BMW’s Mini E trials begin next month with 20 of the electric vehicles going to four fleet partners, each getting five cars – Scottish and Southern Energy, South-East England Development Agency, Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council.

Trials will take place with a variety of fleet uses, including user-choosers, business need and pool cars. BMW hopes to start analysing data - such as journey lengths, charging times and whether the driver’s use of the car changes from their previous habits - within three months of the year-long trial.

A further 20 Mini E’s will go on trial with private car drivers who will pay a lease fee of £330 a month on a six-month contract. Another 20 private drivers will take the cars for the second half of the test period.

Charging will take place at up to 100 points around the triangular test area (west London up to Oxford, down to Andover), including at Marks & Spencer stores, while 32A wall boxes will be installed at drivers’ homes.

BMW insists that the Mini E, claimed to have a range of 100-120 miles, is a prototype and will not go on general sale. The data gained from the trials will be used when developing the BMW Megacity vehicle, due to come to market within four years.