2009 Mini E Long Term Testing Video

By Edmunds Video Productions | Published October 01, 2009

2:56 min

Much has been made lately about the birth and subsequent demise of all-electric cars, which is all the more reason that the 2009 Mini-E might get more attention than previous plug-in electric or alternative fuel vehicles.

Combine the inherent cuteness of the Mini Cooper with the alternative enthusiasm surrounding plug-in electric cars and this is the result: A battery-powered Mini that uses no gasoline at all.

Thankfully, some of Mini�s spunk has been retained � acceleration is very brisk, but unlike the gas powered Cooper, eerily quiet.  Stomp the pedal hard enough and there�s even a little torque steer just like with the Mini Cooper S.

At the same time, some of the Cooper�s playful nature is missing. The battery pack and electric running gear add nearly 600 pounds, and the extra weight is obvious when you�re going around a corner. A surprising upside is that this added weight results in a smoother, firmly planted ride.

The cockpit of the E looks exactly like a standard Mini Cooper. All the controls and gauges are familiar with the exception of a large Power meter that drains from 100% to 0% as charge is depleted. Convenience features like a CD player, USB port, air-conditioning and power accessories are present and standard.

But aft of the front seats, things get dramatically different. Both the rear seating and cargo area have been replaced by a large battery pack. This means the Mini can handle two passengers only.
And we mean ONLY.  Cargo capacity is basically non-existent.

When you combine this lack of utility with the car�s the limited 100-mile cruising range, the Mini E clearly won�t work for everyone.

But BMW knows this and this is not, technically, a production car; if it were, it would cost about $50,000. As it is, a few drivers in Greater New York, Los Angles and Orange county have been selected to participate in the Mini E Field Trial, paying a hefty montly lease fee of $850 (before taxes) for the honor. All loans are limited to 12-months.

BMW is hoping to learn from this experiment and mass produce another car in the future using much of the data gathered from the human guinea pigs currently driving the Electric Mini.

And we�re one of them. This Mini-E is part of the Edmunds Long-Term fleet for the next year, and we will be providing regular updates showing what it�s like as a day-to-day driver.

Check out our Long Term pages on Inside Line for ongoing exclusive coverage of the Electric Mini.