Could a fleet of electrically powered MINIs mark the next step in the evolution of the family car?
BMW Group and Oxford Brookes University certainly hope so.
The MINI E Project is hugely exciting for the electric car industry. BMW Group and researchers from Oxford Brookes University will discover exactly how zero-emission cars cope with the demands of everyday driving. The project is centred around Oxford and will look at the way 40 volunteers in two consecutive groups drive their electric MINI E's.
The year-long field trial, funded by the Technology Strategy Board, will produce huge amounts of data, both from the battery-powered cars and in terms of driver feedback.
Through questionnaires and interviews with the drivers, Oxford Brookes’ psychologists will be able to give us one of the best insights yet into public attitudes towards electric vehicles in the UK.
The challenge we face
Car-makers are increasingly looking at ways to replace conventional engines with low or zero-emission alternatives to help meet climate change targets.
Through the MINI E trial, both the Oxford Brookes researchers and BMW Group bosses want to find out how running a battery-powered MINI E fits in with today’s lifestyle.
Electric vehicles have existed since the birth of the automobile. Issues like battery recycling and how we generate electricity represent a major challenge for vehicle and battery manufacturers, governments and energy suppliers.