BMW Group plans to launch a pilot leasing programme for 50 consumers in Beijing and Shenzhen to help test the Mini E - an electric version of its popular Mini Cooper.
Mini began taking mainland applications for participants this week and planned to deliver the vehicles by January, Glenn Schmidt, the German carmaker's head of steering for governmental affairs, said.
About 600 consumers worldwide are participating in testing the Mini E, which will not be put into mass production. Instead, the feedback gathered from drivers is part of BMW's phased introduction of 'green' cars as it builds towards the 2013 launch of its all-electric 'Megacity' car.
The Mini E is a converted version of a petrol-fuelled Mini Cooper. In place of the four-cylinder engine is a powerful 201 horsepower electric motor and battery management system.
The motor is powered by a 260kg lithium-ion battery pack that takes the place of the car's back seat. The batteries, made by Taiwan's E-One Moli Energy, have a capacity of 35 kilowatt-hours and comprise 5,088 individual cells similar to those used in laptop computers.
BMW said the Mini E had a driving range of 250km on a single battery charge under ideal conditions, 154km for highway driving and 175km in start-stop city driving, since the battery is charged when the brakes are applied. BMW plans to work with the two government-owned electric grid companies to install charging facilities at the drivers' homes or offices.
