Even though the Berlingo is a multi-purpose vehicle and those things are uncool by nature, there is something about this quirky little French car that makes it really hard not to like it. They have just come up with an electric version, the new 2018 Citroen E-Berlingo Multispace, so let’s see if electrification can affect our fondness for good old Berli.
At first glance, things aren’t looking very good. The car has the current PSA design language which is less than savory, and it has a range of just 106 miles which is not brilliant for a family car designed to haul people and their stuff on long journeys. That said, how can you not like a car that has such a cool and sexy debut film:
2018 Citroen E-Berlingo Multispace features lithium-ion battery packs are positioned in the subframe either side of the rear axle so as not to affect the roominess – which, of course, is the car’s raison d’etre. The interior space is fully customizable thanks to a modular design and it can accommodate up to five people, or larger loads when the seats in row 2 are folded away. As for the boot, you get 675 litres with five people on-board and up to 3,000 liters with the second row folded flat.
Going back to the not so good things, Citroen E-Berlingo Multispace comes with a 67hp (49kW) electric motor with 200 Nm of torque. It does charge quickly, though, with a fast charger: 50% range in 15 minutes or 80% of capacity in 30 minutes. Full charge with regular charger takes up to 10 hours. As for notable features, E-Berlingo Multispace comes with remote-controlled functions for use via a smartphone. These functions include a facility that allows the driver to pre-heat or cool the interior prior to accessing the vehicle. The driver can also remotely check their car’s battery charge level.