The Citroen Berlingo Electric makes its UK debut at the CV Show in Birmingham from 9-11 April 2013, and will go on sale later in 2013.
The new Citroën Berlingo Electric makes its UK debut on the Citroën stand at the CV Show (stand 5C80/Hall 5, NEC, 9-11 April).
The CV Show takes place at the Birmingham NEC from 9-11 April, and Citroën’s new van will be the second generation electric Berlingo, following the previous model which was sold from 1998 until 2005.
Scott Michael, Citroën’s Head of Commercial Vehicles & Business Centre Programme, explains what the previous model taught the company about market demand for electric vans:
“The new Berlingo Electric has been launched to meet the transport requirements of a number of significant specialist sectors. Our previous electric LCV experience showed that these specific operations include local authority applications such as meals on wheels, parks departments and many other metropolitan council applications.
In addition, we expect to see Berlingo Electric demand come from urban-based, private sector businesses, where its ease of driving and silent operation are complemented by availability of public charging points and more favourable parking legislation.”
Berlingo Electric Specification
The load compartment of the Citroen Berlingo Electric is just the same as a standard Berlingo.
The new Berlingo Electric has an advanced permanent magnet synchronous 49kW electric motor, with a 22.5kWh lithium ion battery pack that gives the Berlingo Electric a range, of up to 106 miles, as tested in accordance with the New European Driving Cycle.
The motor’s peak torque is a meaty 200Nm, developed between 0 – 1,500rpm, and it drives the front wheels through a speed reducer and a single-ratio gearbox. Top speed is 68.75mph (can they really be that precise?!).
In energy recovery phases — deceleration & braking — the electric motor acts as a generator, recharging the battery pack.
Using a domestic socket, the vehicle can be fully charged in around 12 hours; alternatively, it can be charged to 80% of capacity in only 35 minutes using a specific 380V three-phase terminal in quick-charge mode. Thanks to the Berlingo being designed to be an electric vehicle from the outset, its load compartment space is not reduced by battery intrusion. The Berlingo Electric’s electric motor is positioned under the bonnet and the lithium-ion battery pack is located underneath the load deck. This means the Berlingo Electric’s load compartment cube of 3.3m3 (extendable to 3.7m3)/load deck length of 1.8m (extendable to 3.0m) and payload of 636kg are equivalent to that of a similar diesel-powered Berlingo van.
The Citroen Berlingo Electric looks a little different under the bonnet.
Based on the Berlingo LX model the Berlingo Electric is well equipped, with a specification that includes:-
- ABS, EBD and EBA
- Hill Start Assist coupled to the ESP system
- Air conditioning and an electric heating system with an eco-mode to limit energy consumption
- Driver’s airbag
- RDS stereo radio/MP3 compatible CD player
- Remote central locking with deadlocks
- Electric front windows
- Electrically adjustable/heated door mirrors
- Three seat Extenso® modular cabin
- Nearside sliding side load door
The Berlingo Electric’s instrumentation also includes a number of specific features, including Eco-driving information; an energy consumption/regeneration indicator; an instantaneous energy consumption gauge and an auxiliaries consumption gauge, which displays data on heating, air conditioning and other secondary power usage.
When the battery charge falls to 20% of its total useable capacity, a warning light comes on and the power sent to the heating and air conditioning systems is gradually reduced. Then, when the battery charge level further falls to 10% of the total useable capacity, a “tortoise” light comes on – the power supply is limited and the air conditioning and heating systems are turned off to extend the vehicle’s range.
Pricing will start at £21,300 +VAT, full specification and pricing details of the Berlingo Electric will be announced nearer to its UK on-sale date.