Thu 25 Jun 2009
Toyota has its Prius (it had the Rav4 EV), Mercedes/Smart has the Fortwo BRABUS ED, for Ford it’s the Focus and Honda has the Insight and FCX Clarity just to name a few companies that jumped on the eco-friendly hybrid/electric band wagon or whatever you call it.
Well, not to be outdone, that cute little pug of a car that people either love or hate is also jumping into the fray.
So enter stage left the MINI e.
Introduced last fall at the Los Angeles Auto show, the100% emission free MINI e is run by a 204hp (150 KW) electric motor which in turn is powered by high performance rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
The battery packs themselves are stowed behind the driver and front passenger in place of rear seats (sadly only two people at a time can have fun).
On a single charge, the MINI e has a range of approximately 150 miles and to fully recharge the batteries takes two and a half hours via a wallbox that comes with every MINI e and installed in the customer’s garage.
The drive train of the MINI e produces a peak torque of 220nm thus guaranteeing flawless acceleration from 0-62mph in 8.5 seconds.
Top speed is a regulated 95mph as compared to the Smart fortwo BRABUS ED which has a top speed of 75mph and a maximum range of only 70 miles on a single charge.
With a curb weight of 3230lbs, the MINI e is outfitted with a suspension system that’s been tuned to fit its weight distribution thus ensuring safe handling at all times.
The DSC or Dynamic Stability Control system has also been adapted to this model’s specific wheel loads.
In a few weeks, a pilot program involving 450 fans in California, New Jersey and New York will begin.
They’ll be shelling out $850 a month for the right to drive the first highway legal electric cars since the Tesla roadster and the Toyota Rav4 EV.
