July9
BMW will build 500 all-electric Minis and import them into California, today’s reports say. The project is headed up by BMW’s Project i unit, which was created to develop a low emission city car. All of the cars will sport silver paintjobs with yellow roofs, according to BMW sources.
The cars’ shells will be pushed of the Mini production line in Oxford, England without an engine, gearbox or fuel tank, and then shipped to Munich, Germany, where their electric drivetrain will be installed, say Automotive News Europe reports. Of the 500 cars, 490 will be leased to qualified customers in California, with 10 cars earmarked for demonstration duty.
The cars will enable BMW to offer a vehicle that meets California’s new regulations that require auto manufacturers to sell cars that emit no emissions.
BMW is thus far keeping mum about the gas-free cars. “BMW will announce whether it will build electric vehicles or not later this year,” said Mini spokesperson Cypselus von Frankenberg.
There’s a CA regulation that manufacturers must sell cars that emit no emissions? That’s RIDICULOUS! Nice to know there will be more things plugging into the already strapped CA power grid.
Given how quiet it will be, it will be a great car for clipping pedestrians.
Why only California? Selfish bastards!
An electric Mini??? That’s pretty sweet. I just hope they give that electric engine some zing, and it’d be one fun driving efficient vehicle…
No emission at the car doesn’t mean no emission from producing the electricity.
Silver cars with yellow roofs? Are these idiots colorblind also?
What happens if it’s runs out of juice going up Russian Hill? Can you hitch it to cable car?
Hey, JSpeed, what about the emissions from the cargo ship carrying these things FROM the US TO Germany AND BACK. Why not just ship the motors here, and install them here? Smaller parts are easier to ship because shipping 500 motors might take one ship, while 500 whole cars might take two, TWICE!
How is electricity a zero emmision energy? Power plants produce a lot of emmisions.
This will be the first Mini to weigh more than 2 tons…
I’m surprised that California re-implemented the zero emissions rules. The auto industry fought those rules and got them to backtrack from them. From my understanding thats why the EV’s from several Manufactures stopped especially GM’s EV1.
This Electric Mini seem cool. If some owners of this car have solar panels on their homes and only drive a short distance around town they may be able to have a true zero emissions vehicle. Will BMWonly lease these vehicles or will owners be able to buy outright.
All the “electricity generation creates pollution so electric cars don’t help” ignorants fail to acknowledge one simple fact. Assuming your state isn’t a slave to dirty old coal, watt for watt, power generated at a large plant is cheaper, cleaner, and more efficient than an internal combustion engine.