New Mini offers factory electric conversions for classic Minis

February 4, 2022February 11, 2022 Iain Curry 3831 Views Mini

It’s not like car companies to miss out on The Latest Thing when there’s cash to be made, and the world of electromodding is proving very lucrative indeed.

Mini’s the latest to hop on the factory electric conversion bandwagon. A team at Mini’s plant in Oxford, UK, has introduced its Mini Recharge project, converting classic Minis (you know, the cute pre-BMW ones) to electric drive.

Using a single electric motor good for 90kW there’s the promise of 100km/h arriving in around nine seconds. You won’t be blowing the bloody doors off many with such performance, but at least that’s quicker than a standard Mini Cooper S from the 1960s.

Electric range is a city-friendly (but not much more) 160 kilometres from what must be a relatively small battery pack. No specifics have been mentioned beyond it can be charged with an output of up to 6.6kW.

The MINI Recharged project has a team at the MINI Plant Oxford performing factory electric conversions on classic Minis

You can, of course, buy yourself a brand new modern day Mini complete with 135kW motor and 32.6kWh battery, but that’s not going to help with the proper Italian Job style.

The electromod plan is available to customers who own a classic Mini and want to “experience traditional go-kart handling with an emission-free drivetrain,” by ditching the original petrol engine for the new electric gubbins.

Heritage retained

Before you accuse Mini of bastardising its heritage with such an engine swap, Mini says only reversible changes are made to “the substance of the vehicle” and that “careful handling of the historical heritage is an important part of the concept.”

Ergo, owners can restore the classic Mini to its original condition in future should they wish.

Mini even says it will mark each individual engine that’s removed and store it for the customer in the event of a future retrofit. You can see how profitable this could become…

Every electrified classic Mini from Mini Recharged gets an updated central instrument cluster displaying the drive temperature, the selected gear, range and speed. The modernised classic Smiths gauges do look very cool.

Eco and financial benefits

From an eco point of view there are no new vehicles being produced. All Mini Recharged will be created from existing cars so they can begin “a second, more sustainable life.”

With increasing urban restrictions for internal combustion vehicles (tolls or outright bans) these electromodded classic Minis bring extra benefits. Not least for Londoners.

Fancy going all Michael Caine through the heart of London? Only an electric classic Mini can drive in Oxford Street or Piccadilly Circus without the driver having to pre-pay an environmental tax.

While that’ll save locals a bit of coin (this bespoke upcyling is carried out exclusively in the UK), there’s no mention on the cost of the complete conversion once you bring the Mini plant your old classic. If you have to ask the price, etc…

With promises of each modified Mini being given an individual build number plus “future collaborations allowing well-known artists to express their creativity,” you can bank on Mini Recharged being the reserve of the well-heeled.

We know electric conversions by startup firms begin from around $40,000 using a sound, road registered car. With these Mini Recharged being factory modified versions, you can bank on the job costing similar to the $60K Mini asks for one of its modern-day electric cars.

Iain Curry

A motoring writer and photographer for two decades, Iain started in print magazines in London as editor of Performance BMW and features writer for BMW Car, GT Porsche and 4Drive magazines. His love of motor sport and high performance petrol cars was rudely interrupted in 2011 when he was one of the first journalists to drive BMW's 1 Series ActiveE EV, and has been testing hybrids, PHEVs and EVs for Australian newspapers ever since. Based near Noosa in Queensland, his weekly newspaper articles cover new vehicle reviews and consumer advice, while his photography is regularly seen on the pages of glossy magazines.