Bye Bye M3, Hello Mini E?!: 500 of Mini's New Electric Cars Will Hit the Road in Early 2009

I've been eyeing those wonderfully cute little Mini's since they first came out. Alright, so maybe I fit the typical "mini" profile - Starbucks drinking, iPhone carrying girl. But now that Mini's bringing out the electric version of their cars can't we just justify swapping my M3 for this Mini as also helping the environment? (Hubster is probably shaking his head right about now.)

BMW Group is about to become the first manufacturer of premium automobiles to deploy a fleet of nearly 500 all electric vehicles for private use in daily traffic.

Details:
+ Powered by a 150 kW (204 hp) 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
+ Range of about 150 miles
+ Top speed is electronically limited to 95 mph.

How will it look different?:
What distinguishes the zero-emissions MINI is a specially designed logo in Interchange Yellow, depicting a stylized power plug in the shape of an "E" set against the silver backdrop. It has been applied to the roof, in smaller dimensions to the front and back, to the charger port lid, the dashboard trim, and - combined with the MINI logo - to the door jamb, in slightly modified form. The color of the roof edges, mirror housings, interior style cues and seat seams will match the logo's yellow tone as well.

Available:
It'll be available to select private and corporate customers as part of a pilot project in the US states of California, New York and New Jersey in early 2009 with their debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 19 and 20, 2008.

What's interesting is that they're putting some 500 cars on the road under real daily traffic conditions so they can can gain widely applicable hands-on experience. Evaluating these findings will generate valuable know-how, which will be factored into the engineering of mass-produced vehicles.

Can't wait to see these guys on the road. Great job, BMW!

Source: MarketWatch