Sign up to test drive new Oxford electric Mini

The new Mini E is one of eight projects the Technology Strategy Board has chosen as part of the Government’s push towards greener forms of transport.

The Mini E resereach consortium – a partnership of BMW, Oxford Brookes University and Scottish and Southern Energy – will share in a £25m pot with the 40 Mini Es beginning trialling in the autumn.

The new electric vehicle has a top speed of 95mph and will do between 100 and 120 miles around town on a full battery.

It takes about three hours to recharge and is thought to be 40 per cent cheaper than the conventional petrol model.

However, performance does depend on battery level.

Project manager Emma Lowndes, from BMW Group, said the 40 vehicles would be manufactured in Oxford, with their engines made in Munich.

She said: “We’re very committed to reducing the carbon footprint of our vehicles and the Mini E is at the forefront of that.

“From today, people will be able to log on to our website mini.co.uk and register their interest in participating in the trial.

“The cars will hit the road in the autumn and we plan to have charging points at people’s homes and in and around the city.

“The drivers who are selected will need to have a big enough garage for the car and the charging point.”

John Cowan, 42, the plant’s assembly project leader for Mini E, said six staff at the plant would be working on the project, together with staff from the university.

He added: “We are not talking about a milk float here — it’s a hi-tech piece of kit which is breaking new ground.

“All we have done is give the Mini a new engine and gearbox without compromising the vehicle.”

The test project will pave the way for the production of an electric Mini to go on the roads within 10 years.

John Laughlin, programme manager for low carbon vehicles for the government-backed Technology Strategy Board, which is supporting the trial, said: “Oxford Brookes University will log data to look at the UK business case for electronic vehicles.”