One thing we at MINI have never been afraid of is the unknown. In fact, the farther from the beaten path we stray, the happier we are. And so it's in the spirit of discovery and our fierce commitment to MINIMALISM that we are excited to have launched an official public field trial of the first, 100% electric, zero-emissions MINI.
But make no mistake about it. For right now, the MINI E is an experiment of sorts. While a handful of companies have recently pursued hybrid electric-gas engines, BMW Group is the first to use the latest generation of lithium-ion technology in an all-electric vehicle. So this is a big jump and it's important to remember that there are still some considerable hurdles to clear before a pure electric car is ready for mass production. How well will the limited range of such a vehicle fit our busy lives? Will the batteries hold up under extended day-to-day use? Can they be made smaller, or charge quicker and go farther? These are all important questions we don't have the answer to. Yet.
The MINI E Field Trial is now underway in the U.S. And thanks to a dedicated group of 450 Motoring Pioneers, we'll have those answers soon.
With the cooperation of Vattefall Europe, the German energy corporation E.ON, and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, additional Field Trials are underway in Berlin and Munich. Visit MINI.com for the latest information on these and the London, UK based trials.
Sorry but you need JavaScript turned on to view the content on this page.