Mini E moves to New York

NEW YORK // Michael Bloom-berg, the mayor of New York, has revealed the city's Street Condition Observation Unit (SCOUT) will be provided with 10 Mini E electric cars by BMW, the car's manufacturer. SCOUT inspectors, who will start using the vehicles later this year, drive around the city's neighbourhoods searching for road hazards such as potholes and street graffiti. The Mini E, which can be fully recharged in under three hours, is reputed to have a range of more than 240 kilometres. In common with other electric vehicles, the car uses a series of lithium-ion batteries to store power. SCOUT has been loaned the Mini E fleet for a year.