I just had this link sent to me http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006...ybrid_mini.php
Looks like a pretty cool concept. An electric motor at each wheel, some kind of generator to extend the range (or the self-recharges while parked), regenerative braking, in what looks liek basically a stock MC body.

 

Sounds like an excellent vehicle for the spirited MINI driver! Less intimidating to the wallet as far as gas costs. Essentially all-wheel-drive.

Funny, no mention of cost for this car...

I do like the idea though. I'm not even a "treehugger".

dan

 

640hp for a car that weighs about 2500lbs means around 500bhp/ton.

I'd buy one in the heart beat regardless of price. Gimme, Gimme, Gimme!

 

I want one too!

 

Who do we contact? This is better than a MINI One D....

 

I've had the chance to drive two models of fully electric cars (the EV1 and the Honda EV Plus). There's nothing like them for acceleration. Range was always an issue, but the hybrid technology takes care of that.

But... I wonder if you're sacrificing some of the MINI's interior or boot space to fit in all that technology?

 

I don't know. The company blurb says that the MINI is relatively hard to do this conversion on. Maybe the generator (a small internal combustion engine) lives under the bonnet? And I wonder if you can use different wheels?

 

It is a modified One...apparently there is more room, do to the loss of certain un-needed items. The small engine lives near the spare (not the bonnet) and the tranny....is gone?? Pretty darn cool. Gotta love zero emissions and plain 'ol applied ingenuity.

 

The "no mechanical brakes" sounds scarey. No BBKs here!
But I guess if you stomp the pedal and the wheel engine electrically locks, who needs a disk?

 

the little motor can run at max efficiency RPM and get great conversion efficiency. Bitchen. My Mom was an EV1 driver, and despite asking Rick Wagoner to extend the lease, it went off to the crusher wiht the rest of them....

If thesse are for sale, I'm hoping to con, uh, convince, my Mom to get one. She was even thinking of a Tesla, but is afraid she can't get in or out (she's over 75 and not that slim).

We'll see where it lead!

Matt

 

I suspect that there's no word of cost because this is a very expensive one-off and no one has signed on yet to mass produce them. If cars like this could be mass produced as a reasonable cost, this could well be the future of automotive technology.

I hope this goes catches on!

 

You would think they could get by with electric motors only in the front wheels. That would still be 320 horsepower, about double the current car! Might extend the range too, save some weight.

 

but I contacted them to see if they'll do it for a private party, or if they see all the parts for a home conversion. My Mom wants an electric, but she's not the Tesla type...

Matt

 

But with the motors on only 2 wheels, you only have brakes on 2 wheels. Almost certainly a safety illegality in most countries I would think.
If the cost is reasonable, I want one.

 

I'll post. Also, I think the 160 HP motors are their strongest. You may be able to use smaller ones with less power per motor, and get better range and less weight.

Matt

 

but an e-mail just came in from Tesla....

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...=1#post1113047

Matt

 

$100,000 for a Tesla Roadster is a bit pricey. If you get any response regarding the Electric MINI (especially if they sell the individual parts as a pre-packaged kit (which should enable them to get around probably all of the Federal and State requirements that BMW/MINI and the rest of the car manufacurers have to meet)), please post.

 

here you go! I got a response....

**************************************************

The Mini QED was produced as a technology demonstrator for the EW series motor technology. It was never our intention to produce this car for customers as the price is un economic in 1off quantities.

We are, however, already producing a second car for a customer who just had to have one.

The price to supply a complete MINI QED is GBP£200000.00

The price to supply the parts for self assembly will be approximately GBP£120000.00

Hope this helps.

Very best regards,

Sales Manager

 

Ouch! So much for that.
Thanks for passing along the info Matt.

 

One off kit of parts for 120,000 BRL.... $250k. Drop that in half when you build 100 at once... And the Tesla doesn't seem too expensive. WFIF, I did ask if they made less powerful motors to do this with. I'd be happy with 200 HP or so, and that would make the range even longer! Also, with the torque curves of the electrics (full torque at 0 RPM) it would accelerate faster than a 200 HP gas car of similar weight. Area under the curve and all that...

Matt

 

but i'm just too crazy about the Mini to keep my green ethics in check.

I actually emailed Mini a few years back asking if they were going to make a Hybrid and they said they had no plans. I've heard that the European manufacturers aren't too keen on the hybrid technology, but I don't understand why.

From what I've read about the Toyota Camry, the hybrid version is actually more powerful than the regular gas version as the electric motor in the hybrid gives the gas engine a little more acceleration power. And the car supposedly gets 50 mpg in the city.

I think a Hybrid Mini would be the car of my dreams... great looks, better gas mileage, less oil dependence.

In the meantime, at least I'll be driving a Mini (if it ever gets here!) and not an SUV!

 

Found another article linked on Tomshardware.com
http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/09/01/mi...r_allelectric/

 

It would be the ultimate MINI however.... Although at $100 large per copy, the Tesla does have a certain attractiveness.

I wonder, do you think it would be possible to get the Electric MINI in Indi Blue????

 

Maybe in "electric blue".

I know. And I'm sorry.

 

I'm sorry at those prices, saving a few trees just ain't worth it.