FIRST DRIVE: MINI Recharged – Official Classic Mini Electric Conversion Kit

DimON · September 27, 2022

MINI RECHARGED is MINI’s official answer for those wanting to convert their classic Minis to electric and we’ve driven it! But does it still feel like a Mini? And could it be a blueprint for other MINI electric conversions? We find out.

In many ways the classic Mini was a revolution in mobility not that different than a modern electric car. It was a car that rethought everything and in the process introduced new and novel ideas to the automotive world. And they stuck, influencing almost every small to mid-size car in the decades that followed. But can it still be relevant today? In our short time with the car the answer is yes, and no.

Yes because MINI Recharged as engineered the car to maintain the same weight and weight distribution as the original. Add to that immediate torque and you have a classic Mini that does 0-60 mph in six seconds and drives like the classics we all know and love.

And before you ask, it could go faster but traction is the limiting factor.

In our short time with the car we were blown away by how normal it all felt. The only interior giveaway is the modified shifter and vintage looking range gauge/ Otherwise you are in a classic Mini.

The up-cycling is handled by MINI UK and includes a modern electric motor that generates an output of up to 90 kW and accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in approximately nine seconds but can be turned up to around 6 seconds if requested. The energy is supplied by a high-voltage battery, which can be charged with an output of up to 6.6 kW and enables a predicted range of around 160 kilometers or 100 miles.

The final version will have a finished boot.

How Can I Get One?

The 107bhp Classic Mini electric comes with 12kW battery and will cost £10,620 including VAT. However there is more cost associated with the procurement of a clear classic Mini and the actual conversion itself. All in we were quoted around £60,000 for perfect example.

For the time being its only availability is in the UK market. However the company that is patterning with MINI to bring MINI Recharged to life as ambitious to open up shop in the US sometime next year.

Which begs the question – what about the R50/R53 generation of new MINIs. They becoming classic cars but they have one Achilles heel – engine parts. In many ways those cars are also an ideal candidate for a conversion like this. We asked that question and stated the case that there might be a market in the US and there was general enthusiasm for the idea. But as with all things, the market will dictate the offering.

So with that said would you be interested in a electric conversion of classic Mini or even an R50 or R53? Let us know below.