1998 Electric Berlingo

[datman]

I've known about the existence of these for a few years as I drove a 2003 one for a year in 2015 I have since owned another five. This might make them sound common but they are not. Most people have no idea they even made them. They also did them as a Peugeot Partner branded one.

This came up locally this week and is a 26 year old, (1998) it must be one of the first Electric Berlingos as the Berlingo only launched in 1997. It is so basic that it doesn't even have door speakers!







It has done about 40,000 miles. It does move but has very low range (ask me how I know!)

Some specs
22kW (30bhp) DC brushed motor
16kWh Ni-Cd wet batteries (27 x 6v batteries totalling 162V) arranged in 4 compartments.
13A onboard charger. 6 hour charge time.
Range when new 60 miles.
Top speed 60mph
Regenerative braking.
Webasto petrol water heater under the bonnet for cabin heating.
Electric power steering.

Plans: Take all the batteries out and bench test / score them, and build a good pack with some spare batteries that I have.

[Rich]

The Atwell Wilson museum in Calne has an electric Partner and a 106. The 106 is literally brand new, donated by Peugeot, and I think the partner is too.
atwellwilson.org.uk/index.html

[DarrenW]

I knew Peugeot did leccy 106s because for years I saw the staff using them every time I went through the Channel Tunnel, didn't know about these though.

This'll be an interesting thread!

[datman]

I know where an Electric Saxo is sitting, I might try and get hold of it.

[goosegog]

What are the coloured connectors at the bulkhead for?

[welshpug]

27x 6v nicad batteries must weigh a fair bit and use a lot of space!

[datman]

Mar 28, 2024 16:14:43 GMT goosegog said:

What are the coloured connectors at the bulkhead for?

They are the filling ports for the batteries. Just done mine tonight. You add water until you see it come out of the overflow pipes under the car.

This car has OBDII and you can find out lots using a laptop with Citroen Lexia, or a dedicated standalone tool for these that a guy in the UK many years ago. I was able to tell that it was (over) due to be watered, Took a good 15 litres. I have a filter that makes deionised water from tap water.

Battery locations written below each port, in French


OEM filling funnel.







Lexia screen

[datman]

here's one of the battery boxes (has 6 batteries in)
They are lighter than lead acid, a battery (100Ah 6v) weighs about 9kg so about 240kg. The whole car is 1450kg, so a bit heavier than a combustion berlingo.

The batteries are all linked together with not only filling pipes, but they have internal water jackets for cooling. These go to a radiator in the usual place and have a 12v circulation pump.

There are 4 battery boxes. Two under the bonnet, (4 and 6 batteries), one in the middle containing 11 batteries and one box behind the back axle containing the last 6.

When treated correctly these batteries are remarkably long lived and reliable, which is why they use them on satellites , aircraft and things, they also work well at very cold temperatures, unlike lithium.

They are an alkaline battery, the electrolyte is dilute potassium hydroxide.

[datman]

A quick video of another one that I had.

[braaap]

I once fancied to buy an electric kangoo after I drove one as a postman, but when I found out that even with a used car You had to rent the batteries from Renault, which would have cost more than my regular fuel cots, I dropped that idea.

Seems those batteries are Your posession now together with the car?

[datman]

Yes I don't think PSA ever did battery rental. Remault were doing it on the Zoe until recently, I would imagine it has been dropped now as the cost of the batteries have gone down.