The new Mini E isn't on sale just yet, but it does point towards something of a bright motoring future. Paddy Comyntook a drive
IT IS little wonder the cyclist got a start. The elderly German gentleman, used to obeying rules and traffic signals, moved out towards the centre of the road and almost jumped out of his skin as the silent Mini crept behind him.
We are cruising the streets of downtown Munich, and unlike the other traffic making its way into the late afternoon rush, our "engine" is barely making a sound and, more importantly, there isn't anything coming out of the tailpipe, because there isn't one.
We are driving the Mini E. The E stands for electric and, as the name suggests, this is a car that runs entirely on electricity and gives us a hint at what we can expect from production electric cars in the future.
The urgency of bringing technology such as this to market has been long documented but, while BMW reckons it is a little way off production, 500 all-electric Minis are on the way to California, to be leased to drivers for $850 a month (about €660) - the US state is already capable of providing the power outlets to charge up the Mini's 250kg battery.
This lithium-ion battery takes the place of where the rear seats used to be.
While the technology is cutting edge and three times better than the nickel-based batteries, they still take up a considerable amount of space. But the real step forward here is the range allowed by these new batteries.
The Mini E can travel 150 miles or 250 kilometres on a single two to three hour charge from a special 48-amp charging point. This makes it usable for a daily commute.
Aside from the lack of rear seats, an exhaust and a clutch pedal, the Mini E looks pretty similar to the standard car.
Underneath the bonnet are packaged all the components of the electric powertrain. There is a 150kw motor coupled with a one-speed transmission. The interior is pretty standard, with the large, central display letting the driver know the battery capacity.
Start the car and there is no noise - which is a little eerie. But put the car into D, press down the accelerator pedal and whoosh! This little electric car really takes off.
With instant torque and the equivalent power of a 200bhp Mini Cooper S, the sensation is weird, especially when you take your foot back off the pedal again.
The battery recovers the kinetic energy during deceleration, but it has the effect of braking - quite firmly in some cases. We found it was possible to drive for the entire route without touching the brake pedal once.
It is difficult to perceive just how fast you are going at times. It's even worse for the startled outside world.
BMW weren't telling us how much each one of these project cars cost, but we are guessing its probably more than their most expensive 7-Series, and then some. But this is a step in the right direction.
I felt like what it must have been like for my Dad to try a mobile phone for the first time in the 1980s. Back then they required handles, the battery was enormous and lasted just five minutes - but you could make a phone call from anywhere, and that hadn't been done before.
The Mini works like a car, goes like a car, and is fast and usable. Sure, the battery is enormous but they will get smaller, better and ultimately cheaper to build.
All that remains is figuring out how to make the electricity to fuel it (making it from coal tends to defeat the purpose), not to mention the scarcity of lithium.
And that is a can of worms for another day. We might not see a proper production version for four or five years, but more mainstream brands are promising something by 2010.
Factfile Mini E
Engine: 150km/204bhp electric motor
Torque: 220Nm
0-100km/h: 8.5 seconds
Top speed: 152km/h
Charging time: two to three hours
Range: 250 kilometres
Consumption: 0.12kw per km
CO2: none