Mini and Fiat have been found to be the cleanest car manufacturers in a league table which provides the first comprehensive analysis of overall emission performance rather than just focusing on CO2 emissions.

Producing by website, Clean Green Cars, the league table analyses the carmakers’ performances across three environmental factors; CO2 emissions, NOx emissions and particulate emissions to produce a more rounded conclusion of environmental performance.

Explains Richard Bremner, editor of Clean Green Cars: “CO₂ is hugely important, but it is not the whole story. A car that is good for CO₂ can be bad for other pollutants and vice versa.”

The website analysed the performance of every car sold in the UK so far this year to complete its findings, correlating sales and pollution data to produce a sales-weighted performance for all manufacturers.

Fiat and Mini came joint first in overall performance across the three pollution sectors, while Toyota lead in producing the least CO2 emissions and Suzuki came top in minimising NOX emissions. For particulates (small sooty particles, responsible for causing respiratory problems and long term lung disease), Mini and Fiat once again lead the way, proving two of the least harmful manufacturers.

Thanks to the car industry’s focus on CO2 emissions, the website found that while CO₂ performance varied by a factor of less than three from best to worst, NOx varies by a factor of seven and particulates by a factor of more than 50. In the hall of shame, Jeep and Land Rover were found to have the worst environmental performances overall.

Overall ranking was calculated by adding the positions for all three criteria and then dividing by three to obtain an average. The reason there is a ranking for pollution rather than a single overall figure is that there is no generally accepted way of comparing damage from CO₂ to damage from NOx or particulates. They cause different problems in different circumstances. By creating a ranking, Clean Green Cars combined manufacturers performance into a meaningful league table, but leave it open to people to concentrate on whichever measure they regard as the most important.

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Mini has ruled out the possibility of introducing a diesel hybrid vehicle, despite the fact that one of its key partners, PSA Peugeot Citroen, is set to introduce the technology on its vehicles in the near future.

Peugeot is set to launch a diesel hybrid powertrain system called Hybrid4, due out soon on the 508, DS4 and 3008 models. Despite the brand’s group owner, PSA, helping BMW develop its petrol engines for the Mini range, Mini is not set to benefit from the new technology.

Wolfgang Kuttler, head of Mini diesel engines, told Autocar that the Hybrid4 system ‘was a very expensive and heavy system, adding: “It only brings fuel savings in town, not on the faster, more open roads commonly used in Europe. We’ll never use a system like it at Mini for that reason.”

Instead Mini is set to focus on improving the fuel economy of its diesel range without using additional power sources.

“I believe that we are currently getting about 50 per cent of the efficiency available in diesel engines,” he Kuttler told the motoring publication.

“We intend to concentrate on improving ancillary drive, lowering internal friction, increasing injection pressure and optimising turbo response, among other aspects. Variable valve timing is a possibility but it’s low down on the priority list,” he added.

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The new MINI range set to hit the showrooms in August will take the car brand to  99g/km of CO2 for the first time.

This summer the BMW group-owned carmaker will give its range a refreshed design and introduce two new diesel engines that will take its cars to sub-100g/km CO2. The carmaker will also introduce a diesel engine option on the MINI Convertible for the first time.

The new engines are introduced shortly after the carmaker released new, more economical petrol engines back in March.

The new 1.6 litre, four cylinder diesel engines benefit from BMW know-how on making efficient engines. They share the efficient bore/stroke ratio of BMW’s two litre units and are constructed from lightweight aluminium. Using common rail direct injection and a turbocharger with variable turbine geometry, the new engines are super-efficient. As a result both the MINI One D and MINI Cooper D achieve the same low fuel consumption of 74.3 mpg and CO₂ emissions of 99 g/km.

Efficiency doesn’t mean the new MINIs compromise on fun however, the Cooper D Hatch accelerates from zero to 62 mph in 9.7 seconds and goes on to a top speed of 123mph. Huge torque of 270 Nm is available from 1,750 rpm ensuring that it is always ready to harness the engine’s power. The less powerful MINI One D Hatch (90hp as compared to the Cooper D’s 112) has a torque value of 215Nm available from the same low engine rev range but still reaches 62mph in 11.4 seconds and hits a top speed of 115 mph.

