ŠKODA is now testing prototypes of the e-Citigo, just before the series production of this all-electric version of the ŠKODA CITIGO starts in the fourth quarter of 2019.
We have the press release below:
› ŠKODA will be providing ten prototypes of the all-electric CITIGO E-PILOT built upon the basis of Volkswagen e-up! for selected customers to test in the Czech Republic
› The participants’ experience from everyday use and their specific suggestions will serve as important feedback before the launch of eMobility of traditional Czech brand
› Prototypes have completely different characteristics than the later all-electric CITIGO production modelMladá Boleslav, 3 April 2019 – 2019 is a very special year in ŠKODA’s 124-year history: The traditional Czech car manufacturer is entering the era of e-mobility with the all-electric ŠKODA CITIGO and the ŠKODA SUPERB with plug-in hybrid drive. As part of a pilot project, ŠKODA is now making the CITIGO E-PILOT available to selected customers in the Czech Republic. The aim is to find out from prospective and potential customers how the vehicle based on the current technology known from Volkswagen e-up! performs in everyday operation before series production of the electric CITIGO begins.
Ahead of the launch of eMobility, ŠKODA is testing prototypes of the electric CITIGO as part of a pilot project. Selected companies, fleet customers and state authorities will be heading out on the road in ten copies of the ŠKODA CITIGO E-PILOT. Before the start of series production, the Czech car manufacturer would like to gain feedback and valuable suggestions from the testers and customers who will be putting the vehicle through its paces in everyday operation.
Sensors on all test vehicles will record important data such as the outside temperature and the temperature in the car, and acceleration of the test vehicle. All data will be automatically sent to the Technical Development department at ŠKODA and evaluated there. In this way, it will be possible to gain insights into the use of the vehicle and determine how the battery performs during everyday operation and charging.
Luboš Vlček, Managing director of ŠKODA AUTO Czech Republic says: “ŠKODA is launching electric mobility in 2019 and will have introduced ten electrified models by the end of 2022. Before ŠKODA’s e-vehicles go into series production, we are collecting feedback from our customers who will be evaluating a test fleet in our home market of the Czech Republic over the coming months. As part of the ŠKODA CITIGO E-PILOT project, we are testing numerous all-electric vehicle services so that we are fully prepared for the launch of the production vehicle by the end of the year.”
Series production of the all-electric version of the ŠKODA CITIGO will start in the fourth quarter of 2019.
Over the next four years, ŠKODA AUTO will be launching the most extensive investment programme in its history, spending around €2 billion on electrification and digitalisation. By the end of 2022, the car manufacturer will have presented over 30 new models, more than 10 of which will be partially or fully electric. From the beginning of 2020, all ŠKODA trading partners in the Czech Republic will also have charging stations at their sales and service sites, making an active contribution to significantly expanding the local charging infrastructure.
We already know that the production version will cost around 19.000 euros and have a WLTP range of 270 km (168 miles), which means that the battery capacity will double from 18,7 to 37,4 kWh when compared to the current Volkswagen e-Up – on which it’s based on.
The current Volkswagen e-Up battery pack is made with 204 battery cells from Sanyo/Panasonic with 25 Ah each in a 102s2p configuration. It’s expected that the Volkswagen e-Up 2.0 and the SKODA e-Citigo get 50 Ah battery cells from Samsung SDI, however since CATL is also a battery cell supplier for the VW Group, I don’t count them out yet.
Skoda e-Citigo by Auto Bild Germany
Anyway, I get more excited by these small practical electric cars than by any super expensive electric car made just for showing off on auto shows. However, my guess is that VW will try to undermine them somehow and then say that the real affordable electric cars are still 2 or 3 years away.
To be fair, VW recently said that is considering to stop producing the ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) versions of the Up and make it all electric, but I’ll give them credit only when this becomes true.
What do you think? Will the VW Group give electric cars a chance before discontinue their ICE counterparts?
