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A plug for the new MINI - exclusive interview with the creators November 13, 2008

MINI is preparing to release a fleet of 500 purely electrically driven cars onto American roads. Selected MINI fans will be asked to give the MINI E a thorough workout over the course of the year and use their experiences to help the MINI experts perfect its innovative drive system. Dr Wolfgang Armbrecht, Senior Vice President Brand Management MINI, and Ulrich Kranz, Head of Project i, present the new MINI E.

MINIInternational: Dr Armbrecht, the MINI E is the BMW Group's latest answer to the challenge of combining driving fun and sustainable mobility in the future. In what way is this project typically MINI?

Dr Wolfgang Armbrecht: Everything about it is typically MINI. The MINI E sees the brand once again underlining its unrelenting commitment to reducing energy consumption and emissions as part of its MINIMALISM campaign. With this new initiative, MINI is proving that MINIMALISM not only means lower emissions and consumption and clever product recycling, but can also represent a route to zero emissions in the future.

MINIInternational: Mr Kranz, you're in charge of the technical side. What innovative technology have you fitted in the MINI E?

Ulrich Kranz: This is the first time that we have incorporated lithium-ion technology into a small series of purely electric cars. Our aim with this project is to demonstrate that emission-free driving with an electric motor can be about enjoyment rather than compromise.

MINIInternational: What are the distinguishing features of the MINI E?

Dr. Wolfgang Armbrecht, Senior Vice President Brand Management MINI

Dr Wolfgang Armbrecht: The MINI E is the first two-seater in the model family to have space in the rear reserved for a battery, but it remains clearly recognisable as a MINI. The exclusive colour combination Dark Silver, the roof in Pure Silver and the yellow flashes in Interchange Yellow also set it apart from its siblings. The stylistic signature of the emission-free MINI is provided by an "E" logo resembling an electric plug, which is displayed on the roof, radiator grille, bonnet, rear end, dashboard and battery charging cap.

MINIInternational: Just to make sure MINI fans are, as it were, wired up to the new MINI E, tell us what you've stashed away under the bonnet.

Ulrich Kranz: An electric motor has the inherent benefit of generating maximum torque at low revs. In other words, it develops a lot of power in very little time - 204 hp (150 kW) and a top speed of 152 km/h are the vital statistics. And although, at 1,465 kilograms, the MINI E is a shade heavier than the other members of the family, it still sprints from 0-100 km/h in 8.5 seconds.

MINIInternational: Will the MINI E retain that typical MINI agility, the renowned go-kart feeling?

Dr Wolfgang Armbrecht: Yes, for sure. The go-kart feeling is one of the core values of MINI, which is why the engineers have tailored the chassis to suit this new set of parameters. The MINI E has sensational acceleration and the driving experience behind the wheel really is a lot of fun. Plus, the car is extremely quiet, which gives you the feeling of gliding through the countryside.

MINIInternational: And how far can you "glide" on a single battery charge?

Ulrich Kranz: 240 kilometres if you drive at a moderate pace or 200 kilometres using the motor's full output. Incidentally, the driver can also do his bit to push the car's range up even further. Energy recovery is the key here. With this technology, 75 percent of deceleration in city traffic can be achieved without using the brakes.

MINIInternational: You're going to have to explain that...

Ulrich Kranz, Head of Project i

Ulrich Kranz: As soon as the driver takes his foot off the accelerator, the electric motor assumes the role of a generator. This creates braking force, and the power recovered from the kinetic energy is fed into the battery. The intensive use of this technology allows the car's range to be extended by up to 20 percent. Added to which, you can actually see it increasing. Where you would normally find the rev counter, the MINI E has a charge display which tells the driver how much energy has been recovered and how full or empty the battery is. You can therefore influence the range of the MINI E through your driving style.

MINIInternational: Sooner or later even the best battery will run out. How do I recharge the MINI E?

Ulrich Kranz: The fastest way of charging the battery fully is using a wallbox supplied to all 500 MINI E drivers. The wallbox is installed in the driver's garage and enables a higher amperage, which ensures extremely short charging times. Indeed, the wallbox takes no more than two and a half hours to charge up the battery.

MINIInternational: Why are only 500 units of the MINI E being produced and why will they only be given to customers in the US?

Dr Wolfgang Armbrecht: The MINI E is being run as a pilot project. Over the next 12 months we will develop a clear idea of the potential of electrically powered mobility - in the everyday lives of everyday customers. Our aim is to build up a representative picture of the market potential of "electromobility". What types of people will be our prospective customers? What requirements and expectations will they have? What share of the current market can be reached with electric vehicles? What kind of driving cycles and user profiles are we seeing in everyday conditions? We take our customers very seriously, so this feedback is extremely important to us.

MINIInternational: What is the significance of the MINI E for the mobility technologies of the future?

Ulrich Kranz: The knowledge gained from this pilot project will offer us a stronger basis for our strategic decision-making than abstract studies and surveys - we already have enough of those. We will discover the real-life effects of the range restrictions of this technology and how much of a problem these are for the drivers. Plus, we will also learn from the customers how they find "filling up" at home as opposed to visiting a fuel station and how much value they place on zero-emissions driving. We are working on a global idea using high-performance technology, which is in keeping with the brand. This initiative is part of a long-term commitment which comes under the scope of Project i.

MINIInternational: What is "Project i" exactly?

Ulrich Kranz: Project i is a new organisational unit which deals with mobility issues and the needs of customers in the future. The next step will concern the development of new vehicle concepts, and here we're focusing on the big-city conurbations of the world.

MINIInternational: Will the MINI E be introduced in countries beyond the USA?

Dr Wolfgang Armbrecht: We are currently looking into the introduction of the MINI E in Europe and will soon be unveiling it to European MINI fans at selected shows and events.