Electric Mini Countryman E gets range boost to 311 miles
The all-electric Mini Countryman E has received a 25-mile range boost thanks to battery and inverter upgrades.
The updates mean that Mini’s family SUV can now travel up to 311 miles on a single charge.
The increase, which is up from 286 miles, was introduced to ensure Mini’s SUV remains competitive against the likes of the Skoda Elroq, Toyota C-HR+, and the Renault Scenic.
Despite the changes, the Countryman still lags behind its competitors, with the Skoda managing up to 355 miles on a single charge, the Toyota up to 376 miles, and the Renault up to 381 miles.
The front-wheel drive E isn’t the only Countryman to benefit from the range boost, as the four-wheel-drive Countryman E All4 now has a 290-mile range, 13 miles more than its previous 267.
Key to the Mini Countryman E’s new range is a new silicon-carbide inverter, which helps reduce how much energy is lost when converting direct current (DC) from the car’s battery to alternating current (AC) used by its motors and related systems. New, low-friction wheel bearings on the front axle also play their part in the extended range.
There are no changes to the Countryman’s 66.5kWh battery. Its usable capacity, however, has been increased from 64.6kWh to 65.2kWh. The battery’s maximum charge speed is expected to remain at a so-so 130kW, meaning a 10% to 80% charge is achievable in 29 minutes.
Given that the Mini Countryman E uses the same electrical underpinnings as parent company BMW’s iX1 and iX2, it is expected that these changes will be made to those cars in the near future.
The Mini Countryman E is one of the few EVs that benefits from the UK Government’s £3,750 ‘Band 1’ Electric Car Grant, which slashes the price to £29,255 – £100 less than its petrol-powered counterpart, the Countryman S.
Other ‘Band 1’ EVs include the Citroën C5 Aircross Long Range, the Ford Puma Gen-E and E-Tourneo Courier, the Renault 4 and 5, and the Alpine A290.
