75 mpg diesel electric hybrid Citroen Berlingo

http://www.ricardo.com/media/pressreleases/pressrelease.aspx?page=40

Ricardo, QinetiQ and PSA Peugeot Citroen’s Efficient-C research project delivers ultra-low carbon emission powertrain

Release date: 02 June 2006

Ricardo, QinetiQ and PSA Peugeot Citroën today presented the results of their Efficient-C collaborative research project which has successfully met the UK Department for Transport’s Ultra Low Carbon Car Challenge. The two year Efficient-C programme has culminated in the delivery of a full-hybrid diesel demonstrator vehicle emitting just 99 g/km CO2 (equivalent to 3.75 litres per 100km or over 75mpg) based on a fully featured Citroën Berlingo Multispace family car. This is a significant leap forward of 30 per cent improvement in fuel economy and CO2 emissions when compared to the equivalent diesel production vehicle. Furthermore the same diesel hybrid powertrain fitted in a C-segment 5 door saloon would only emit 90g tank-to-wheel CO2.

Ok, it's just a demo vehicle, but it shows the potential for this drivetrain, and that's in a regular vehicle. The Berlingo has a ridiculous amount of utility, there's no car quite like it sold in the US.

...I have my doubts.

EU crash tests aren't THAT different from US ones, the major differences between US and EU spec vehicles tends to be in bumper and headlight design. Citroen doesn't sell in north america at all anymore.

...on the EuroNCAP tests. I'm guessing it wouldn't have a problem...



Funny looking critter, though. Looks like a Bonsai SUV. :)

Can't use a sedan, need space to haul stuff, this would be perfect.

zalinda

coefficient?

I think it looks great! and I love the biodiesel aspect.
Okay, now to get a Citroen dealer in the US going.

running on diesel? (Obviously, when it's running on electricity, these aren't a factor, but my question really amounts to: did they build a better engine which, when running on diesel, emits fewer pollutants - not just less CO2).

The press release doesn't mention that, but hte EU is seemingly less concerned about that than the US. However, it should be noted that the Mercury Meta One concept by Ford had a diesel/electric drivetrain (~260 hp, 500 ft-lb torque) that was a PZEV vehicle. It used the technique of injecting urea into the exhaust stream to eliminate the NOx and a filter for the particulates.

...with higher levels of emissions in a diesel than in a gasoline ICE. I recall a US EPA article that they were working on a diesel with lower nitrogen emissions.

I must admit, I get confused with the N20, NO, and NO2 compounds. I think only the N2O is a GHG.

It would make an outstanding taxicab. They have a version with a wheelchair-accessible ramp in the rear, too.

...parked next to our Prius in the driveway.

And then convert it to bio-diesel. :thumbsup:

I'd much rather buy my fuel from midwest farmers than mideast shieks.

I want one!

A Citroen Berlingo is a small van. Family car my foot ! The Multispace has got windows but the same bodyshell as the van. Maybe they are just using that shell to test the engine - who knows? Other than that most people wouldn't be seen dead in one - they are plain ugly.

> Other than that most people wouldn't be seen dead in one
> - they are plain ugly.

Yep but the Berlingo doesn't mind carrying plain ugly people around!
:P

Given that very few people will run a genuinely sleek, attractively
shaped vehicle, there's not much weight behind that argument compared
to the fact that they are currently not trendy enough for the SUV mums
("Dahling, one simply *couldn't* been seen dropping off Sophie in a
*Berlingo* could one?"). Most SUVs are pig ugly (in addition to being
inappropriate for the road conditions where most are driven) but that
doesn't seem to have affected their sales too much ...

Toyota Rav4's , Honda CRV & HRV and Suzuki Vitaras are at best largish estate cars. None of them are as long as a Mondeo estate - they are simply taller.

A Berlingo is exactly what I said - a van. Those and Renault Kangoo vans are one and the same - the two manufacturers just compete against each on price occasionally.

The SUV mums you're talking about want the real McCoy and don't really care about fuel consumption cos their mileage is low anyway - generally school run and supermarket only.

As more hybrid engines become available the manufacturers will use them in all vehicle types. It's always fascinated me that the Mitsubishi Charisma with the direct injection petrol engine didn't sell better - they do over 60mpg. I don't know the history behind the fact that Renaults and Citroens are not sold in the USA despite how economic their diesel
engines are.

For the record, the original post was intended to draw attention to the drivetrain, not the car itself ;)

Citroen quit the US market in '74 over headlight and bumper regulations, Peugeot quite in '90 or so due to low sales and lack of profits, and Renault quit once its US partner, AMC, was bought by Chrysler.

Now that Alfa Romeo is returning to the US market, maybe we'll see some other European car makers do the same. who knows? Right now Euro-spec diesels won't meet US emissions so engines would require re-designs, but with the forthcoming bankruptcy of GM maybe there's a market opening.

I am a "big" person. I drive a Toyota Camry, and while I have trouble getting my head into the vehicle, once I'm seated I am perfectly comfortable there. And in a fairly small space.

On the other hand, I've been in American compact cars that claim "comfort" that make me feel like I'm trying to drive in an airline coach seat.

Does this car seat two adults comfortably? (Forget the back seat; no back seat in any vehicle of the last ten years can seat an adult of any kind.)

is in the same class as a Toyota Camry - see eg this comparison - http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,14147-1918046_2,00.html

but heck, at 75 mpg. That is one good jump in efficiency.