Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Citroen C-Zero electric vehicle breaks cover

Zero fuel consumption, zero CO2 emissions and zero noise: this is the description of the new Citroen C-Zero, a new compact vehicle range with a 100% electric solution. The new vehicle is based on the Mitsubishi i-MiEV and was built in collaboration with the Japanese manufacturer.

According to the Citroen, this new electric car will be the brand’s second electric vehicle alongside Berlingo First Electric, developed with Venturi and will qualify for the government bonus of 5,000 euros.

The new Citroen C-Zero is powered by a permanent magnet synchronous motor delivering 47 kW or 64 bhp EEC from 3,000 to 6,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 180 Nm from 2,000 rpm. The power is transmitted to the rear axle via a single-speed reduction gear.

The electric motor features the latest-generation 330-volt lithium-ion battery system 88 50-Ah cells (for onboard energy of 16 kWh) mounted in the centre of the vehicle. One interesting feature of the lithium-ion technology is that the battery is resistant to partial charges, which have no incidence on battery longevity.