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Home | Green Cars News | Electric | Citroen to Launch C-Zero Electric Car in 2010

Citroen to Launch C-Zero Electric Car in 2010

10 November, 2009 07:38:00

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Citroen will launch a new, all-electric city car called the C-Zero in in the second half of 2010.

The C-Zero is Citroen’s version of the Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV, which was launched in Japan in June. Peugeot has already shown off its version of the iMiEV, the iOn.

In September this year, PSA Peugeot Citroen and Mitsubishi signed a deal to develop electric cars for both Peugeot and Citroen based on the i-MiEV.

The Citroen C-Zero is a electric car powered by a permanent magnet synchronous motor delivering 47kW or 64bhp EEC from 3,000 to 6,000rpm. Maximum torque of 180Nm is available from 0 to 2,000rpm. Power is transmitted to the rear axle via a single-speed reduction gear.

The C-Zero offers a top speed of 130kph (80mph) and can accelerate from 0 to 100kph (0-62mph) in 15 seconds and from 60 to 90kph (37-56mph) in six seconds.

The motor is powered by a latest-generation 330-volt lithium-ion battery system comprising 88 50Ah cells (for onboard energy of 16kWh), mounted in the centre of the vehicle. Lithium-ion technology keeps battery weight down compared with conventional technology, while offering equivalent performance. It is also resistant to partial re-charges, which have no impact on battery longevity.

A full recharge of the C-Zero takes six hours by plugging the car into a conventional 220-volt socket, but an 80% charge can be achieved in just 30 minutes when using a 400-volt fast-charge station.

A four-seater, it has comfort and safety equipment including power steering, ABS, ESP, electric windows, six airbags and air conditioning.

2010 will also see Citroen roll out stop-start functions in many products, and it will independently launch a full hybrid car, badged DS5, in 2011.

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