In addition to the high efficiency of the new diesel engine, they employ fuel-saving and emission-lowering technology including Brake Energy Regeneration, Auto Start-Stop, Gearshift Indicator, Electromechanical Power Steering and demand-controlled auxiliary units such as the alternator.  All of these technologies and the standard six-speed manual gearbox play a role as it ekes the most out of every drop of fuel while also minimising the tailpipe emissions.

Using the same 112hp engine as the Hatch, the new Convertible accelerates to 62mph in just 10.3 seconds and can reach a top speed of 121mph. Despite this performance potential, the MINI Cooper D Convertible sips diesel fuel at a parsimonious 70 mpg and emits just 105g/km of CO², the lowest emitting and most economical ‘full’ convertible vehicle on the UK market today.

Prices for the new models are expected to be announced in a few days.

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As the first stage of MINI’s trial of its electric model reaches an end this weekend (June 19, 2010), parent firm BMW reports- much like rival Mitsubishi- that the last winter has afforded them very useful feedback on the performance of an electric car in extremely cold conditions.

Trials of twenty MINI Es have been taking place in the UK since December 2009 along with similar trials in Germany, Japan and the United States. Although the full results of the trial have yet to be analysed, BMW says that trials have shown that in very low temperatures, power output is diminished until the battery is ‘warmed-up’ once in use. This is particularly the case if the car is not driven every day.

Mitsubishi in its trials of its all-electric i-MiEV model as part of the CABLED programme which completes its first quarter of testing this month (see story), reports much the same- that the exceptionally cold conditions of the last winter afforded it the chance to test the performance of its electric models in situations electric car doubters feared would severely compromise the car’s range. The results are largely positive however, as the Japanese carmaker reports only a small drop in usage of its model in the coldest conditions (as low as –10 degrees Celsius)-which it credits mostly to motorists driving less due to hazardous and icy road conditions.

However BMW reports that there was also issues with exterior charging points as winter temperatures dipped dramatically. One stopped charging completely, a problem with a sensor which has now been cured.

The Mini Es were also equipped with winter tyres to help traction given the instant torque electric cars benefit from, feedback from users on the trial said that the cars performed "like 4x4s".

The MINI E is based on the MINI hatch, a two-seater vehicle, it has a range of around 104 miles, a top speed of 95mph and a 0-62mph time of 8.5 seconds.

Mini’s UK sales and marketing director, Jochen Goller said: "We have yet to fully analyse the results but the data will give us an idea of average daily trips and mileages and where people want to charge their cars – either at home or at the office. The feedback we are getting is that the longer people live with the cars, the less anxious they become about the issue of range.

"People seem happy with the range of around 100 miles and are confident in terms of travelling 80 or even 90 miles."

Goller added that the Mini E trials will soon be extended to Paris and Beijing. The Mini E is the test bed for an all-electric model from BMW said to be launched in 2015.

In total 40 electric models have been trialled with private and fleet users in the UK since December 2009. A second phase of trials will begin in September this year and will run to March 2011. The drivers for the next stage have now been selected after the MINI E trial closed for applications for the second stage back in May 2010.

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Green cars are definitely the in-thing in the auto industry and now consumer website kbb.com (part of the Kelley Blue Book) has named its Top 10 Green Cars for 2010.

Now before you wonder where the likes of the Nissan LEAF and the Chevrolet Volt are on the list – they are not yet available and this list only includes cars that are on the market now. So, which vehicles made the top 10?

1. Toyota Prius – It’s no surprise to see the Prius at the top of the list even with the recall issues surrounding an alleged brake pedal fault. Toyota introduced the third generation last year with EPA ratings of 51mpg as the vehicle continues to feature a full hybrid system and a nickel-metal hydride battery pack.
   
