Press release

MINI E

The BMW Group is the world’s first manufacturer of premium cars to launch a complete fleet of some 450 all-electric cars for private use in everyday traffic. The MINI E is powered by a 150 kW/201 hp electric motor with energy supplied from a high-performance lithium-ion battery, conveying its power in almost complete silence and free of emissions through a single-stage straight differential transmission to the front wheels.

The battery technology developed specifically for this special model gives the MINI E an approximate range of 100 miles. The electric motor powering the MINI E develops maximum torque of 220 Nm, accelerating the car in a smooth, uninterrupted process to 62 mph in a mere 8.5 seconds. Top speed of the MINI E is limited electronically to 95 mph.

As part of a pilot project, the MINI E is initially being placed at the disposal of selected private and corporate customers in California, New York and New Jersey. Additionally, BMW Group recently partnered with the City of New York and provided ten of these zero-emission MINI E electric vehicles as part of the City fleet. Street Condition Observation Unit (SCOUT) inspectors, part of the Mayor’s Office of Operations, drive every City street once per month and report conditions that negatively impact quality of life.

With the introduction of the MINI E, the BMW Group is re-affirming its consistent strategy and development process in reducing energy consumption and emissions in road traffic. The BMW Group is therefore using its unique technological competence in the area of drive systems to develop a vehicle concept able to avoid emissions without foregoing driving pleasure.

The fleet of approximately 450 cars used in everyday traffic gives the BMW Group the opportunity to gather practical experience on a truly representative scale. Evaluation of this experience will generate valuable know-how to be used subsequently in the development of production cars.

The MINI E is the first chapter of BMW Group’s Project i, the company’s long-term commitment to research and develop a new type of vehicle specifically to meet the needs of the world’s fastest growing mega-cities, where the majority of vehicle growth will come in the next 20 years.

BMW Group recently announced that it has opted for SB LiMotive as the supplier of battery cells for its first all-electric production model. This megacity vehicle will be available within the next few years, and will be introduced as a sub-brand of BMW.