BMW MINI-E Test Drivers Hitting the Road in Southeast England

BMW expanded its global testing of the MINI E to the United Kingdom with the delivery of 40 units on December 13th. The MINI E test is being subsidized by the British Department of Transport and the Technology Strategy Board as part of a 340-vehicle nationwide test. Half of the test vehicles were delivered to individual drivers who will maintain diaries of vehicle performance along with their feelings about the MINI E. The remaining vehicles will be used by the Oxford City Council, the Southeast England Development Agency and other institutions in southeast England to determine if fleet purchases are feasible in the near future.

Test drivers selected by BMW incur only a portion of the costs for vehicle operation. The MINI E's $894 per month lease cost was reduced to $536 per month for these drivers thanks to subsidies from the Technology Strategy Board. The monthly lease price covers everything from Britain's value added tax to regular maintenance over the next 12 months. Drivers are expected to pay for expenses related to charging the MINI E, which may range from $2.44 per charge at off-peak times to $6.50 per charge during peak times.

The MINI E is powered by an air-cooled 35 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a 150kW electric motor. BMW's electric two-seater is limited electronically to 95 miles per hour, which is more than sufficient for everyday needs. This speed limit allows the MINI E to achieve a per-charge range up to 150 miles. Traditional drivers will enjoy the MINI E's 8.5 second acceleration from zero to 60 miles per hour.

BMW's UK road testing is only possible because of the work of its local and regional partners. Utility firm Scottish and Southern Energy is working through its subsidiary Southern Electric to monitor electrical use by test drivers. Southern Electric is focusing its attention on the impact that MINI E charges have on the region's electrical grid. The Sustainable Vehicle Engineering Centre at Oxford Brookes University will assemble driver diaries and analyze vehicle metrics over the trial period. Fleet testers will invest in EV charging stations and other equipment to facilitate easier use of the MINI E. Perhaps the most crucial part of the UK MINI E test is the subsidization of test vehicles by the national government. The lowered lease price for each MINI E shows that lowering barriers to adoption is a critical first step in any significant EV rollout.