Peugeot BB1 closer to production
* BB1 moves from concept to project * Electric vehicle should retain funky looks * On sale in 2012 or 2013...
The Peugeot BB1 electric vehicle is a step closer to being made after Peugeot confirmed it had moved from concept car status to project status.
That means the vehicle is set to go on sale in either 2012 or 2013 and Peugeot design director Gilles Vidal told What Car? he hopes the production BB1 will closely resemble the concept car's radical design.
What has still to be decided is the vehicle's official classification it could be classed either as a car or a quadricycle. The BB1 has handle bars and a twist-grip accelerator and passengers sit pillion style behind the driver.
However homologation for a quadridcyle is more complex because different regions have different definitions of what a quadricyle is. In France, for example, a quadricyle is not allowed on the motorway, and the UK has two classes of quadricycle depending on the vehicle's weight and the engine's power.
Classifying the BB1 as a car, therefore, could make homologation more straight forward.
The BB1 is just 2.5 metres long and weighs just 600 kilos. It is powered by two electric motors mounted on the rear axle, which together produce 19bhp.
Despite being low-powered, the BB1 can reach 20mph in just 2.8 seconds and has a range of up to 75 miles.
What Car? tested the BB1 at Peugeot's design studio in France. The BB1 was roomy and had great visibility. Acceleration was swift and overall it was a fun driving experience.
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