Citroën will be showing its all-new Berlingo Electrique van at this year’s Commercial Vehicle Show (NEC, 9-11 April). This advanced, 100% electric van builds upon Citroën’s unrivalled experience of electric LCVs , which was gained with the first generation Berlingo Electrique launched in 1998.
Citroën’s CV Show stand will also be the launch platform for a number of other new LCV products, including the new Dispatch L1H1 HDi 125 6-seat Crew Van and Stop & Start equipped Relay vans. In addition, Citroën will be continuing its ‘Citroën Vans – Business Class’ theme, with Citroën Contract Motoring personnel providing instant contract hire and other business-friendly finance quotations to the show’s visitors.
Berlingo Electrique
The new, well equipped Berlingo Electrique incorporates the latest electric vehicle technology. The electric motor is positioned under the bonnet and the lithium-ion battery pack is located underneath the vehicle’s load deck. This means the load compartment of up to 3.7m3and payload of 636kg is equivalent to that of a similar diesel-powered Berlingo van.
With a total battery capacity of 22.5kWh, the Berlingo Electrique has a range of up to 106 miles. Using a domestic socket, the vehicle can be fully charged in around 8½ hours or, alternatively, it can be charged to 80% of capacity in only 35 minutes using a specific 380V three-phase terminal in quick-charge mode.
The Berlingo Electrique’s permanent magnet synchronous electric motor produces 49kW (67hp) and has a peak torque rating of 200Nm. The motor drives the front wheels through a speed reducer and a single-ratio gearbox.
Full UK specification and pricing will be announced closer to the CV Show, but among the Berlingo Electrique’s many features are:
- Eco-driving information, including 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
- A deceleration and braking energy recovery system
- An electric heating system with an eco-mode to limit energy consumption
- Hill start assist coupled to the ESP system
Dispatch HDi 125 6-speed manual L1H1 1200 Crew Van
The Dispatch range is being expanded with the launch of the versatile 6-seat Dispatch HDi 125 6-speed manual L1H1 1200 Crew Van. With a payload of 1,084kg, this new model provides versatile and comfortable transport for up to 6 people, including the driver, along with cargo or tools and equipment.
As with the existing Dispatch L2H1 Crew Van, the new model has a driver’s seat and dual passenger seat in the front, with a second row of three seats, accessed by twin, sliding rear doors. The fully upholstered rear seats are part of a moulded full height/full width bulkhead and have adjustable headrests and three-point inertia reel seat belts. The bulkhead is tested to EU Whole Vehicle Approval safety standards and ISO 27956 for load shift protection.
At load deck level the bulkhead has a 310mm deep by 1,100mm wide aperture under the rear seats, giving a maximum floor length of 1,810mm in the rear load compartment. The Dispatch HDi 125 6-speed manual L1H1 1200 Crew Van’s load deck length behind the rear bulkhead, is 1,500mm.
Relay Stop & Start
From May 2013, the Relay range is being expanded with the addition of two new Stop & Start equipped vans. These are a Relay 30 L1H1 HDi 130 Stop & Start 6-speed manual and a Relay 35 L3H2 HDi 130 Stop & Start 6-speed manual. Already one of the most fuel efficient and lowest emissions large panel vans available, these new Relay Stop & Start models deliver further fuel economy gains of up to 2.2%. They also cut CO2 emissions by up to 5g/km. Pricing and full specifications of the new Relay Stop & Start vans will be released closer to their May ‘on sale’ date.
Citroën was the first manufacturer to offer production Stop & Start equipped vehicles in the UK. Now, in addition to an extensive range of Stop & Start equipped cars, the Brand also offers Nemo, Berlingo and Relay vans with this fuel saving and CO2 reducing feature.
Scott Michael, Citroën’s Head of Commercial Vehicles & Business Centre Programme, comments; “With the launch of the new Berlingo Electrique, Citroën is able to offer businesses the widest range of innovative environmental transport solutions. When the Berlingo Electrique goes on UK sale in the second half of the year, Citroën will be able to offer businesses a unique choice of no less than five LCV driveline and fuel choices, including petrol, dual fuel (petrol/LPG), HDi diesel, e-HDi micro-hybrid and full electric.”
