BMW to Test Electric-Powered Minis
Date: 11-Jul-08
Country: GERMANY
Electric cars powered by lithium-ion batteries are seen by many industry executives as one of the most effective ways in the near future to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Although many carmakers such as GM and Volkswagen have already committed to building electric vehicles, BMW had so far said in mid-March only that it would decide this year whether it would develop a battery-powered car.
Instead, BMW has long propagated hydrogen-based powertrains as an alternative and has leased a small fleet of "Hydrogen 7" luxury cars to VIPs like Pierce Brosnan. The car burns hydrogen stored at minus 253 degrees Celsius in a liquid state.
Field tests with the electric Minis will be used over the next 12-18 months to refine the technology, with details published towards the end of the year, BMW said on Wednesday.
"This step will allow the BMW Group to gain an initial knowledge of how mobility can be achieved efficiently using purely electrically powered vehicles," Chief Executive Norbert Reithofer said in a statement.
"Our task here is to combine the ultimate driving experience with an efficient electrified drive with practically no emissions."
(Reporting by Christiaan Hetzner; Editing by Paul Bolding)
