OwnerEvan Jones
LocationCardiff, Wales United Kingdom map
Email email image
Vehicle2001 Citroen Berlingo E500
Production electric van, commercial vehicle designed for light trades.
MotorLeroy Somer SA18
DrivetrainSagem IGBT controller, Sepex-DC Leroy Somer motor, single-ratio front wheel drive transmission.
ControllerSAGEM
Batteries27 Saft STM5-100MRE, 6.00 Volt, Nickel-Cadmium, Flooded
System Voltage162 Volts
ChargerSagem
HeaterWebasto petrol, essentially a caravan heater. Takes about 5 minutes to get up to temperature but gets quite toasty when it's run up.
DC/DC ConverterSagem
InstrumentationAmmeter ("eco-gauge") showing discharge / charge degree. Battery percentage gauge.
Top Speed65 MPH (104 KPH)
Surprisingly happy at motorway speeds, easily keeping up with conventionally powered commercial vehicles.
AccelerationReasonable.
Range50 Miles (80 Kilometers)
About 50 miles effective range, 60 in a flat country with limited traffic but it's in Wales.
Watt Hours/Mile400 Wh/Mile
EV Miles
Start:16,200 Miles (26,065 Kilometers)
Current:21,595 Miles (34,746 Kilometers)
Total:5,395 Miles (8,680 Kilometers)
 
    As of 10/17/2011
Seating Capacity2 adults
Curb Weight3,196 Pounds (1,452 Kilograms)
My main city vehicle for commuting and running around town. Huge load space makes it very practical for fetching and carrying.

Can't say it's a big fan of the Welsh hills but it's been up Caerphilly Mountain, which is a banned route for lorries, and the Maerdy-Aberdare mountain road. In both cases with the eco-meter hard over in the red. Watching it charge up again going down the other side was an experience!

code by jerry