MINI E UK trial comes to an end

Since 2009 MINI has been researching and analysing the use of fully electric MINIs in the UK roads. The trial came to an end this month with all 40 prototype MINIs being returned to the MINI Plant in Oxford. This was the 2nd set of trials, the first set of tests ran from December 2009 till February 2010, during these trials MINI has been able to gather valuable real life data from the cars as well as the users.

When released the MINI E will go on sale strategically in a MINI Cooper S dealer in Shrewsbury. From the initial 3 month trial the following information was derived:

• MINI E usage differs only marginally from a control group of conventional car drivers in terms of average journey distance, daily mileage and frequency of use.
• Before the trials began, users expected limitations in terms of range and charging times. In practice these have only proved to be barriers in a very few specific cases.
• Users felt reassured that both the MINI E itself and the charging process are completely safe.
• There was a very strong feeling from both private and fleet users that renewable energy should play an important role in future electricity generation. There was also a strong feeling that the battery of an electric vehicle (EV) should be charged using renewables to optimise the ecological advantages of an EV.
• The BMW Group is trusted to provide a technically mature solution to the challenges presented by EVs.
• Users reported a need for more interior space for journeys requiring more passengers and more storage capacity.
• Users felt strongly that public charging facilities for EVs were desirable and even essential. However, at the same time, the majority claimed that they coped without public charging facilities.
• In summary, users liked MINI E's lack of noise, the convenience of home charging, low off peak power charges, not having to go to a petrol station and queue, driving a zero emissions vehicle, MINI E's acceleration characteristics and regenerative braking.
• Drawbacks include current mileage range for certain journeys, limited carrying capacity and sub-optimal car performance during the extremely cold weather conditions in December 2009 and January 2010.

Data from the most recent tests will not be available until summer, the 40 trial cars will remain in the UK. Some of the trial models will be used in a small number of commercial partnerships; they will also be used at consumer and corporate events as well as in partnerships with government and industry stakeholders.

Please continue reading here: MINI Cooper S dealer in Shrewsbury