With Mini E, the BMW group will become the first manufacturer to have a fleet of around 500 electric vehicles in everyday traffic around the world. This little eco car will work on a 150 kW electric motor with a rechargeable lithium-ion battey feeding it. As a result, the vehicle will be silent and emission-free. Plus it promises a range of 150 miles.

Though initially Mini E will be provided to select corporate customers in California, NY and New Jersey, it will have a world premiere at the LA Auto Show on November 19th and 20th, 2008.

Read the full story »

Germany is a country that has vividly stamped a class of its own in the international arena with what the world considers as the unending quest for perfection. Germans are known to be hard taskmasters who strive for that final millisecond and that last millimeter of perfect design, form and function. It is something that comes up with German athletes, German technology and of course the ever green German beer. From that perfect lap of magic by Michael Schumacher to the precision of the Mercedes- it is all about power with grace and accuracy.

But Germany has been a land that has been changing away from the technology to the green technology which saves both on oil and emissions. The home of the Mercedes, BMW (even though British) and Volkswagen is moving from oil-guzzling technology to windmills, green gadgets and electric vehicles. Germany is already the single largest producer and market for Solar Energy in the world.

To add to that Germany has recently taken to wind energy and now 7% of the country’s total power is produced by windmills and driven by those gusty flutters of the blade. It seems that the Germans are driven to even eek out perfection out of the renewable energy sources and that once again is a welcome sight.

Via Eco-Chick