BMW does the electric Mini

by Wayne Cunningham

BMW works on making the electric Mini, which sounds like a new dance.

(Credit: CNET)

If you had any doubts about an upcoming era of electric cars, put them aside. BMW announced it is testing electric powertrains in the Mini Cooper. Over the next year and a half, BMW will use a fleet of several hundred Minis to experiment with electric drive systems and, according to the press release, "determine the alternative drive of the future." If any company can do it, it's BMW. There are no current details about what motors and types of batteries BMW will use, but the company promises details by the end of the year.

Topics:: Hybrids and green

Tags:: BMW,; electric,; Mini

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by jerang04 July 10, 2008 2:42 PM PDT: I can barely wait! I saw a show on discovery discussing this. Apparently BMW has been testing this for quite sometime in Munich.; Like this Reply to this comment

by Corejob July 10, 2008 4:05 PM PDT

B MW should just license the PML QED conversion to the mini. All the work has already been done, and who doesn't want a 640 HP mini that's all electric and can go almost 300 miles?

Like this Reply to this comment


by willdryden July 11, 2008 2:09 PM PDT: I agree. I want the PML system put into a full sized van. It should be able to pull a 10,000 lb trailer and still get better than 50MPG.; Like this


by Ramon366 July 10, 2008 4:12 PM PDT: All they'll need to do is place a small speaker under the rear bumper and pipe an exhaust note out.; Like this Reply to this comment


by Falcondir72 July 10, 2008 6:54 PM PDT: Finally the age of the electric car has arrived. If a life-style icon such as the Mini can go electric then others will soon follow. Electric cars will no longer be for the fringe elements who have no sense of style. Personally I can't wait.; Like this Reply to this comment


by Falcondir72 July 10, 2008 6:55 PM PDT: Finally the age of the electric car has arrived. If a life-style icon such as the Mini can go electric then others will soon follow. Electric cars will no longer be for the fringe elements who have no sense of style. Personally I can't wait.; Like this Reply to this comment


by markb1967 July 11, 2008 5:51 AM PDT: ABOUT TIME, GM blew it in the 90's when they could have changed the world and been a hero to millions of consumers with the EV-1...But they (and other car makers, and oil companies) couldn't stand losing oil and maintenance that gas cars require....So they ended the leases and CRUSHED the cars out in the desert...Someone (BMW) may finally step up and do the RIGHT thing for the consumer, and the world.; Like this Reply to this comment


by one80oneday July 11, 2008 1:50 PM PDT: this has already been done. just make it cheaper!
http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=742312030
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/08/the_hybrid_mini.php
http://www.worldcarfans.com/2060724.006/pml-builds-640hp-electric-mini; Like this Reply to this comment


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by miniservice September 16, 2009 1:46 AM PDT: This is very exciting. the old adage 'necessity is the mother of invention" was never truer and we fully expect to see innovative responses to the impending challenges to our environment. As an <a href="http://www.mini-servicing.com/">independent Mini Service centre</a>, our challenge is keeping up with the technology we're going to require to maintain such a high tech vehicle as the Mini E.; Like this Reply to this comment

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