Following a one-off project in 2018, BMW is now offering a service to convert the classic petrol-driven Mini to electric propulsion (writes Nick Flaherty).

The original was launched in 1959, created during an oil crisis and based on the idea of saving fuel and transporting four occupants and their luggage in the smallest possible footprint. It stopped production in October 2000.

The Mini Recharged programme removes the engine from these classic vehicles and replaces it with an electric motor giving a continues 90 kW output, a lithium-ion battery pack expected to have a capacity of 12 kWh and a 6.6 kW onboard charger. This gives the vehicle an acceleration from zero to 100 kph in about 9 seconds and a range of around 160 km.

The instrument panel has also been changed, providing drive temperature, the selected gear, range and speed.

The changes are all reversible, as BMW, the owner of the brand since 1994, says careful handling of the car’s historical heritage is an important part of the concept. That makes it possible to restore the classic Mini 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 of the vehicle.

The current electric Mini has a 29 kWh battery pack and the 135 kW motor from the BMW i3.