2. Honda Insight Hybrid – Another vehicle that arrived last year, it is the lowest priced hybrid in the US market with official EPA ratings of 40mpg city/43mpg highway achieved with a four-cylinder petrol engine with intelligent variable valve timing and an electric motor.
   
3. Ford Fusion Hybrid – Also new for 2010 it has a clone under the Mercury brand known as the Milan Hybrid. Its EPA ratings are 41mpg city/36mpg highway and a Lincoln version is expected in 2011.
   
4. Volkswagen Golf TDI – A three- or five-door hatchback with a very efficient four-cylinder clean diesel engine that achieves 30mpg city/42mpg highway.
   
5. MINI Cooper – Featuring a petrol engine that delivers 28mpg city/37mpg highway, this is a cute fun car with a surprising amount of space for front seat occupants.
   
6. Ford Escape Hybrid – A drive system similar to the Fusion Hybrid, but this vehicle is a compact crossover rather than a saloon car. A Mercury version is also available – known as the Mariner Hybrid.
   
7. Honda Fit – Another vehicle to make the list that is neither a hybrid nor a diesel it instead has a small petrol engine with EPA ratings of 28mpg city/35mpg highway with a five-speed automatic transmission.
   
8. BMW 335d – This saloon car has a six-cylinder diesel engine and EPA ratings of 23mpg city/36mpg highway.
   
9. Toyota Highlander Hybrid – A midsize crossover utility vehicle with seating for up to seven and ratings of 27mpg city/25mpg highway.
   
10.  Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid – A surprise inclusion at number 10, this SUV has seating for up to eight people and ratings of 21mpg city/22mpg highway.

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MINI is about to launch phase two of its electric car trial and is looking for 20 drivers willing to take part.

Phase one of its trial of electric MINI models is already underway, with the first 20 drivers already running their pioneering new rides since December 2009. However this trial comes to an end in June, when the drivers will have to hand the electric cars back.

Now the parent firm, BMW, are looking for a new batch of motorists willing to lease one of the electric models for £330 per month from September 2010 for six months. Participants need to live within the triangular geographical area between Andover, Oxford and West London. To apply for a chance to lease an electric MINI, drivers need to fill out the online application form at www.electricMINI.co.uk.

The Government-backed trial, run by a BMW Group-led consortium including Southern Electric and regional development agency SEEDA, will evaluate the technical and social aspects of living with an all-electric car in every day life.

Southern Electric will install a free home charging point for each car, as well as a network of public charging points, so the cars can be ‘topped up’ whilst drivers are out and about.  The car can also be charged from a standard three pin socket.   

The monthly lease fee includes VAT, insurance and maintenance (subject to conditions). The MINI E driver only pays for the electricity used – and obviously has no petrol costs. In addition MINI E drivers are eligible for other benefits like zero congestion charges in London.

The MINI E looks the same as a standard MINI Hatch, with the performance close to that of the MINI John Cooper Works. A two-seater model only- the space normally taken by rear passengers is reserved for the lithium-ion battery.

Maintenance, servicing and technical assistance will be provided by dedicated BMW Group UK ‘flying doctors’. These technicians will be supported by selected MINI dealers within the MINI E research area.

Suzanne Gray, Project Manager for MINI E, said: “We were overwhelmed by the level of interest in the first phase of the trial, and we are confident that we will attract a similar level of applicants for the second phase. We would love to hear from people who have the enthusiasm and curiosity required to take part in a ‘real world’ research study.” 

In addition to living in the set geographical area, MINI E test drivers must also have a private garage, car port or driveway, so a wall-mounted high power charging unit can be installed by Southern Electric. The 240V/32 amp supply provided by the unit can fully charge the MINI E’s lithium-ion battery pack in just 4.5 hours. An adaptor for use with an ordinary 13 amp socket will also be supplied for occasional use.  The lower capacity charge takes just over 10 hours to provide a full charge.

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Customers trailing the new electric MINI around the world don’t want to give them back- that’s what BMW’s chairman Norbert Reithofer told news agency Headline auto.

