Launched today (July 9), the New Mini Electric is being offered for less than the price of its petrol equivalent. A move which will make it highly desirable to fleet decision-makers.

With prices for the New Mini Electric starting at £24,400 (including Plug-in Car grant), the new model “could be the tipping point for wider adoption of electric vehicles in the UK marketplace”, according to Mini UK director David George.

He told Fleet News that “we are assessing levels of interest and are already in conversation with some customers. With the changes to BIK, and range and price of the Mini Electric, it’s going to be really appealing to company car drivers and will drive interest from a corporate perspective and is helping inform our mix planning.”

Promising a maximum range of 144 miles (WLTP) the Mini Electric battery pack has 12 modules of lithium-ion cells providing a battery capacity of 32.6 kWh.

The motor is the latest version of the BMW Group’s synchronous electric motor, offering a maximum output of 187ps and maximum torque of 270 Nm. The result is a 0-62mph time of 7.3 seconds and a top speed limited to 93mph.

The Mini Electric is designed to accept both AC and DC charging using Type 2 and CCS Combo 2 plugs. The car can achieve 80% charge in 35 minutes at a 50kW DC fast-charging station.

Production will begin at Mini’s Oxford production plant later in the year. However, order books opened on the day of the launch and the new car has already attracted 20,000 expressions of interest.

The electric model will be produced alongside its petrol and diesel engine derivatives.

According to Oliver Zipse, BMW AG board member for production, the BMW group’s production of EVs will increase by 30% year-on-year between 2021 and 2025; with 25 electric models in its line-up by 2021.