Mini-E Electric car debut in 2008 LA auto show

Mini just revealed the Mini E on Friday, scheduled to be revealed at the 2008 LA Auto Show. The E stands for electric, as the major difference between this and the standard Mini is the all-electric drivetrain. The Mini E will be produced in a limited quantity of 500-1000 units and leased to customers in a few major cities.

After the Mini E’s debut at the upcoming Los Angeles auto show, 500 Mini Es will be distributed to customers in California, New York, and New Jersey early next year as part of a pilot project to road-test the car. Select private and corporate customers will lease the cars for one year with the possibility of an extension, during which the Mini Es will be inspected every 3000 miles or six months. BMW will also stay in regular communication with the drivers to keep track of vehicle performance. All repairs will be covered by the lease and performed by special technicians at bases set up in the states where the cars will be leased. If necessary, the technicians will travel to other Mini dealerships if a car can’t make it back to a base.

Propelling the E is an electric motor mounted under the hood, delivering 204 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque. It drives the front wheels via a single-stage helical gearbox with energy drawn from a lithium-ion battery pack mounted in the space usually reserved for the Mini’s rear seats. The battery pack boasts a capacity of 35 kilowatt-hours and transfers electricity as direct current at 380 volts. The battery also stores energy generated under braking.

With a curb weight of 3,223 pounds, some 572 pounds of which is the battery pack alone, the E will accelerate to 62 mph in 8.5 seconds, Mini claims. With much of the new car’s emphasis being on city running, Mini has limited top speed to 95 mph to conserve energy. The car is expected to travel 4.4 miles per kilowatt-hour, enough to provide a range of 150 miles between recharging, according to Mini officials.

To cope with the added weight of the bulky battery pack and other associated hardware, the E rides on a reworked suspension boasting unique spring, damper and bushing rates. Mini claims that the new car retains the agile handling traits of its conventional siblings.

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