Reithofer said: "Some drivers have told me they would love to keep their MINI E. We will follow this trial next year with a customer test fleet based on the current study with the BMW Concept ActiveE which will be built at our Leipzig plant."

BMW-who own the MINI brand- first unveiled the Concept ActiveE at the Detroit Motor Show in January.

Based on the BMW 1 Series coupe, the new electric model uses a specially developed motor that delivers 125kW/170hp with a maximum torque of 250Nm. It is capable of accelerating from 0-60mph in 8.5 seconds too.

Vehicles such as this and the MINI E are core to BMW’s aim of reducing its CO2 emissions across its range of vehicles by 25 per cent between 2008 and 2020.

The MINI E test fleet has been on the road in markets around the world since the middle of last year. In the UK, the MINI E is being trialled as part of the Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator programme.

Reithofer said that MINI has successfully established a premium brand in the small car market. "MINI is not a miniature version of another model series. MINI is, and will remain, the original – with a signature face, a unique tradition and over 1.5 million fans around the world.

"In the future we will generate growth both in the large model segments and in the compact and sub-compact model segments. We will launch more MINI and BMW models and variants.

"We expect the small premium segment to grow between 4 and 6 per cent a year from now until 2020 and there are not too many offers in the market right now so we will progress with both BMW and MINI."

Reithofer revealed that BMW is exploring the possibility of developing a joint architecture for the front and four-wheel-drive systems of these cars.

"In other worlds there will be front wheel drive BMWs in the small car segment. We intend to grow profitably in this segment as well."

A front wheel drive model, he said, will be positioned below the current 1 Series model. This will be in addition to the forthcoming Mega City all-electric city car. This model will share a platform with MINI.

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Electric cars are going to be a tough sell to car-mad Brits. We love our hot hatches far too much to be interested in reskinned milk floats. But the world’s oil supplies won’t last forever, so carmakers are looking to the future and starting to build electric-powered concepts and prototypes. So what better to persuade the driving public that a car that you plug in can actually be fun to drive than an electric Mini, one of the most popular cars on the road today. We drove the prototype Mini E that will be trialled in the UK over the next year by private and fleet users and discovered that electric cars really could be the future, if they’re as good as this.

Mini E consumer car reviews
Mini E lease prices
Mini E new and nearly new

Ownership isn’t possible with the Mini E: as a prototype, it’s only available on a lease basis to drivers who have to apply to take part in an evaluation project. These private users – 20 for the first six months, with another 20 for the second half-year – have to live in a strictly defined geographical area in the south-east of England, which is within the area where Scottish and Southern Electric (a partner in the project) supplies the power infrastructure for charging. Drivers who wish to participate in the project also have to be willing to cooperate fully with the researchers attached to the project, spending time filling out travel logs and answering questionnaires. They’ll also have to pay a lease fee of £330 a month for the privilege, but when you consider that fully charging the car using off-peak electricity (overnight, when it’s parked outside the house) will only cost £1.50 and there will be no petrol costs for six months, it seems a pretty good deal. And you also get the warm glow from knowing that you’ll be an environmental pioneer, helping to push the boundaries in the quest for emissions-free motoring. It’ll certainly be something to tell the grandkids in 50 years’ time, when everyone’s driving electric cars.

Read the full Mini E road test

RoadTestReports.co.uk provides road tests reports written by members of the Guild of Motoring Writers. These reports are complemented by car reviews submitted by the members of the public who drive the vehicles day in day out.

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MINI is on the hunt for willing test drivers to drive its electric MINI cars as part of a Government-backed scheme to get electric cars on the roads.

Pioneering drivers are wanted to partake in MINI E UK research project. Interested drivers can now apply online to lease one of twenty prototype cars destined for British roads. The online application form will be hosted at www.electricMINI.co.uk from 01- 30 September 2009. Comprehensive details of the project are also available on this website.

Each MINI E will be available to lease for six months from December this year. A second round of applications will then be invited in 2010, allowing a further twenty drivers to lease an all-electric MINI for a six month period.

