Premiere of the first fully electric MINI Cooper SE Convertible: alloy wheels made of 100% recycled aluminum

24 February 2023, 16:08:00

As the world’s first open-top fully electric premium car to be produced in a small series, the new MINI Cooper SE Convertible as a whole has been completely rethought in terms of sustainability. The combination of a light support wheel made from 100 percent recycled aluminum with aerodynamically optimized real metal inlays as well as an innovatively designed center cap offers a unique selling point that clearly sets the model apart from the competition. Made entirely from recycled light alloy, the support wheel completely meets the structural requirements and high-quality standards of the BMW Group, while the inlays optimize the aerodynamic properties of the vehicle, thereby increasing the range of the MINI Cooper SE Convertible. In other words, the innovative alloy wheels contribute to reducing the vehicle’s carbon footprint in multiple respects – both in production and while driving.

With the use of secondary materials that have a carbon footprint of less than 0.16 kg of carbon per kilogram of aluminum, the wheel supplier has been able to reduce carbon emissions at its production facility by up to 75 percent compared to conventionally produced wheels. In concrete terms, this means carbon emissions fall from around 130 kg to around 30 kilograms. The outstanding aerodynamic properties and lightweight design of the innovative alloy wheels also make a difference on the road, with the complete enclosure of the wheel exterior by the inlays significantly decreasing drag. The weight-optimized design reduces the unsprung masses of the vehicle as a whole, boosting efficiency and enabling the MINI Cooper SE Convertible to deliver the go-kart feel that is so typical of the brand.

The consistent implementation of circular economy principles has turned the joy of sustainability into a lived experience for the MINI community. Drivers of the MINI Cooper SE Convertible with recycled aluminum alloy wheels are part of a pilot project aimed at gradually reducing demand for primary raw materials. The alloy wheels on the MINI Cooper SE Convertible can also be fully recycled at the end of their lifecycle. Participating in this circularity enables the BMW Group to continually reduce the amount of aluminum that needs to be produced by means of an energy-intensive primary energy process.

Secondary raw materials must also fulfill BMW Group’s high standards for quality, design, safety and mechanical properties. With the alloy wheels on the MINI Cooper SE Convertible, the BMW Group has succeeded in establishing a material cycle for premium quality wheels for the first time, paving the way for repeated use of the raw material. The use of 100 percent recycled aluminum wheels in a small series is the first proof of feasibility for the ambitious sustainability goals regarding the circular economy. At the same time, the world premiere of the MINI Cooper SE Convertible sets the scene for scaling up the innovative production process for use in future large series models.

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