Mini invents reversible electric conversion for classic Mini

Mini offers classic Mini owners the option to convert their gasoline car to electric, and vice versa.

Owners of classic Minis who wish can once again parade on Oxford Street without paying the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) fee of £12.50 (15 euros) in effect in London. Indeed, Mini announced the launch of its own “retrofit” program.

This Mini Recharged program allows owners to entrust their car to a team from the Mini factory in Oxford, UK, for its conversion to electric propulsion. The team replaces the gasoline engine with an electric motor, the fuel tank with a battery, and updates the instrumentation dashboard.

A classic 122-horsepower Mini

The power increases from 34 to 90 hp, depending on the generation, reaching 90 kW, or 122 hp. A converted Mini Classic accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 9 seconds. The battery capacity is not disclosed, but the brand claims a range of 160 km (2 to 3 times less than the original version). Charging peaks at 6.6 kW and takes several hours, limiting its use to urban driving. It’s a shame, because a charge at least 50 kW would have opened up the possibility of countryside trips, which it is particularly suited for.

The unique aspect of this conversion program is that all modifications are reversible. Mini identifies and stores the original engine of each car for a possible reverse conversion, to restore the vehicle to its original state.

Mini promotes the sustainable approach and circular economy of its program, but one may wonder if the converted cars will travel enough distance to offset the CO₂ emissions generated by manufacturing the new motor and battery.

Mini does not specify the cost or details of its conversion program, but it is known that it is carried out exclusively in the UK. French residents can turn to the French company Ian Motion, a specialist in retrofit, which has been converting classic Minis for several years now.

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