PSA Peugeot Citroën Teams With Energy Company EDF; French President Sarkozy Pledges 400 Million Euros For R&D

By Kevin Miller

10.09.2008

Today PSA Peugeot Citroën and energy company EDF (Europe’s largest producer of electricity) have announced a partnership to develop and subsequently market electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, and related vehicle charging equipment. The cooperative agreement covers several technological programs, including development of electric vehicles, research and development of new energy storage technologies (such as lithium-ion batteries), and development of vehicle recharging systems and standardized protocols to enable vehicles and the power network to communicate during recharging.

PSA Peugeot Citroën is no stranger to electric vehicles, with more than 10,000 EVs on the road between 1955 and 2005. In June of this year, the Group announced that it was starting a feasibility study on a cooperative project with Mitsubishi Motors Corp. in the area of electric powertrains. The development of plug-in and other hybrids is an integral part of PSA Peugeot Citroën’s strategic commitment to offering “everyone an eco-car.”

As a part of that goal, the Group is going to extensively deploy the Stop & Start micro hybrid system across all of the Peugeot and Citroën model line-ups. In 2011, both brands will offer full diesel hybrids that will deliver marked improvements in both fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions. Continue Reading →