BMW will use the electric-powered Mini E, which goes on limited lease in early 2009 in the United States, as a study for future electric BMW models. The Mini E’s battery pack takes up most of the diminutive coupe’s back seat, so it comes as little surprise that BMW would look to expand the program into larger models with more space to hide lithium-ion cells.
With the equivalent of about 200 horsepower on tap, the electric powertrain is just right for the Cooper, as Leftlane discovered during our exclusive brief drive of the car at the Los Angeles Auto Show, but it wouldn’t be enough to woo buyers into larger electric cars.
BMW would look to enlarge the electric motor – and the battery pack’s capacity – when it puts the system into a larger vehicle. According to AutoExpress, the 5-Series and 7-Series might be the first models to get all-electric versions. Later, the 3-Series, X3, and X1 could make use of the technology.
The Mini E will go on limited lease to just 500 customers in the U.S. who, in exchange for their $850 per month lease, will serve as guinea pigs for the first electrified BMW product ever put in consumer hands. BMW plans to regularly check up on those 500 cars during their one-year lease in order to gain data to develop more electric cars in the future.
The official word from BMW is that the Mini E project is just a study, but strong rumors out of Munich suggest otherwise.
12/01, 2:47 PM
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Lariat Luxury Locomotive Liner No.3
Kinda cool with a ridiculous monthly lease rate (hey, let me help out Mini by paying through the keyster while reporting back to Mini), but if those body stickers are part of the package then screw it as they are asinine. I also cannot help but wonder if BMW isn’t behind in the electric car race if the Mini is their only study?