Electric Mini set for British tests

Plans to test the new electric Mini in Britain have been unveiled by BMW.

It has already been announced that the iconic vehicle will be put through its paces in the US and Germany, but now it is also set to be driven along the roads of Oxford.

The year-long tests will give engineers the opportunity to evaluate the Mini E, which will include studying the performance of its lithium-ion battery.

Ian Robinson, BMW group sales and marketing manager, said that production of the model is a great way of marking the British brand’s 50th birthday.

He added: "We believe the Mini E is an excellent vehicle for trialling this alternative form of sustainable mobility."

BMW currently has no plans to offer the Mini E for sale.