Car marque MINI intends to make a transition from IC and hybrid powertrains to pure electric power within the next 10 years, CEO Peter Schwarzenbauer said in an interview.
The primary reason is in increasingly strict environmental laws being passed in Europe. Apparently, the company is already working hard on reducing emissions to save its current market standing, but there is little doubt all of its cars would be safer running on electric power alone by 2030 or so.
Mr. Schwarzenbauer added that customers are also increasingly interested in nature-friendly vehicles, so the transition makes sense in more ways than one. Furthermore, gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles will be prohibited in Great Britain starting in 2040.
The first all-electric, production-ready MINI vehicle debuted a week ago. The Cooper SE came powered by a 184-hp (137-kW) motor connected to a 32.6 kWh battery. The model needs 7.3 seconds to conclude the 0-100 km/h sprint and has around 270 km (168 miles) of range once fully charged.