Drivetimeextra

Only a month after sister company Peugeot revealed an all-electric version of the Partner Teepee, Citroen is joining the drive to bring electric power to its people carrier with the launch of the E-Berlingo Multispace – essentially the same car with a different badge and front-end styling.

Like the Teepee, the E-Berlingo Multispace is powered by a compact and high-performance permanent magnet synchronous motor, fed by lithium-ion battery packs which are positioned in the sub-frame either side of the rear axle.

The layout means that cabin space and boot volume are unaffected by the adoption of an electric drivetrain with boot capacity amongst the best in class at 675 litres with five people on-board, increasing to 3,000 litres with the second row of seats folded away. The rear seats can also be removed completely to create a fully flat load area.

The E-Berlingo has a maximum range of 106 miles – sufficient for most needs, according to its makers, with the majority of European motorists driving less than 60 miles each day.

It can be re-charged to 50 per cent of its total range in 15 minutes or to 80 per cent capacity in half an hour from a dedicated rapid charge point. Standard charge time is 8 hours or 10 hours from a domestic 3-pin socket. The motor also provides regenerative braking when the vehicle is slowing down, helping to re-charge the batteries and reduce brake wear.

The E-Berlingo will come with a number of user-friendly features and functions, including a facility that allows the driver to pre-heat or cool the interior prior to boarding and to remotely check