Citroen's 199-mile range e-C3 will be UK's cheapest electric car and 'extremely affordable'
The car could cost less than £23,000 when released in the UK
CITROEN
A new electric car from Citroen could be the answer to concerns from drivers about the upfront cost, with the new e-C3 looking to shake up the industry.
The Citroen e-C3 has been branded as the “first European affordable electric car”, with a price point of “less than £23,000”.
It comes packed with a 44kWh battery pack, providing 199 miles or 320 kilometres of range, more than the average driver travels in a week.
When using a 100kW DC rapid charger, drivers can fuel up from 20 per cent to 80 per cent in as little as 26 minutes.
A petrol version of the C3 is also expected to be released in the future
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With a sub-£23,000 price tag, the e-C3 places itself among some of the cheapest electric cars on the market in the UK.
The cheapest electric car available to motorists is the Dolphin from Chinese brand BYD which starts from £25,490.
The new electric car is aligned with Citroen’s “Fair Pricing” strategy, with the brand aiming to make EVs accessible to all.
The brand has also promised to deliver an even more affordable e-C3 with a 200km (124-mile) range by 2025.
It is expected that this will start from €19,990 or £17,368, although Citroen has yet to confirm prices for the UK.
Thierry Koskas, CEO of Citroen Global, explained: “Offering affordable vehicles has always been a major part of Citroen’s DNA.
“However, customer expectations for vehicles in the B-segment have changed, notably with the rise in popularity of SUVs and the increasing desire to drive electric in and around our cities, and it has become more challenging for European vehicle makers to meet those expectations.
“Uniquely, Citroen is daring to do exactly that with the all-new, all-electric e-C3 for European buyers: a fresh, sharp, and comfortable B-hatch that is fully-equipped, specifically designed for and made in Europe, and extremely affordable with on-the-road prices starting from under £23,000 in the UK.”
However, this will not be Citroen’s cheapest electric vehicle, with the Ami starting from £8,095.
The electric quadricycle has been designed for urban mobility and commuting, with the tiny two-door car having a range of just 75km or 47 miles.
The e-C3 is the first electrified version of the popular C3 model, which represents 29 per cent of Citroen’s European sales volume.
Drivers can expect the latest-generation Advanced Comfort seats and acclaimed Citroen Advanced Comfort suspension.
Laurence Hansen, Citroen Product and Strategy Director, said: “Comfort is a key part of Citroen’s DNA. It’s very important to us because it’s very important to our customers.”
A spokesperson for the French brand said a C3 model will be released with an internal combustion engine with a price point below £15,000, according to Autocar.
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Drivers can charge up from 20 per cent to 80 per cent in as little as 26 minutes
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This will rival the Dacia Sandero for one of the cheapest petrol models on the market, with the Sandero currently costing drivers around £13,000.
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