autoevolution
 

First MINI E Arrives in the US

The first MINI Es included in BMW's testing programme have arrived in the United States and are now prepared for delivery to those registered as testers. According to revengeoftheelectriccar.com, the cars are stored somewhere in a facility in Central California where the company makes the final preparation to begin the testings.

For those of you who missed the news, BMW announced in January that they will bring several MINI Es in the United States to be used in regular street conditions. In New York City for example, MINI will provide a 10-unit fleet, with similar efforts also prepared for other locations in the world, including Berlin and London.

"We are delighted to work with New York City in developing this new form of sustainable transportation," said Jim McDowell, Vice President of MINI USA.

"Mayor Bloomberg's PlaNYC initiative has demonstrated a keen understanding of the importance of sustainability and we fully share the same vision and enthusiasm for developing new ideas, technologies and forms of transportation to make it a reality. This MINI E zero-emission vehicle is only our company's first step."

Just like we told you in our previous reports, about 1,800 applicants signed up for the 450 MINIs to be tested in the United States. Five dealerships in New York, three in New Jersey and eight in Los Angeles were picked to select the 450 participants.

"We have to make sure their driving style fits with what we want. If you drive 200 miles a day, that's a longer daily drive than our range," Jim McDowell, vice president of Mini USA, was quoted by Autonews as saying.

The main features of the MINI E include an autonomy of up to 150 miles on a single charge, with the car powered by an 150 kilowatt (201 hp) electric engine plus a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The car accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 8.5 seconds, with maximum speed electronically-limited to 95 mph (152 km/h).
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Bogdan Popa
Bogdan Popa profile photo

Bogdan keeps an eye on how technology is taking over the car world. His long-term goals are buying an 18-wheeler because he needs more space for his kid’s toys, and convincing Google and Apple that Android Auto and CarPlay deserve at least as much attention as their phones.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories