Mini E — BrandWiki

Mini E

Overview

Mini E

manufacturer	BMW i
layout	FF layout
body style	3-door hatchback
production	2009–2010
assembly	United Kingdom: Cowley, Oxfordshire (Plant Oxford)
motor	150 kW asynchronous motor
battery	35 kWh lithium ion battery
range	100 mi
transmission	1-speed helical
length	146.2 in
width	66.3 in
class	Small family car
height	55.4 in
wheelbase	97.1 in
successor	BMW ActiveE, Mini Electric
charging	ODU proprietary connector for DaimlerChrysler

The Mini E was a demonstration electric car developed by BMW i as a conversion of its Mini Cooper car. The Mini E was developed for field trials and deployed in several countries, including the United States, Germany, UK, France, Japan and China. The field testing of the Mini E was part of BMW Project i, which was followed in January 2012 by a similar trial with the BMW ActiveE, and the last phase of project was the development of the BMW i3 urban electric car, that went into mass production in 2013. In 2019, BMW announced that the mass market Mini Electric will go in to production.

The first trial was launched in the U.S. in June 2009, and the Mini E was available through leasing to private users in Los Angeles and the New York/New Jersey area.[1] Another field test was launched in the UK in December 2009, where more than forty Mini E cars were handed to private users for two consecutive six-month field trial periods.[2] This trial program allowed the BMW Group to become the world's first major car manufacturer to deploy a fleet of more than 500 all-electric vehicles for private use.

Specifications

Powertrain

The Mini E is powered by an asynchronous electric motor that is mounted in the former engine bay and is rated at 204 PS and 220 N.m of torque. Drive is sent to the front wheels. The Mini E employs a lithium-ion battery pack with an overall capacity of 35 kWh. The batteries weigh 572 lb and replace the back seat.[7] Top speed is electronically limited to 95 mph, with 0 - 100 km/h acceleration in 8 seconds.[8] The car's range is 156 mi on a single charge under optimal conditions. Estimates of normal driving conditions put ranges at 109 mi city and 96 mi highway.[9]

AC Propulsion issued a news release on 19 November 2008, announcing they were a supplier for Mini E.[10] The news release stated that AC Propulsion supplied a specially developed version of its proprietary tzero, a registered trademark, technology, including air-cooled copper-rotor induction motor and Li ion battery on the Mini E. It is characterized by high performance, high efficiency, and fast charging.

Charging

The Mini E could be charged by 120-volt (at 12 amp) and 240-volt (at 32 or 48 amp) power sources; charging times were 20 hours and 3.5 hours (fast-charge system).[11] Charge rate was set from the instrument panel before charging.

The 240-volt 32-amp home "wall box" charging stations for the US trial were made by Clipper Creek,[12] with a proprietary electrical connector to the car made by ODU.[13]

Performance

The accelerator was a drive-by-wire system with a soft start to limit the electric motor's response and prevent burnout from a standstill. After this initial delay, response goes back to normal.

The Mini E's regenerative braking was designed to capture as much kinetic energy as possible giving it a distinct driving characteristic. When the driver released the acceleration pedal, the Mini E started braking, slowing it down significantly as if the brake pedal were pressed.

EPA ratings

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified the Mini E range as 100 mi, with a city/highway combined energy consumption of 34 kW·h/100 miles. Under its five-cycle testing, EPA rated the Mini E at 98 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (98 mpgus) combined fuel economy, with a rating of 102 mpgus equivalent in city driving and 94 mpgus equivalent on highways. This information was displayed in the window sticker in terms of energy consumption, as 33 kW·h/100 miles for city and 36 kW·h/100 miles for highway.[14]

Production

The Mini factory in Oxford, England supplied vehicle gliders to a team in Munich, Germany who added the electric running gear.[6]

Field trial program

Field testing of the Mini E was part of BMW Project i, and was followed in January 2012 by a similar trial with the BMW ActiveE all-electric vehicle.[15] After the Mini E trial program ended, some cars were displayed in museums, others shipped to Germany for further lab testing, and the rest dismantled and crushed.[4]

Mini E drivers participating in the field trial program of the vehicle were required to participate in online surveys and discussions, and to bring their vehicle into their local dealership to be worked on. The car was available only as a three-year limited lease, and drivers were required to return their cars to BMW who destroyed or donated them to tech schools and museums for display, disassembly, and analysis purposes.

U.S. program

In the U.S. 9,500 people signed up to lease the 450 Mini Es available.[16][17] In June 2009, BMW started the program by leasing 250 units in the Los Angeles area and 200 in the New York/New Jersey area. The leasing price was set at US$850 (approx. €600) a month for one year and included collision coverage, maintenance costs, and home installation of the charging station.[18] Residents of New Jersey did not pay sales tax on their lease due to the existing state exemption for battery electric vehicles.[19]

In May 2010, BMW announced that leasing could be renewed for another year at a lower price of US$600 a month.[20][21] This renewal was offered to all individuals who had a Mini E lease at the time but fleet customers were excluded and according to BMW half of all lessees agreed to the extension.[20][21]

European program

France

Field testing in Paris with 50 units began in 2010.[22][23]

Germany

A total of 100 trial vehicles were assigned to Germany.[24] Testing in Berlin began in June 2009, and for the second phase, a total of 70 vehicles were delivered in March 2011 to private customers and fleet users.[25] Field testing began in Munich in September 2010, for a leasing fee of €400 (approx. US$517) per month.[26]

France

Field testing in Paris with 50 units began in 2010.[22][23]

Germany

A total of 100 trial vehicles were assigned to Germany.[24] Testing in Berlin began in June 2009, and for the second phase, a total of 70 vehicles were delivered in March 2011 to private customers and fleet users.[25] Field testing began in Munich in September 2010, for a leasing fee of €400 (approx. US$517) per month.[26][27]

United Kingdom

Testing in the U.K. took place between December 2009 and March 2011 with 40 Mini E cars handed to private users for two consecutive six-month field trial periods.[28] The leasing price was set at GB£330 (around US$536) per month, which included VAT, insurance, service, and maintenance.[2] One MINI E was delivered to the Government car pool in Downing Street to be tested by ministers in an urban environment on their official business around London.

The UK trial was a partnership between BMW Group UK, Scottish and Southern Energy, the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council. Data collection and research was conducted by Oxford Brookes University's Sustainable Vehicle Engineering Centre throughout the UK project. Funding support was provided by the Technology Strategy Board and the Department for Transport (DFT) as part of the GB£25 million (US$41 million) UK-wide program involving trials of 340 ultra-low carbon vehicles from several car makers.[2][28]

China

Field testing in Beijing started on 22 February 2011.[32] Testing also took place in Shenzhen.[28]

Japan

A field trial took place in Tokyo in 2011.[28]

Field test results

The main concerns reported by those participating in the U.S. during the first year trial were range anxiety and lack of public charging infrastructure, as the country had only 734 public charging stations, most located in California.[3][11] Another concern was the 100 mi range on a fully charged battery reducing to between 80 and 90 mi during very cold weather.[3][33] In the UK, an abnormally harsh winter also showed how very low temperatures diminished power output until the battery 'warmed-up'.[22] There was one report of the range dropping below 40 mi in sub-zero weather.[34] There were issues reported with exterior charging points as winter temperatures dropped dramatically.

Range record

As part of the 21st Century Automotive Challenge held at Penn State University on 23 May 2010, Mini E No. 466 achieved the longest trip in an electric car to date, achieving 147.3 mi. The Mini E went on to win the efficiency competition, traversing three mountain ranges in the rain.