BMW announced that a fleet of 500 all-electric Mini Coopers, officially dubbed the 2009 Mini E, will soon be available for private use in city traffic. The car will feature a 204 hp electric motor, a high-performance rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and a single-stage helical gearbox for nearly silent, zero-emissions operation. One catch: unlike all current Mini Coopers, the MINI E will be a two-seater.

BMW said that the car's batteries will take up the space usually occupied by the rear seats. The Mini E will have a range of 150 miles, and run from 0 to 62 in 8.5 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 95 mph. It will be available via a one-year lease to select customers in California, New Jersey, and New York. Qualifying customers will have to have a place to lock up the car at night so that it can be charged, using a specially provided apparatus that does the full job in just 2.5 hours. Look for more information when the car goes on display at the LA Auto Show in November.