Citroen C-ZERO

2011 Citroen C-ZERO

Zero, meaning none or a blank, which also means no value. In hybrid car terms, the number "zero" refers to zero emissions, a huge step for the clean future of the automotive industry. At the center of the number zero, the Citroen C-ZERO is born to be a zero, zero emissions for Europe.

Under the partnership between PSA Peugeot Citroen and Mitsubishi Motors, the Citroen C-ZERO is based on the Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric hybrid compact. Aside from that, Peugeot also uses the i-MiEV platform for its European OEM, the Peugeot i0n.

As a 100% Electric Vehicle, the Citroen C-ZERO is powered with the magnet synchronous motor, capable of releasing a power output of 64 bhp EEC/3,000-6,000 rpm and the torque output of 180 Nm/2,000 rpm. This motor is powered with the 330-volt lithium-ion battery system, which was sourced from Mitsubishi Motors in Japan.

Recharging the C-ZERO is simple as charging your portable devices. The C-ZERO comes with the 220-volt plug that can be charged to about 30 minutes to six hours.

My thoughts about the C-ZERO:
Since both the Citroen C-ZERO and the Peugeot i0n were made by Mitsubishi Motors, responsible for the i-MiEV, both of these eco cars were equipped with the YF41 electric motor and a lithium-ion battery. Both of these were offered exclusively for the European markets. Consider these a European-Japanese agreement when it comes for the future of the automotive industry going green.

Photo: PSA Peugeot Citroen

The other brands' take on Mitsubishi i-MiEV

Last June 2009, Mitsubishi Motors commenced the launch of the world's first electric car in the public. The Mitsubishi i MiEV truly literates Mitsubishi Motors' brand slogan "drive@earth" and this is the electric car that started it all before the advent of the Nissan Leaf. About the i MiEV, this is the first car that it uses lithium-ion battery as its main source instead of gas fuel. It's powered by a YF41 hybrid engine that produces 64PS of power.

While waiting for Mitsubishi Motors Philippines to bring the i-MiEV to our shores, some brands trying to use the i-MiEV's body for some purposes... 

Take a look on what we got:

PSA Peugeot Citroen uses the Mitsubishi i-MiEV for their mainframe as their OEM versions known as the Peugeot i0n and the Citroen C-Zero, both of these i-MiEV OEMs will be on sale at the rest of the European peninsula this year. Not only that, there is also something that you shouldn't believe:

Mitsuoka Motors, the brand behind the aggressive Orochi coupe, the Morgan Roadster-cloned Mazda Roadster-based Himiko, and the Galue sedan, unveiled their modified version of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, known as Like. But why Like? What do they like most? The only thing Japanese like the Like is for its hybrid capacity. Even it is an electric vehicle based from the i-MiEV, the exterior design is another part of the Mitsuoka story.

No matter which country you are on, no matter which style do they look on their i-MiEV, this electric vehicle is a part of the commitment for the eco-lovers. With the rising gas-prices, and the case of global warming, this electric vehicle will once save the world.