国际英语新闻：EDF, BMW to cooperate in Mini E tests

PARIS, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- France's leading utility firm EDF and German carmaker BMW confirmed on Friday their cooperation in Mini E testing scheme in Paris.

At the Paris Motor Show in Paris, which opened Thursday and Friday to the press, Norbert Reithofer, CEO of BMW handed to Peter Lederer, EDF's executive director, the keys of the first group of seven Mini E for test.

A total of 50 Mini E, the electric version of the Mini brand, will be tested from individuals and companies from November. Voluntary candidates will be recruited on Mini website (www.mini. fr). Once selected, the 50 pioneers will be divided into two groups for six-month tests.

Project partners, EDF and Veolia Environment in addition to Paris city and the Ecology Ministry will get 20 Mini E for various experiments (fleet, car sharing internal, inter-modality and behavioral research), according to EDF statement.

EDF also has to control the electrical installations of selected candidates to install charging stations and participate in the project's feedback particularly about the charging and infrastructure.

France's tests are part of a BMW Group scheme carried on in several cities around the world, such as Los Angeles, New York, London, Oxford, Berlin and Munich.