MINI ACEMAN
A small-battery EV could make sense if charging were always this easy
MILEAGE 1192
WHY WE’RE RUNNING IT To find out how easy it is to live with a small-battery EV in 2025
When I wrote the ‘hello’ report for my Mini Aceman recently, I posited some questions to consider in the time it will be with me, which is standard fare. But being able to answer one of those questions so quickly – or at least answer it with a small asterisk – was quite unexpected.
A reminder: this is the version of the Aceman that’s powered by the little 38.5kW (usable capacity) battery. Theoretical range is 190 miles, but we know it isn’t that in real life. As a thought experiment, the suggestion was that there might some day be a point at which small-battery EVs would make more sense than they do today – you know, once we get efficiency up and the charging infrastructure more reliable. And, believe it or not, a recent experience with said infrastructure was so good that I’m already coming round to the idea of owning a small-battery EV.