El Citroën C1 ev’ie se monta en el Reino Unido en base a una donación de coches suministrados con la bendición de Citroën.
El estándar de 1,0 litros 60 CV (50 kW) de motor de gasolina se sustituye por un motor eléctrico de 30 kW, alimentado por 25 baterías de iones de litio montado en lugar del depósito de combustible.
El total de la capacidad de la batería no se especifica, pero con una autonomía de 96 a 112 kilómetros, la capacidad de la batería se estima en alrededor de 16 kilovatios-hora (kWh).
ECC considera que una de las claves del éxito de la construcción de un coche eléctrico es el sistema de gestión de baterías (BMS). La empresa ha desarrollado lo que describe como un sofisticado BMS, que, junto con el frenado regenerativo, proporciona mucho mayor alcance y duración de la batería.
Una carga completa tarda seis horas a partir de un enchufe de 13 amperios, a un coste de alrededor de un euro.
Londres es una de las ciudades más pro-vehículo eléctrico (EV), con más de 300 puntos de recarga dedicados a los EV ya existentes y planes para introducir más de 25.000. Otros incentivos incluyen la exención del impuesto de la circulación, la no aplicación de la tasa de congestión y aparcamientos gratuitos
El vehículo tiene una velocidad máxima de 100 km/h, en el límite de velocidad en las autopistas del Reino Unido, pero más que suficiente para la conducción urbana. El C1 EV, que está disponible en versiones de 3 y 5 puertas, viene de serie con el equipo de seguridad habitual, como ABS, airbag y puerta de protección de impacto lateral.
El precio es de unos 21.000 euros, y ECC también ofrece el alquiler o el arrendamiento de los vehículos.
Habida cuenta del precio de la gasolina sin plomo en el Reino Unido (una libra por litro), el coste por kilómetro del C1 ev’ie es 6,5 veces menos que el de un vehículo con gasolina, por lo que compensa con creces pagar un precio inicial por el vehículo mayor (un 40% más que uno de gasolina equivalente)
ECC espera construir 500 C1S en los próximos 12 meses, con el aumento previsto de los volúmenes de producción de entre 2.000 y 4.000 vehículos en 2010. La empresa también tiene un acuerdo para suministrar coches eléctricos a la empresa de alquiler Green Motion del Reino Unido.
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The UK’s first four-seat, all-electric production car goes on sale
The first all-electric family car went on sale in the United Kingdom over the weekend. Electric Car Corporation Plc(EEC) has launched a lithium ion battery-powered, all-electric version of the Citroen C1, called the C1 ev’ie. Unlike the previous largest selling electric vehicle in Britain – the Indian-built Reva G-Wiz, which was legally classed as a quadricycle – the C1 ev’ie is a proper car, albeit a mini car.
The Citroen C1 ev’ie is assembled in the UK from donor cars supplied with Citroen’s blessing. The standard 1.0 liter 60 hp (50 Kw) petrol engine is replaced by a 30kw electric motor, powered by 25 li-ion batteries mounted in place of the fuel tank. The total pack capacity is not specified but with a range of 60 to 70 miles (96–112 km), battery capacity is estimated to be about 16 kilowatt-hours (kWh). ECC believes one of the keys to building a successful electric car is the battery management system (BMS). The company has developed what it describes as a sophisticated BMS, which – when coupled with regenerative braking – provides much greater range and longer battery life.
The C1 Evie applies light regenerative braking, as soon as you take your foot off the throttle, to generate the most electricity possible from the regenerative energy system. The standard 5-speed gearbox is retained but is modified to stay permanently in third gear. Reverse is taken care of by reversing the electric motor, as is the case with most electric vehicles.
A full charge takes six hours from a domestic 13 amp socket at a cost of about 90p (USD$1.34), which results in a fuel cost of less than 2p per mile. London is one of the most pro-electrical vehicle (EV) cities in the world, with more than 300 dedicated EV charging points already installed and plans to introduce more than 25,000. Other EV incentives include no road tax, no London congestion charge and free parking on top of the already significant fuel savings from running an electric vehicle.
The vehicle’s top speed of 60 mph is just short of the speed limit on UK motorways, but it is more than enough for urban driving. The C1 EV, which is available in both 3 and 5-door versions, comes standard with the usual safety equipment, such as ABS, airbag, side impact door protection, crumple zones and mod cons like electric power steering and electric windows. If the price of £16,850 (USD$25,100) is too steep, ECC is also offering to rent or lease the vehicles.
