EV conversion firm Electrogenic creates fully electric Citroen DS
Electrogenic, the Oxford-based classic car conversion company, has created a fully electric version of Citroen’s 1971 DS saloon.
The company claims this is the first professionally converted electric Citroen DS, with Electrogenic replacing the 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a ‘Hyper9’ brushless electric motor. This produces 120bhp with 235Nm of instant torque.
The car is fitted with a 48.5kWh battery, offering a real-world range of approximately 140 miles on every charge. The car is fitted with a 29kW charger, which will charge the batteries in around two hours. Both the battery size and charger type can be tailored to suit the type of driving an owner will use it for. An optional ‘range extender’ battery provides customers the choice to extend the range of the car to over 200 miles.
Steve Drummond, director and co-founder of Electrogenic, said: “Repowering classic cars with all-electric drive brings a number of benefits, from ease of use to reliability and performance gains. But with our conversions, the aim is always to enhance the original characteristics of the car. In this respect, the Citroen DS was ideally suited to an electric conversion – the silent powertrain adds to the serene driving experience and fits perfectly with the character of the car.”
Ian Newstead, director and co-Founder of Electrogenic, added: “It seems right to use modern technology to future-proof a car that was so far ahead of its time when it came out in the 1950s. Our conversion breathes new life into the DS and means that future generations can continue to enjoy its charm for decades to come.
“As with all first-time conversions, the DS presented us with unique challenges. In this case adapting the hydro-pneumatic suspension to run without the combustion engine. The old pump was so noisy that it detracted from the silent drive of the car, but our new electric pump solved the issue completely. As with every conversion, the DS has added further to our knowledge of converting beautiful classics.”
