Mini ‘recharged’: classic Minis go electric

There’s something of a past-meets-present motoring revolution happening at the Mini plant in Oxford. It’s here where classic Mini cars are being future-proofed by making them electric. Under the “Mini Recharged” project, a group of engineers have devised an electric vehicle conversion package for the iconic hatchback, Auto Express reported. The fully electric drivetrain can be installed in existing classic Minis, and offers 121bhp – “significantly more than standard”.

The iconic Mini can now be given a “new lease of life” whilst maintaining its much-loved heritage, the company said. The drive is a modern electric motor that generates a continuous output of up to 90kW and accelerates the electrified classic Mini from zero to 62mph in approximately nine seconds. The energy is supplied by a high-voltage battery, which can be charged with an output of up to 6.6kW and enables a predicted range of around 99 miles.

In addition, every electrified classic Mini receives the characteristic central instrument cluster, which now displays the drive temperature, the selected gear, range and speed. The bespoke upcycling of the classic Mini is carried out exclusively in the UK and each converted vehicle is given an individual number, making it unique.

Stripping out the original car’s motor will be considered “sacrilege”, said ThisIsMoney. But Mini will make the changes reversible so it’s possible to restore the classic to its original condition at a later date. During the conversion, the original engine of each vehicle is marked and stored so it can be reused in the event of a future retrofit.

There’s no pricing available yet, said Motor1.com. Most importantly though, Mini promises the “go-kart feeling behind the wheel won’t be ruined”. One of the vehicle’s main advantages will be that the reborn classic model can be driven in the central areas of cities where combustion cars are prohibited.