Citroën presents new ë-Berlingo electric van

Citroën has unveiled the new ë-Berlingo panel van, which is scheduled to go on sale in the fourth quarter of 2021 and completes Citroën’s trio of electric commercial vehicles after the ë-Jumpy and the ë-Jumper.

++ This article has been updated. Kindly continue reading below. ++

Visually, it hardly differs from the version with the combustion engine. The electric version of the van can only be recognized by the charging port on the left rear side of the body and the new ë logo on the left rear door.

Citroën offers the panel van in the M and XL lengths of 4.40 and 4.75 meters and with a range of up to 275 kilometers according to WLTP. The battery is installed in the chassis under the seats and the cargo area, which, according to Citroën, preserves the cargo space volume of the combustion engine model. Specifically, between 3.3 and 4.4 cubic meters of space are available, depending on the model length. Citroën has not announced prices yet.

The ë-Berlingo van is based on the PSA Group’s e-CMP platform and shares the technical package with a number of PSA models already launched on the market. Accordingly, onboard is a battery with a gross capacity of 50 kWh, which supplies power to a 100 kW electric motor on the front axle. The PSA subsidiary states the top speed at 130 kph. The battery system is liquid-cooled, has a heat pump as standard and can charge 11 kW of three-phase AC and up to 100 kW on DC systems. According to Citroën, the battery of the ë-Berlingo can thus be charged to 80 per cent in just under 30 minutes at fast-charging stations and in seven and a half hours (7.4 kW, single-phase) or five hours (11 kW, three-phase) at AC units. The battery is guaranteed for eight years or 160,000 kilometres for 70 per cent of its charging capacity.

The van’s payload capacity stands up to 800 kilograms coupled with a maximum towing capacity of 750 kilograms. In the front, there is room for up to three people side by side. As far as the aforementioned cargo volume is concerned, customers can select the “Extenso driver’s cab” option for both vehicle lengths so that the front passenger seat can be removed or folded down. This extends the storage space to 3.09 meters for the M vehicle length and up to 3.44 meters for XL. Loading width and height are constant at 1.23 and 1.84 meters and designed for transporting two Euro pallets. The manufacturer puts the turning circle of the battery-electric van at 10.8 meters.

In terms of software, the ë-Berlingo comes with 18 driver assistance systems, including keyless system and hill start assist, a lane departure warning system, a rearview camera with radar sensors, blind spot assist, active safety brake and hill descent control. Optional is a colour head-up display, an overload indicator and a 10-inch instrument cluster. Also on board are advanced connectivity technologies. Citroën cites an automatic emergency call system, an SOS button, the Connect Nav navigation system, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integrability.

“The Citroën Berlingo Van is renowned for its practicality and usability. By adopting the best electric vehicle technology, it now offers professional users a zero-emissions solution,” said Citroën CEO Vincent Cobée. “With ë-Berlingo Van, many business customers will find the ideal partner to accomplish their daily tasks in unrivalled comfort, and with lower running costs, without any compromise in terms of loads and volumes.” After the ë-Jumpy and the ë-Jumper, the new ë-Berlingo panel van is the next important model to be launched as part of Citroën’s electric offensive, he said, providing the appropriate response to changing mobility requirements of commercial operators.

Update 20 January 2022

The Citroën ë-Berlingo has officially launched in the UK. Prices start from £25,980 (after Government Plug-in Van Grant of £2,500, excluding VAT). The ë-Berlingo is available in Panel Van form, with two body lengths, and as a Crew Van.

The new Citroën ë-Berlingo Van Electric features a 50kWh battery connected to a 100kW electric motor for up to 260Nm of torque. The van has a range of up to 171 miles, according to WLTP testing. The ë-Berlingo Van also supports up to 100kW rapid charging for a 0-80% charge in 30 minutes.

citroen.com, stellantis.com (update)