Citroën has unveiled ë-Berlingo, the latest version of its multi-person vehicle that was first introduced in 1996. The new model comes after the French carmaker launched it’s ë-Berlingo Van last month and is available in medium and extra-long variants measuring 4.40m and 4.75m in length receptively. All variants are 1.9m tall and, thanks to a specially adapted power steering system, have an agile turning circle of just 10.8m.
New ë-Berlingo has a storage capacity of up to 167 litres and a possible 26 storage compartments within the cabin. The optional Modutop is a neat interior roof storage solution that offers 92-litres of practical storage space on its own. It’s easily accessible from the seats in row two or via the boot through the opening rear window.
The new ë-Berlingo features a 100kW (136 horsepower) electric motor with up to 260Nm of torque. This is connected to a 50kWh battery allowing ë-Berlingo to achieve up to 174 miles (280km) of range from a single charge.
The new ë-Berlingo comes as standard with a 7.4kW single-phase on-board charger and, as an option, an 11kW three-phase charger. Supporting a variety of charging methods, ë-Berlingo can be charged using anything from a three-pin plug to 100kW rapid charging.
A full charge from a 7kW Wallbox will take around 7.5 hours, or five hours using a 22kW unit using three-phase power. Supporting up to 100kW DC fast charging, an 80 percent charge can be completed in just 30 minutes. This means the new ë-Berlingo ranks among the best in its segment in terms of fast-charging times.
The new model comes with three drive modes to help drivers. It has ‘Normal’ mode for balanced daily use, ‘Eco’ mode for battery optimisation and ‘Power’ mode for enhanced driveability and vehicle performance when carrying a maximum load. These are accessible via a special ë-Toggle control that allows the driver to choose the power output that best suits their needs.
To optimise range, ë-Berlingo features a regenerative braking system that is designed to recover energy during braking and deceleration. Citroën offers a battery warranty of eight years or 100,000 miles (160,000km) for 70 percent of battery capacity.
New Citroën ë-Berlingo will be arriving in UK showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Laurence Hansen, Citroën’s product and strategy director, said: “The electrification of Berlingo responds to two issues, offering sufficient range and making no compromises on practicality, so that our customers can enjoy their activities in all their diversity.
“New ë-Berlingo brings them an extra dose of serenity in their everyday lives with a seamless and silent drive, the satisfaction of preserving air quality, and a controlled motoring budget.
“These are strong expectations of this type of customer and highly strategic in this segment, as high-volume body types are particularly limited in terms of CO2 emissions and fuel consumption. We are proud that Berlingo, the first leisure activity vehicle, ranks among the first to offer this alternative.”
