Thanks to a Nissan-sourced EV kit, this London-based startup will give your Classic Mini a new breath of life.
London Electric Cars just added the Classic Mini to the range of classic British vehicles for which it offers electrification conversion kits. For £25,000 ($35,400), LEC will swap out the ICE engine for an electric motor and complete battery package.
LEC founder Matthew Quitter explained that the choice to induct the Classic Mini into its EV conversion kit program was only natural. Say what you will about the ‘Mini,’ it is an iconic car both in terms of design and urban practicality. It is quick and agile, and its size is simply perfect for navigating narrow streets and finding a parking spot where others just don’t fit.
When it comes to the revived Mini, BMW obviously recognizes the value these have for brand loyalists, and hence the Bavarian company’s efforts to keep Mini alive are pretty understandable. The Mini Cooper SE is BMW’s attempt at bringing the car to the electric age.
But, if the modern model is not your cup of tea and you prefer the classic ones, London Electric Cars offers an interesting solution. The company sources the drivetrain from a pre-owned Nissan Leaf and turns your Classic Mini into a 107 hp, 207 lb-ft EV with a 20 kWh battery pack, good for 60 to 70 miles of city range. London Electric Cars also offers the second-gen Leaf motor for a bit more punch as well as larger battery modules, though that will cost you extra.
If you wonder why LEC decided to go with used components, it’s worth mentioning that it stems from extensive research and analysis suggesting that reusing Nissan’s infrastructure was “more sustainable than mining and creating materials for an LEC-only powertrain.”
Luckily, if you don’t already own a Classic Mini ready for an EV conversion, LEC has you covered too. The team will source a donor car, for an appropriate fee, of course.
Interested? More details on London Electric Cars’ website!
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