Mini attempted some April Fool’s fun of their own today- sending off a press release to the media announcing that they had invented a “perpetual motion” magnetic propulsion drive system. The “system” would “extend the range of its MINI E to several hundred, possibly even thousands of miles, on a single overnight charge of electricity.” Oh, those guys in New Jersey are hilarious!
The new “Mini PR0401″
- Can drive “hundreds, possibly thousands of miles…on a single electric charge”
- Able to drive across the USA for just a few dollars
- Billed as the “ultimate range extender”
- Uses “MTT” (Magnetic Tow Technology) – a series of magnets inside the wheel hubs
- uses a series of magnets situated in the MINI E’s moving and fixed parts of each of its four wheel hubs to both pull and push the wheels in the desired direction, exploiting the magnets’ natural tendency to attract and repel
We won’t spoil everything so you can enjoy reading the press release yourself. And…by the way, perpetual motion isn’t really possible.
“official” release
MINI TO INTRODUCE “PERPETUAL MOTION” MAGNETIC PROPULSION SYSTEM
04/01/2009
* New magnetic system delivers world-leading fuel efficiency to MINI PR0401
* Hundreds, possibly thousands of miles range on a single electric charge
* Drive across the USA in a MINI for just a few dollars
* Propulsion / Repulsion 0401 (PR0401) system is the ultimate range extender
Woodcliff Lake, NJ – April 1, 2009… MINI USA looks set to take a world lead in fuel efficiency with the announcement today (April 1) of a revolutionary magnetic propulsion system that will extend the range of its MINI E to several hundred, possibly even thousands of miles, on a single overnight charge of electricity.
Drawing on the same Magnetic Tow Technology (MTT) which was announced by BMW in the UK today, MINI USA has developed its own unique Propulsion / Repulsion 0401 (PR0401) System that is just one short step away from perpetual motion in an automobile.
MINI’s PR 0401 System uses a series of magnets situated in the MINI E’s moving and fixed parts of each of its four wheel hubs to both pull and push the wheels in the desired direction, exploiting the magnets’ natural tendency to attract and repel. Not only does this system allow the MINI PR to travel extraordinary distances for just a few cents, it produces virtually no noise as the electric motor can be switched off once the car is moving.
Professor Lirpa Loof, Head of Magnetic Attraction Technology at MINI USA, said: “The Mini E is already leading the way in EV performance, reliability and eco-friendliness but this amazing new system will push it onto another level. We could soon be seeing families travel across the USA from coast to coast for just a couple of bucks.”
“The only energy this system uses is a small draw on the battery to start the vehicle moving forward and then the magnets take over and their natural properties do the rest. This has to be the ultimate range extender,” he added. “Anyone who has played with magnets as a kid or travelled on a Maglev train will understand precisely how this technology works and the kind of performance we are talking about.”
Once moving, only tiny amounts of electric current are required to switch on and off the magnets, as the polarity of the fixed and moving magnets is rapidly switched from positive to negative. The magnets first attract and then quickly repel each other pushing the wheels in the desired direction – either forward or reverse.
One challenge that Professor Loof faced with the PR system was the speed of the MINI EV PR… and how to control it! The speed at which the magnets attract and repel each other is instantaneous, which means in theory the vehicle is capable of phenomenal speeds, restricted only by the time it takes to switch the magnets’ polarity and the wind resistance and drag of the MINI PR’s body. The MINI EV PR development vehicles are currently restricted to a top speed of 250 mph.
“For years, engineers have dreamed of developing perpetual motion for transport,” said Professor Loof, “And thanks to MINI PR, it looks like we are almost there.”
# # #
Note to editors: BMW announced in the UK today that its award-winning EfficientDynamics programme has been taken to the next level with the announcement of an innovative fuel and emissions saving system called Magnetic Tow Technology (MTT).
The unique system, developed in conjunction with NASA, works via a discreet unit located in the front of the automobile that projects an enhanced magnetic beam 20 metres in front of the BMW. Once a suitable target car is located and the BMW is magnetically locked on behind it, the driver is then able to take his foot off the accelerator, switch off the engine and let the automobile in front do all the work. The towing car will not notice any change in manoeuvrability or forward motion.
MINI in the US
MINI is an independent brand of the BMW Group. In the United States, MINI USA operates as a business unit of BMW of North America, LLC which has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, a strategic design consultancy in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group’s global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all X5 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 Sports Activity Coupes. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car centers, 335 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 142 BMW motorcycle retailers, 83 MINI passenger car dealers, and 30 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.
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April 3rd, 2009 at 10:21 am
Professor Loof actually said that the MINI PR0401 was ‘one step away from perpetual motion’ and said that thanks to MINI PR, we are ‘almost there’….not that MINI had achieved actual perpetual motion!
I think we should expect him to reveal that technology in 12 months time!
May 15th, 2010 at 11:19 am
Perpetual motion with a magnets requires thinking not avaiable in known books published,strickly using a design creating no fricton no gears no electricty, using an arrangement of magnets and ratio perportion methods. Design and structure are based on hands on model build and rebuild in an unspecified size and structure till accomplished perpetual motion using their on fields of magnatism then figure how to put all togather. We keep it simple don’t over think,create look back latter a much cheaper project to finance. Above mentioned is electrical magnetic not true magnet motion which is very possiable.