Citroens new C1 Evie

The first all-electric family car went on sale in the United Kingdom recently.

Launched by Citroen and called the C1 ev'ie, the lithium ion battery-powered, all-electric mini car is classified as a car, unlike the Indian-built Reva G-Wiz, which had to be registered as a quadricycle.

It features a 30kw electric motor, is powered by 25 li-ion batteries mounted in place of the fuel tank and has a range of 60 to 70 miles.

Applying regenerative braking as soon as you take your foot off the gas, Citoren claims the C1 Evie generates the most electricity possible from a regenerative energy system.  A full charge takes six hours from a domestic 13 amp socket at a cost of about USD $1.34, which results in a fuel cost of less than .02 cents per mile

London is one of the most pro EV cities in the world, with more than 300 dedicated EV charging points already installed and plans to introduce more than 25,000. Other EV incentives include no road tax, no London congestion charge and free parking in addition to the fuel savings from running an electric vehicle.

Top speed is 60 mph and the C1 Evie comes standard with ABS, airbag, side impact door protection, crumple zones and electric power steering and electric windows.  Available in both 3 and 5-door versions, the MSRP starts at £16,850 (USD$25,100) and the Electric Car Corporation Plc (ECC) is also offering to rent or lease the vehicles.

ECC expects to build 500 C1s over the next 12 months, with production volume increasing to between 2,000 and 4,000 in 2010. The company has also struck a deal to supply cars to UK rental car company Green Motion.