Like it or not, we should start preparing for the wave of Electric Cars right now
Earlier this month, the BMW Group debuted its first serious series-production electric Mini, the Cooper SE. Assembly begins in November in Oxford, England, with global deliveries starting in early 2020
Based on the BMW i3s subcompact’s battery-electric powertrain and the two-door Mini Hardtop’s body style, the SE is powered by a 135-kilowatt motor that delivers 181 hp and is capable of going from 0 to 100km/h in 7.3 seconds.
The heart of the Cooper SE is a modest 32.6 kilowatt-hour battery that has an EPA-estimated range of about 114 miles on a full charge.
The Mini Cooper SE is part of BMW Group’s ambitious plan to launch 25 electrified vehicles by 2023.
Future BMW models will be designed to accommodate battery electric and combustion engine powertrains. And the company’s factories will be designed to seamlessly switch between powertrains.
Still, for now, electric vehicle demand remains questionable and its sales is still heavily reliant on tax incentives, government regulation and prevalence of vehicle charging infrastructure.
