (kWh) and transmits energy to the electrical motor as a direct electric current at a nominal 380 volts. It comprises 5,088 cells grouped into 48 modules, which are packaged into iii battery elements arranged compactly inside the MINI E.

Driven past electricity: nothing emissions at point of use, at minimal cost

A full recharge draws a maximum of 28 kilowatt hours of electricity from the filigree. Each kilowatt 60 minutes translates into 5.iv miles giving the MINI East a theoretical range of over 150 miles. Likewise the benefit of zippo-emissions driving, at betoken of use, the MINI E offers meaning economic advantages over a vehicle powered past a conventional internal combustion engine.

As soon as the driver lifts his or her foot off the accelerator pedal, the electric motor acts equally a generator. This results in braking force and the power recovered from the kinetic energy is fed dorsum to the battery. In city traffic, some 75 per cent of all deceleration can be washed without the brakes. Making substantial utilise of this energy regeneration feature extends the automobile's range by up to 20 per cent and contributes to a smooth driving experience.

The start fun-to-drive small electric car

The MINI East proves that more sustainable cars practise not have to be dull. BMW Group is committed to producing products that are fun to bulldoze, and this is likewise an essential role of MINI's Dna. The MINI East demonstrates all the traditional MINI characteristics – go kart-like handling, whizzy acceleration, positive feedback through the steering bike and a cosseting cockpit. It may be electrically-powered simply MINI E remains a grin-a-minute.

An Olympic moment

The BMW Group has been involved in culling free energy research for many years and congenital several electrical research vehicles, based on the BMW 2002, as far back as 1972. These cars participated in the 1972 Munich Olympics past supporting the runners in the Marathon.

"Nosotros are delighted to have announced recently that BMW Group will become a Tier 1 partner for the 2012 London Olympics," explained Tim Abbott. "We will supply around 4,000 vehicles for the employ of athletes, officials and media both for the Olympics and the Paralympics. The vehicles will include low emission EfficientDynamics cars, bicycles and motorcycles. Our latest cypher emissions cars will be showcased too."