In their quest to make a 100 percent electric-powered vehicle, Citroen has revealed a new concept model called C-Zero, due to its zero fuel consumption, zero CO2 emissions and zero noise. It’s a mini car designed to make urban mobility easier, with its compact dimensions, rapid charge, and sufficient range for day-to-day car journeys. And if you think it looks like Mitsubishi i-MiEV, you are totally right because it is in fact the same car with a Citroen badge!
The Citroën C-ZERO is a full-electric vehicle powered by a permanent magnet synchronous motor delivering 47 kW or 64 bhp EEC from 3,000 to 6,000 rpm. Maximum torque of 180 Nm is available from 2,000 rpm. Power is transmitted to the rear axle via a single-speed reduction gear. The motor is powered by a latest-generation 330-volt lithium-ion battery system comprising 88 50-Ah cells (for onboard energy of 16 kWh) 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 charges, which have no incidence on battery longevity.
The C-Zero can be charged by being plugged into any 220-volt socket and while a complete charge lasts six hours, 80% charge is possible in just 30 minutes using an external station with a single-phase current of 125 A at 400 V, for power of up to 50 kWh.
The car is also fairly practical considering its size. It is 3.48 m long with a wheelbase of 2.55 m it has four big seats and a 166-liter boot. Original-fit features include power steering, ABS, TCS, ESP, power windows, six airbags, air conditioning and an autonomous telematics box for the emergency call system.The C-Zero is capable of a top speed of 130 kph and acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 15 seconds and 60-90 km/h in six seconds, and an average range of 130 km on a single charge.
