MINI UK are now accepting applications from members of the Great British public to become part of the global MINI E test programme.
In typical UK style, whether or not you are eligible to take part in the trails is subject to a bit of a postcode lottery. Only citizens based in the south east of England need apply at this time. Full details of the area the trial will cover is available now on the UK MINI E site as part of the application process.
As well as living in the right place, MINI E test drivers must also have a private garage, car port or parking space at their home. This is looser than previous information which suggested a garage would be the only acceptable form of vehicle storage. This requirement is in place to ensure that a high power charging unit in the form of a wall box measuring approximately 0.6m x 0.6m can be installed by Southern Electric.
This wall box will be supplied with every MINI E and also includes a 6.5m charging cable. The 240V/32 amp supply provided by the wall box can fully charge the MINI E’s lithium-ion battery pack from empty in just 4.5 hours. An adaptor for use with an ordinary 13 amp socket will also be supplied, but the lower capacity for charge means it will take around 10 hours to provide a full charge. Therefore it is only appropriate for occasional use.
Maintenance, servicing and technical assistance will be provided by dedicated BMW Group UK ‘flying doctors’. These technicians will be supported by selected MINI dealers within the MINI E research area. Including, we have been reliably informed, Vines of Guiildford.
According to BMW, the MINI E monthly lease fee would “normally” cost £550 per month. However, earlier this year a BMW Group-led consortium was awarded part of a £25m fund by the Technology Strategy Board, the Government-backed organisation that promotes technology innovation across the UK. This funding has meant that the monthly lease fee can be reduced to £330 per month, which includes VAT, insurance and maintenance (terms and conditions apply).
The MINI E test pilots will also pay for the fuel, electricity, they use. Fully re-charging the battery using off-peak electricity at current prices will cost approximately £1.50. Using higher-rate daytime electricity, the cost will still be less than £4.00.
Southern Electric will be responsible for the electricity infrastructure in the research area and is committed to supplying ‘green energy’ to all drivers of the MINI E. The small print in the press release clarifies this point “(Southern Electric (part of Scottish and Southern Energy Group) guarantees that for every unit of electricity used by a MINI E in the UK research project, it will put a unit of 100 per cent cleaner, greener hydro electricity back into the national grid”.
Oxford Brookes University’s Sustainable Vehicle Engineering Centre will manage the collation of qualitative and quantitative research throughout the UK project. This will include analysis of driver experiences with the MINI E, as well as reviewing the technical information provided by the data-logging units fitted to every MINI E.
The consortium is strengthened by public sector organisations from the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council. These organisations are working to develop high economic growth in their areas through innovation and developing high value job opportunities through projects such as this.
A further 20 MINI E vehicles will be distributed among the MINI E consortium members for testing in a fleet environment. This will necessitate the establishment of a technical infrastructure in each organisation’s local area and aid a common objective to be at the forefront of sustainable transport initiatives.
I you live in the South East of England, and you’re interested in taking part in the UK MINI E Field Trials, pop over to www.electricmini.co.uk and complete the application form. Good luck!
Tags: Electric Vehicles, EV, mini e, mini uk
