PSA Peugeot Citroen is planning to take the hybrid vehicle market in Europe by storm in the next two years. This joint venture of Peugeot and Citroen plans to sell one million green vehicles worldwide by 2012. The C-ZERO Ion EV developed by the venture is set to hit European streets by December 2010. Peugeot is producing the 3008 diesel hybrid sedan for European consumers by summer 2011. The centerpiece of PSA Peugeot Citroen’s global plans may be the newly unveiled e-HDi hybrid drive system.
Citroen announced last week that it will show off the DS4 crossover with e-HDi drive at the 2010 Paris Motor Show in October. The DS4 will be available starting in December 2011 with five engine options that meet European Union emissions standards. The automaker worked with BMW to produce a trio of diesel engine options for the DS4. The e-HDi hybrid joins another hybrid diesel system with advanced diesel particulate filters. Citroen officials have projected fuel savings of up to 15% with the e-HDi drive system.
The Citroen DS4 goes beyond low-emissions engines to satisfy drivers concerned about fuel consumption. The Stop and Start System by Citroen shuts down the engine at full stops to conserve fuel. The engine is restarted within a second using electrical power from the e-booster. The six-speed EGS transmission utilizes electronic shifting for greater efficiency. Drivers can opt for a manual transmission if they feel confident in their shifting skills. Citroen has also developed an alternator that gathers energy from the brakes to boost the engine.
This five-seat crossover figures to be critical for PSA Peugeot Citroen going forward. Citroen has noted that it wants to sell one million DS4s with e-HDi drives starting in 2013. Europe may be the starting point for the DS4 but China looks to be a major market for the venture. Chinese consumers purchased 176,000 Peugeots and Citroens in the first six months of 2010. PSA Peugeot Citroen has recently inked an agreement with Chang’an Automobile to coordinate production for Chinese versions of the DS4. This pipeline of hybrid diesels into China could push Chinese automakers toward greener vehicles while improving Citroen’s financial fortunes.