Accounting for current development and manufacturing costs, the monthly lease fee for a MINI E would normally be priced at £550 per month.

However, earlier this year a BMW Group-led consortium was awarded part of a £25m fund by the Technology Strategy Board, the Government-backed organisation that promotes technology innovation across the UK. This funding has meant that the monthly lease fee can be reduced to £330 per month, which includes VAT, insurance and maintenance (terms and conditions apply).

The MINI E driver also pays for the electricity used. Fully re-charging the battery using off-peak electricity at current prices will cost around £1.50. Using higher-rate daytime electricity, the cost will still be less than £4.00.

All applicants to the research trial will have to meet certain criteria to be eligible to take part. Firstly, customers must reside in South East England, within a triangular geographical area joining Andover, Oxford and West London. A full list of eligible post codes and a map of the relevant area is available on the website.

MINI E test drivers must also have a private garage, car port or parking space at their home. Not only for safety and security reasons, but primarily to ensure that a high power charging unit in the form of a wall box measuring approximately 0.6m x 0.6m can be installed by Southern Electric. This wall box will be supplied with every MINI E and also includes a 6.5m charging cable. The 240V/32 amp supply provided by the wall box can fully charge the MINI E’s lithium-ion battery pack from empty in just 4.5 hours. An adaptor for use with an ordinary 13 amp socket will also be supplied, but the lower capacity for charge means it will take around 10 hours to provide a full charge. Therefore it is only appropriate for occasional use.

Maintenance, servicing and technical assistance will be provided by dedicated BMW Group UK ‘flying doctors’. These technicians will be supported by selected MINI dealers within the MINI E research area.

Following the launch of MINI E research projects in North America and Germany, the UK trial is a collaborative effort between a BMW Group UK-led consortium. Additional funding is provided by the Technology Strategy Board as part of a UK-wide programme involving trials of 340 ultra-low carbon vehicles from several manufacturers.

Southern Electric will be responsible for the electricity infrastructure in the research area and is committed to supplying ‘green energy’ to all drivers of the MINI E.* The region in which Southern Electric owns the supply network is an important reason for working with a geographical research sample in South East England.

Oxford Brookes University’s Sustainable Vehicle Engineering Centre will manage the collation of qualitative and quantitative research throughout the UK project. This will include analysis of driver experiences with the MINI E, as well as reviewing the technical information provided by the data-logging units fitted to every MINI E.

The consortium is strengthened by public sector organisations from the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council. These organisations are working to develop high economic growth in their areas through innovation and developing high value job opportunities through projects such as this. A further 20 MINI E vehicles will be distributed among the MINI E consortium members for testing in a fleet environment. This will necessitate the establishment of a technical infrastructure in each organisation’s local area and aid a common objective to be at the forefront of sustainable transport initiatives.

With MINI already firmly established in the hearts of British motorists and the opportunity to drive a 204hp, emission-free version of the car in the UK now on offer, a similar rush of interest is expected so get your clogs on if you want to be one of the lucky guinea pigs.

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The BMW MINI E is one of the most exciting and head turning electric car concepts and now it is being put to the test thanks to a partnership between BMW and the University of California at Davis.

The research will focus on user interactions with the MINI E and is expected to provide insight into real-life usage and perception of electric vehicles. It will gather in-depth information from 50 voluntary participants through online diaries, written questionnaires and a series of interviews.

Studies will be led by the UC Davis Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle Research Centre, which is administered by the Institute of Transportation Studies and is funded by a three-year, $3million grant from the California Energy Commission’s Public Interest Energy Research Programme.

Dr Tom Turrentine, the director of UC Davis’ PHEV Research Centre, described the study as “an exciting opportunity to talk with users about their daily experience of the cars”.

US field trials of the MINI E are already under way for two months, with BMW gathering data from the 450 MINI E drivers. The vehicles are now in daily operation in New York, New Jersey and Los Angeles after residential charging stations were installed into the garages of MINI E drivers. The vehicle reportedly has a 100 mile range on a single charge.

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