BMW has delivered 12 MINI E electric cars to government officials, researchers and academics in Mexico City as part of a field trial of their mobility and power consumption, as well as road conditions in this heavily polluted capital.
This program is part of a series of MINI E field trials in several large cities, including ones in Germany, Britain, the United States, China and Japan.
The MINI E is powered by a 150 kW (204 hp) asynchronous electric motor fed by a high-performance rechargeable lithium-ion battery, transferring its power to the front wheels via a single-stage helical gearbox nearly without a sound and entirely free of emissions. The MINI E accelerates from 0 to 100km/h (62 mph) in 8.5 seconds and has a range of 175 kilometers (108 miles) in the city and 154 kilometers (95 miles) on the highway. Top speed is electronically limited to 152 km/h (95 mph).
Electric taxis have operated in Mexico City since November 2011 as part of the capital’s Green Plan to improve the environment and ensure rational use of natural resources.