Citroen C1 evie

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Introduction

Citroen's C1 is a useful city car with already impressive environmental credentials, but the Electric Car Corporation (ECC) has created the ev'ie by binning a C1' conventional drivetrain and replacing it with an electric motor and lithium ion batteries.

What is it?

Outwardly the ev'ie is a Citroen C1, but underneath its familiar bodywork is an electric car. The petrol engine and its fuel tank have been junked and replaced by an electric motor and a battery pack. As a result there's now a plug socket where the fuel filler should be, the ev'ie filling up by connecting to a regular domestic electricity supply. A full charge takes between six and seven hours and costs around 90 pence - on a low tariff. Assembled in the UK, over 50 percent of the value of the car originated from the conversion, ECC planning on producing around 500 examples in its first year of production, with as many as 2,000-4,000 units anticipated in the future depending on demand and governmental support.

How does it drive?

Like most electric cars the ev'ie is a simple thing to drive. The 'gearstick' is pushed in the direction of travel: push it forwards and off you go. If you need to reverse, simply pull back the lever. It's silent, the only noise on the move being the sound of the tyres on the road and the air moving around the car. Into it too, as without the option of air conditioning it's more than likely you'll be driving it with the window open. Chilled air is currently a no-no as it draws too much power from the battery.

Performance isn't as brisk as some electric machines we've driven, but the C1 ev'ie is quick enough to keep up in city traffic. Limited to just 60mph - and taking some time to get there - the ev'ie really is limited to town use, the 'up to' 75-mile range also limiting its usefulness outside the city limits.

That range is the ev'ie's limiting factor, the driving experience dominated by the knowledge that pushing the accelerator to the floor will result in even less range from the batteries. The steering is light and direct and the ride smooth. All in it feels just like a quiet Citroen C1, with an automatic transmission. That's exactly what it's meant to feel like, electric cars only likely to gain acceptance if they drive like conventional cars we're used to.

Planet hugger or planet mugger?

There's no official equivalent mpg figure available for the ev'ie, but with just 90 pence worth of electricity required for a full charge it's doing its bit for the planet. Assuming, of course, you're not getting your power from CO₂-emitting providers - if so all you're doing is relocating your CO₂ production up the supply chain. Choose your electricity provider with green thoughts in mind and the ev'ie should allow you to sleep with a greener conscience. Quite what happens to all the engines and fuel tanks that the donor cars originally feature is anyone's guess though.

Verdict

The obvious benefit of basing an electric car on an existing car is that it's been crash tested for safety. That applies to the C1 ev'ie, as does the fact it's able to seat four - at a push. You might just have to push it to if you do, the batteries unlikely to like hauling four people around for too long, with obvious effects on range. You'll need to be a wealthy green driver too, with the C1 ev'ie costing £16,860 for a VT three-door and rising to £17,700 for a VTR five-door.

Consider that the petrol or diesel C1s can manage over 60mpg and emit just over 100g/km of CO₂ for under £10,000 and you'll have to do a lot of miles to re-coup the additional cost of the ev'ie. For rich early adopters wanting to avoid the congestion charge in London it's infinitely preferable to some of its rivals, but it's not yet the solution to replace conventionally-powered cars.

Kyle Fortune

Tuesday June 23