Citroën C3 Electric: Soon an Indian Model in Our Cities?
This page is translated from the original post "Citroën C3 électrique : bientôt une indienne dans nos villes ?" in French.
- 16/01/2023 18:25
In India, Citroën unveiled an electric version of its local hatchback C3, which could rival the Dacia Spring if it decided to come to Europe.
The Citroën C3 remains one of the most popular cars in France, with nearly 59,000 units sold in 2022. It is even close to the podium occupied by the Renault Clio, Dacia Sandero, and Peugeot 208. But unlike its competitors, the chevron badge hatchback has not yet had an electric equivalent. Until today, but you have to travel to get one. Book your ticket, destination New Delhi.
A Citroën C3 Electric with Modest Performance
Because it’s in the Indian capital that everything changes, at the Auto Expo, the local auto show. In India, the Citroën C3 exists but in a specific version (similar to Latin America), more crossover-styled and different from the C3 Aircross. Launched in July 2022 as a petrol version, the Indian C3 is now displayed at this show as the Citroën ë-C3, a 100% electric variant.
Identical in appearance, the vehicle completely changes its mechanical underpinnings, featuring a 57-horsepower (42 kW) electric motor sending 143 Nm of torque to the front wheels. Very modest, this electric C3 accelerates from 0 to 60 km/h in less than 7 seconds and only reaches a top speed of 107 km/h.
The battery is also quite underwhelming, with a capacity of 29.2 kWh, but could provide a range of 320 km according to the local cycle. Fast charging exists, but at an average power—the roughly 20 kW—allowing from 10 to 80% in nearly an hour. Using a standard power outlet, the brand states it requires 10 hours and 30 minutes for a full charge.
Citroën’s Dacia Spring?
Immediately, one might think that Citroën is importing its first electric hatchback through this model. But the Citroën ë-C3 would have insufficient features for the French or European market. It’s a pity, because the Dacia Spring shows that with just about 33 kW of power, an electric car can handle daily commuting. Moreover, this model has an unbeatable price, although it has increased since launch—€20,800, compared to the Twingo E-Tech at over €25,000 and the Volkswagen e-up! at €27,000. The new Dacia Spring Extreme with 65 horsepower makes it even more attractive.
For us, Citroën would do well to bring this ë-C3 at a lower price than a C3 with a 100 kW or 115 kW motor to achieve over 400 km of range, which makes more sense for daily use.
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