|
Yesterday at City
Hall in London, BMW Group took part in the Low Carbon Vehicle
Partnership (LCVP) Annual Conference, showing the MINI E all-electric
vehicle and the BMW 116d, a car that beats the emissions performance of
the 118d – last year’s World Green Car of the Year.
At the same time a
MINI E took to British roads for the first time in the Brighton to
London Revolve Eco-Rally, which finished at City Hall where the
finishers were welcomed by London Mayor, Boris Johnson.
 BMW
Group has announced that MINI E will go on a twelve-month field trial in
Germany and the USA this year to evaluate the technical and social
aspects of living with an all-electric vehicle in a real world
environment. The UK is expected to be included in this programme.
BMW Group UK
Managing Director, Tim Abbot, said: “We believe the MINI E is an
excellent vehicle for trialling this alternative form of sustainable
mobility. And what better time to do this than in the year we celebrate
the 50th birthday of MINI. We look forward to extending our German and
American trials to the UK and I am delighted to see it running so
impressively on British roads for the first time.”
The MINI E research
project supports the BMW Group goal of achieving emission-free driving
and underlines its commitment to reducing CO2 emissions
without compromising the driving experience. The company aims to begin
series production of all-electric vehicles in the medium term as part of
the company’s Strategy Number ONE. Know-how gained from the MINI E pilot
projects around the world will play an important part in informing
future strategic and technological decisions.
The BMW Group is
the most sustainable car company in the world – as the latest Dow Jones
Sustainability Index (DJSI) recently confirmed for the fourth year in
succession. The company already offers the most efficient cars in the
premium segment courtesy of EfficientDynamics technologies.
BMW first offered
EfficientDynamics as standard in 2007. A raft of models received Auto
Start / Stop, Brake Energy Regeneration, Active Aerodynamics, low
rolling resistance tyres, Electric Power Steering, on-demand ancillary
systems and optimum gearshift indicator features.
These technologies
built on the existing lightweight engineering principles and direct
injection engine technology introduced over the previous few years.
Across virtually the entire MINI range, many of the same technologies
are present under the MINIMALISM title and ensure the premium small car
offers an unbeatable mix of fun and frugality.
The BMW 118d was
named World Green Car of the Year 2008 and the 116d shown at the event
in London is even more frugal. It has a combined fuel consumption of
64.2mpg, CO2 emissions of just 118g/km and yet is still
highly rewarding to drive with a zero to 62mph acceleration time of 10.2
seconds and a top speed of 124mph.
“This is a car
which is amongst the most fuel efficient you can buy, yet is still every
inch a BMW,” said Tim Abbott. “It’s rather like having your cake and
eating it.” |
