Pioneering classic car electrification specialist Electrogenic has created an all-electric Citroen DS. The 1971 DS is a fresh and exciting version of an all-time great French motoring icon, renowned for its beauty and luxurious drive.
The Oxford-based company, one of the few electric converters in the UK, has converted a wide variety of cars including a Volkswagen Type 2 pick-up and Beetle, E-Type Jaguar and a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow.
The company has also worked in conjunction with Worthy Farm, host to the Glastonbury Festival, and Cardiff University to develop low-cost technology to convert Land Rovers to all-electric zero-emissions vehicles. These are currently being tested in a working environment to help local farmers.
With the DS, Electrogenic has retained and improved the car’s famous ‘magic carpet’ ride, combining it with a silent, zero-emission electric powertrain. Electrogenic have created what is believed to be the first professionally converted electric Citroen DS.
Electrogenic removed the car’s original 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and replaced it with a ‘Hyper9’ brushless electric motor. This produces 120 brake horsepower and is allied with 235Nm of instant torque, both of which are substantial increases over the original.
Power is delivered to the front wheels through the car’s existing manual gearbox. The 48.5kWh battery is housed within the DS’s sleek saloon body and offer a real-world range of approximately 140 miles (225km). An optional range extender battery is available allowing the DS to travel up to 200 miles (322km). The car is fitted with a 29kW charger which will charge the batteries in around two hours.
One of the DS’s defining features is its hydro-pneumatic suspension system. This enables it to self-level and is responsible for the car’s famously plush ride quality. Rather than using the original noisy mechanical pump, Electrogenic created a silent electric pump that delivers a more sophisticated ride than the original.
This has to be one of the most beautiful electric conversions we have seen. It’s truly a better version of itself with its silent, zero-emission electric powertrain. This enhances the DS’s driving experience and keeps a classic on the road while helping towards a cleaner future.
Electrogenic uses its leading, proprietary electric vehicle (EV) technology to sympathetically convert a wide range of classics to electric power. This includes recent world-first conversions of the Triumph Stag and the first professionally converted four-wheeler Morgan.
Steve Drummond, Electrogenic director and co-founder, said: “Repowering classic cars with all-electric drive brings a number of benefits, from ease of use to reliability and performance gains. With our conversions, the aim is always to enhance the original characteristics of the car.
“In this respect, the Citroen DS was ideally suited to an electric conversion. The silent powertrain adds to the serene driving experience and fits perfectly with the character of the car.”
Ian Newstead, Electrogenic director and co-founder, said: “It seems right to use modern technology to future-proof a car that was so far ahead of its time when it came out in the 1950s.
”Our conversion breathes new life into the DS and means that future generations can continue to enjoy its charm for decades to come.”
