Since late September, Mini has launched a large recall campaign for the electric Mini Cooper SE and Cooper SE Convertible. The issue stems from the battery pack insulation, which may not be optimal. In the event of water infiltration, the batteries in the Mini Cooper SE and Cooper SE Convertible could catch fire. According to the official government site, Rappel Conso, “The high-voltage battery may short circuit, causing the battery to overheat and the vehicle to catch fire, even when parked.” In France, more than 21,000 owners of 100% electric Mini SE cars, produced between 2028 and 2024, are affected by this recall campaign.
Certainly, combustion engine cars can catch fire, just like electric cars. However, in the case of an electric vehicle’s battery pack fire, it can be very dangerous. When ignited, the batteries of BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicles) reach very high temperatures (thermal runaway) and require hours upon hours, and hundreds, if not thousands, of liters of water to extinguish the flames. This is why Mini is taking no chances by recalling the affected electric Mini Cooper SE (F56) and Cooper SE Convertible (F57) models with battery insulation defects.
In France, specifically, the 100% electric models with references 0061520800 and 0061530800 must quickly be returned to a Minidealer. Of course, the British automaker, owned by BMW Group, covers all costs related to the high-voltage battery insulation modifications.
Since the rise in electric vehicle sales in France and elsewhere, firefighters have been training to extinguish these fires. In France, “firefighters” use ultra-precise Cobra nozzles and containers where batteries are submerged in water, requiring careful handling.
Additionally, fire-resistant blankets that can withstand temperatures up to 1,800 degrees are regularly tested by firefighters, as well as the Dafo system for automatically extinguishing thermal runaway fires associated with the batteries that power electric vehicles.
The Editorial Team
Photos: Mini and SDIS 86 (Anthony Boutin)
