Mini Recharged Converts Classic British Sports Car to Electric Power
Mini Recharged aims to keep vintage versions of its iconic sports car on the road for future generations.
There’s no question that the electric powertrains are the next great engine swap, as we’ve seen aftermarket offerings from both Ford and General Motors pop up for sale in recent years. But what about those that simply want to roll their classic car into a shop and let someone else do the conversion for them? That’s now possible for owners of vintage Mini models, as the brand’s new Mini Recharged program offers total EV conversions for the classic British sports car at its Oxford, UK plant.
That process involves removing the internal combustion-powered engine from the vintage Mini and replacing it with a 90 kW electric motor that produces around 120 horsepower, along with a high-voltage battery of unspecified capacity that gives the pint-sized piece of transportation around 100 miles of range. The entire process is reversible, which will make it appealing for those that are holding on to their Minis as a collectible, as there are no permanent modifications required to electrify the car. In fact, Mini will even mark and store the old gas engine for you.
The beauty of Mini Recharged, at least for those that live in the UK, is that this swap ensures owners aren’t subject to congestion charges or future restrictions in a country that’s well on its way to migrating to electric power. And while the range number may not seem particularly impressive, the old Mini is a tiny little thing that doesn’t present much space for a big battery pack. Plus, its range is only 10 miles less than the brand new Mini Cooper SE Electric, though that model wasn’t built on dedicated EV underpinnings.
With a 0-62 time of around 9 seconds, the electric Mini won’t exactly light your hair on fire either, but it’s quick enough to keep up with modern traffic. Otherwise, Mini didn’t provide any information about how much this conversion costs, nor whether or not Americans can ship their vintage rides over to the UK and have this conversion done for them.
Regardless, this idea is indeed intriguing and is also a great way to make older, less reliable vehicles more so, as well as keep them on the road for future generations to enjoy.
Photos: Mini