The innovative Berlingo Electric makes its UK debut on the Citroën stand at the CV Show (stand 5C80/Hall 5, NEC, 9-11 April). The new Berlingo Electric, which goes on sale later this year, builds on Citroën’s unrivalled UK market experience with electric LCVs, gained with the first generation Berlingo Electrique van, launched in 1998 and on sale until 2005.
Scott Michael, Citroën’s Head of Commercial Vehicles & Business Centre Programme, explains: “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.”
Citroën is also launching a number of other new LCV products at the CV Show, including the Dispatch HDi 125 L1H1 1200 6-seat Crew Van and Stop & Start equipped Relay vans. Citroën is continuing its ‘Citroën Vans – Business Class’ theme.
Berlingo Electric
The new Berlingo Electric incorporates the latest electric vehicle technology. Its advanced; permanent magnet synchronous 49kW electric motor and 22.5kWh lithium ion battery pack gives the Berlingo Electric (as tested in accordance with the New European Driving Cycle) a range, of up to 106 miles (170Km). Top speed is 68.75mph (110km/h).
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 Berlingo Electric has a total lithium ion battery capacity of 22.5kWh – made up of 80 x 3.75V cells, each with a capacity of 75ah. Its permanent magnet synchronous electric motor, which produces 49kW (66hp), with a peak torque of 200Nm, developed between 0 – 1,500rpm, drives the front wheels through a speed reducer and a single-ratio gearbox. In energy recovery phases (deceleration & braking) the electric motor acts as a generator.
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.
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 195mm deep by 1,100mm wide aperture under the rear seats, giving a maximum floor length of 1,780mm 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 1,370mm.
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 9.2% in an urban environment. They also cut CO2 emissions by up to 10g/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: “Citroën is able to offer businesses the widest range of innovative environmental transport solutions thanks to its unique choice of LCV driveline and fuel choices, including petrol, HDi diesel, e-HDi micro-hybrid, bio diesel and full electric.”