Given unleaded fuel prices in the UK are about £1.00 per litre (USD$5.65 per US Gallon) – even with the petrol C1 getting 43 miles-per-gallon – it still costs about USD$0.13 a mile to run, compared to USD$0.02 for the C1 ev’ie. It seems clear that the premium retail cost of the C1 ev’ie over a standard £9495 (US $ 14,100) petrol-powered C1 may still make financial sense.
ECC expects to build 500 C1s over the next 12 months, with production volumes increasing to between 2,000 and 4,000 in 2010. The company has also done a deal to supply cars to UK hire company Green Motion.
Driving an Electric Car around London is a smart thing to do
Why drive electric?
* No congestion charge
* No Road Tax
* Hundreds of free parking spaces
* Virtually no fuel costs
* No C02 emission – Be kind to the planet
* Latest electric cars are amazing to drive with great range and performance – and have airbags and full safety features
Why ECC?
* We sell, rent, lease the latest cars from stock
* Test drive today, at your place or at our Mayfair HQ
* We are in the business of promoting electric vehicle support infrastructure. We can tell you all about charging and parking points
* We have a team of experts that can provide free advice on all aspects of electric car ownership
* We are a well funded Public Limited Company investing in London’s future transport needs
Introducing the Citroen C1 ev’ie
At long last an electric car with great performance, 4 comfortable seats. Comprehensive safety standards and fitted with the latest technology long lasting Lithium Ion batteries. Charge your electric car from an ordinary domestic power point overnight (6 hours) at a cost of less than 95p. For the first time you can now buy in the UK a reasonably priced electric car that will comfortably seat four adults and have great performance and range.
The C1 is available with 3 or 5 doors, a comprehensive list of options, a 3 year warranty and a range of colours.
The benefits of electric cars are significant:
*No road tax
*No London Congestion Charge
*Free parking in many areas
*No petrol or diesel costs
*Charge overnight from an ordinary domestic socket for around 95 pence!
*Low insurance costs
*Save thousands of pounds every year in running costs
Specification
Top speed
Range (in normal driving conditions)
Charging from domestic 13 amp socket overnight
60 mph
60- 75 miles
6 hours
3 or 5 door versions
Radio CD player with MP3 Input
Electric front windows*
Central locking*
ABS Brakes
Crushable front and rear safety zones
Driver and passenger airbags
Electric power steering
Immobiliser
3.43m long and 1.63m wide
Turning circle only 9.46m
Full 3 year warranty
Low cost insurance
Integrated front seat head restraints
The Electric Car with Safety Features
The C1 ev’ie has every safety feature you would expect from a modern car:
*Full driver and passenger airbags
*ABS brakes
*Impressive frontal structural Impact Integrity
*Side impact door protection
*Latest pre-tensioning and force limiting seat belts
*Rear door child locks (on 5 door)
*Rear seat Isofix multi location points for child seats
*Integrated front seat head restraints for maximum protection
Benefits of Electric Motoring
You can now buy an electric car from ECC that has all the safety, performance and quality standards that the modern motorist expects. The other underlying benefits of electric motoring are significant:
* Fuel costs equivalent of 300 miles per gallon!
* No London congestion charge
* No road tax
* Free parking in many locations, click here for locations.
* Regenerative braking. (also know as KERS – kinetic energy recovery systems) These systems are being installed on Formula 1 cars in 2009 and are standard equipment on the eSmart and e107. As soon as you take you foot off the accelerator surplus energy is harvested and used to re-charge the battery. This increases range and vastly increases the efficiency of the vehicle allowing our electric cars to enjoy excellent perfomance and usability at a low cost.
At night-time or in the daytime near work you simply plug your car into a standard 13 amp electric socket to fully recharge the batteries. London has over 300 charging points and ECC is working in partnership with government and car park operators to increase this. Every month new charging locations are being added.
About the Electric Car Corporation
The Electric Car Corporation Plc is a well financed public limited company with its headquarters in Park Lane, London at the Mayfair Car Centre. It is committed to working with both central and local government and public sector and private sector bodies to stimulate the use of electric vehicles in the Capital and subsequently other cities across the UK.
The shareholders and directors of ECC have many years of experience within the motor industry and with dealing with public sector/private sector partnerships to create infrastructure to stimulate the use of new technologies.
ECC believes that electric cars should provide quality standards and levels of comfort, reliability and safety not hitherto seen in electric cars. All electric cars sold by ECC are based on safety proven EU platforms that have been fully crash tested and have full air bags and other passive and dynamic safety systems. Previous generation electric cars such as the G-Wiz and the Mega City are classified as quadracycles and not cars and dodge around EU safety regulations.
www.theelectriccarcorporation.co.uk/index.php
