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BMW plans to export nearly 500 electric versions of its Mini car to California, company sources said. (http://www.autonews.com/article/20080709/COPY01/289508976/1197)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Mini_Cooper_S.JPGBettina Mayer - Automotive News - July 9, 2008

The electric Minis are being built at the Mini factory in Oxford, England, without engines, gearboxes or fuel tanks, then shipped to Munich, Germany, where they are being fitted with electric powertrains.

"This step will allow the BMW Group to gain an initial knowledge of how mobility can be achieved efficiently using purely electrically powered vehicles. Our task here is to combine the ultimate driving experience with an efficient electrified drive with practically no emissions", underlined Dr. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG.

BMW sources told Automotive News Europe that 490 of the Minis will be leased to selected customers in California and 10 will be used as show cars.

The electric Minis are painted silver and have yellow roofs, the sources said.

BMW engineers working on the electric Minis are part of a new division called Project i established by the automaker to develop low-emission city cars.

The electric Minis will help BMW to meet new California regulations that will require carmakers selling cars in the state to offer zero emission vehicles… http://www.autonews.com/article/20080709/COPY01/289508976/1197

The electric Minis will help BMW to meet new California regulations that will require carmakers selling cars in the state to offer zero emission vehicles.

REALLY??? They brought it back? This is huge!!! :woot:

Have the specs on this car been released. I have heard about this previously but still have not seen anything about the range.

Man. How much fun would that be? (Answer: LOTS! ;) )

Its obvious that in light of dwindling supplies of cheap oil and the alternatives, being bad or worse than bad, not economical that we will link our transportation to the electrical grid. Let the EV revolution begin!

I'm still curious about these "new regulations" requiring ZEV fleets -- the last set was killed off in '05 (IIRC) so getting those back is a hugely important event!

No word on which battery type will be used?

An electric Mini: how cool is that?

Harry

Notice that, just like last time, they're providing NO option to buy. Put that with the stated figure of 500 cars (per year? No, for all time), and you have a token effort. I think they're just stalling (heh) while they try to bribe the law out like last time.