The series development process for the car is almost complete, featuring a combustion engine and an electric motor marking the beginning of a new phase for Mini. The key to achieving this lies in intelligent energy management which is used to control how the combustion engine and electric motor operate together. For this reason, the first Mini plug-in hybrid model is not solely focused on efficiency, but also on a pleasant and fun driving experience.
“With this model we want to convince Mini customers of the benefits of hybrid drive and impress everyone who already has hybrid driving experience with Mini’s unique go-kart driving feel” said Head of Mini brand management Sebastian Mackensen. “In a hybrid Mini model, driving electrically must also be an exhilarating experience. This means that entirely electric driving is not limited to speeds of 30 or 40 km/h, but to speeds well beyond city traffic pace.”
The charging socket for the high-voltage battery is discreetly integrated in the left Side Scuttle. Everything also looks familiar in the cockpit. The start/stop button in the centre of the dashboard glows yellow instead of red. The rpm counter in the instrument cluster on the steering column has been replaced with a power display. Keeping a close eye on this display is particularly worthwhile for the first few kilometres as it informs the driver about the electric motor’s power reserves before the combustion engine fires up. When exactly the combustion engine starts varies depending upon on the vehicle’s speed and the intensity with which the driver operate the accelerator pedal.
The hybrid Mini makes full use of the electric motor’s entire torque, which is available right from standstill, allowing for catapult-like acceleration. Even after leaving the slower pace of the city, this vehicle maintains its zero-tailpipe emissions at motorway speeds. The high-voltage battery under the rear seats provides power for long-lasting electric driving. Auto eDrive standard mode permits speeds of up to 80 km/h, whilst in Max eDrive mode speeds of up to 125 km/h are possible.
Mini’s go-kart driving characteristics consists of more than just fast acceleration. The vehicle has to prove how precisely it handles when taking bends on twisting roads and so nothing has changed with regard to the chassis and suspension. However, thanks to the eDrive components, which are positioned very low down at the rear, the car’s centre of gravity is lower and the weight is evenly balanced between the front and rear axle – ideal for agility.
The electric motor transmits its power to the rear wheels and the combustion engine to the front wheels. Since the intelligent energy management is linked to the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), traction and drive stability are optimised via the drive system. As soon as there is any risk of drive slip, the second drive unit is activated to provide additional traction when starting off or ensuring a high level of steering precision when cornering.
Intelligent energy management offers a further opportunity for both power sources to work together effectively. Driving on the motorway, a third mode can be activated with the eDrive toggle switch: Save Battery. In this mode, the combustion engine powers the car whilst at the same time, the high voltage battery can retain charge at a constant level or indeed increase charge via a generator. Extended driving in this mode enables enough power generation for purely electric driving later.
Image: BMW Group
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