We heard yesterday about reports in a Japanese newspaper that PSA Peugeot Citroen and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation would be working together on electric cars. Today, Mitsubishi and Peugeot released a statement describing their joint efforts, and it gives us a better idea of what we can expect:

• The project "will run over several months, relates to the development, the manufacture and the use of an electric powertrain for small urban vehicles."
• Working on EVs together " would be mutually beneficial."

The full details are available after the jump. PSA will bring its experience with EVs and electric powertrains to the joint effort, and Mitsubishi will contribute work from its Lithium Energy Japan joint venture (with GS Yuasa) "which is to supply large capacity and high performance lithium ion batteries for the i MiEV" (above). But wait, "over several months"? Is that all? Does this mean we're close to seeing results or just that the two companies only want to share a little bit of their own information?

The iMiEV, the production car based on the Nissan Mixim, (EDIT: badly worded and wrong), and who knows what other goodies became a little bit more real today with the report in the Nikkei business daily newspaper that Mitsubishi and PSA Peugeot Citroen will work together on electric vehicles. The two companies will share technology, particularly about next-gen lithium-ion batteries. Nikkei said that Mitsubishi will offer PSA information on how best to convert electricity to drive power and how to prevent overheating in the batteries. According to Reuters, the two companies may also form a joint venture to build EVs. Mitsubishi had no official statement for Nikkei, but we do know that PSA and Mitsubishi recently announced a joint plant in Russia.

[Source: Reuters]

PSA and Mitsubishi have officially laid the first foundation stone of their €470 million joint plant in Russia, located in Kaluga, 180km south-west of Moscow. The plant, which is being built on a 200 ha plot, is expected to produce 160,000 vehicles per year from 2011. Which models? Basically, Peugeot and Citroën C-Segment cars (current models are the the 308 and the C4) but also a compact SUV/crossover which will be sold under the Peugeot, Citroën and Mitsubishi brands (currently named 4007, C-Crosser and Outlander, respectively). The cars are intended for the Russian market and not scheduled for export. PSA builds some of the most advanced diesel powertrains available, named HDI, which are also installed in Minis and Fords. Russia is also one of the main energy suppliers to the EU. Mitsubishi's full press release after the jump.

The rumors seem to be confirmed: Citroën could be preparing a small minivan based on the new platform that will be used for the upcoming C3. This minivan has a lot of company; witness the Renault Modus (based on the Renault Clio), the Opel Meriva (based on the Corsa), the Fiat Idea (based on the Punto) and the Nissan Note. Citroën has already four other minivan models: the Xsara Picasso based on the old Xsara, the C4 Picasso, the Grand C4 Picasso and the C8. While minivans might not be the first vehicles you think of when it comes to greener driving, one good thing about these people movers (especially the European-sized versions) is that they offer lots of room to carry children without burning too much fuel. It's not impossible to find models that produce fewer than 120 g/km CO₂.

[Source: Autoexpress]

Citroën has something called Sensodrive. It's a manual gearshift change that uses no clutch pedal. This system reduces gearchange times and shaves fuel consumption a bit, especially in city driving. What it is interesting is that it's only been installed in the C2 and C3 models so far. It would seem logical that this be installed in a van, a vehicle which usually gets more kilometers than a small hatchback. Finally, Senosodrive is making the jump. The new Nemo has gotten the option, which costs an extra €500. Coupled to the Nemo's gearbox, the 1.4-liter HDI engine which develops 70 HP and gets 160 Nm of torque (120 lb-ft) while being able to carry 600 kg (1300 pounds). iIt does all of this whil producing just 119 g/km of CO₂ and burning 4.5 l/100 km of diesel (52 mpg U. S.) in the European mixed cycle. Don't forget the PSA biodiesel bonus: the company's diesels are guaranteed when running up to B30 blends.


[Source: Le Blog Auto]

French magazine Autoplus has published pictures of what the new subcompact van from Citroën might look like. Currently, Citroën offers three people-movers: the large, eight-passenger C8, the Xsara Picasso and the recent C4 Picasso (in both short- and long-wheelbase versions).

Citroën is adding a new member to the minivan family which should measure in at under 4 meters. The new model, due in late 2009, is going to be built on the Citroën C3/Peugeot 207/Citroën Nemo platform. It will share components with the quite-unsuccessful Peugeot 1007 (pictured above) and will compete directly with the Renault Modus. Expect the whole array of PSA's HDI engines to power the model.

[Source: Autoplus]

PSA Peugeot Citroën, already Europe's leader in low CO₂ emissions, is planning on introducing a new line of small-bore three cylinder engines. It seems that the French automaker is keen on keeping their eco-friendly reputation, as this information comes shortly after we heard that PSA plans to make its Stop & Start system standard across its line. Their one liter three cylinders are expected to offer from seventy to one-hundred horsepower. PSA's "aim is to offer the market vehicles with CO₂ emissions below 100g/km with no additional technology." We would imagine that this line of engines, especially when equipped with stop/start technology, will be quite the fuel misers. Currently, there's no word on what vehicles these engines are slated to be installed in.

To make their ambitious goals a reality, PSA is setting up two manufacturing sites to build the engines. The first operational facility will open in 2011 and have a capacity of 600,000 engines per year.

[Source: Just-Auto - sub. req'd]

Peugeot 107

The British economy is struggling a bit right now thanks to the same sudden realization that a lot of people got unaffordable mortgages in recent years, just like we are experiencing here in the U.S. Combining that with the same rising fuel prices that everyone else is suffering and the latest changes to the emissions-based London Congestion tax, demand for small low emissions cars is on the rise. Diesel-heavy Peugeot appears to be a beneficiary of that market shift in the UK right now. Their smallest model, the 107, which is rated at just 109g/km of CO₂ saw a sales jump of sixteen percent in the first quarter of this year. Having a CO₂ rating of less than 120g/km allows drivers of the 107 to drive into central London without having to pay a congestion charge. While that benefits drivers financially and certainly reduces CO₂ emissions relative to what it might be without any charge, if everyone shifts to these types of cars it won't actually do much to reduce congestion. Peugeot's diesel-powered vans also performed well in the marketplace with a jump of 4.1 percent.

[Source: Peugeot UK]

French website Leblogauto writers went to the EVER Salon in Monaco and gathered information and pictures from the Citroën Berlingo Venturi, which is one of the two vehicles competing for the French Postal Service (La Poste) contract for suburban delivery EVs.

Although the range isn't that spectacular (60 miles), performance should be enough for postal duties: cargo space and payload remain unchanged from the gas/diesel versions. According to the manufacturers, the vehicle is able to achieve highway speeds effortlessly and can be recharged from a simple power outlet for less than 1 € / 100 km. Being optimistic, the diesel version makes about 7 l/100 km, at 1.30 EUR/l you can do the math. Price range is expected to be between €25,000-35,000.

[Source: Leblogauto]

Like Newteon, PSA Peugeot Citroen is eyeing the EV contract for La Poste. PSA is teaming up with Monaco-based Venturi Automobiles to produce battery-powered vans based on the Citroën Berlingo First and Peugeot Partner Origin for the French Post office. The partnership will produce a small batch of vans for a six month test program. Venturi has been developing high dollar electric sports cars and less expensive oddball buggies. For this project, Venturi will contribute a new compact electric powertrain that allows the motor, battery and electronics to be mounted underhood and give the delivery vans a 60-mile range. After the trial ends La Poste, will select a vendor to produce 500 electric mail vans.

[Source: Peugeot]

After PSA's announcement of taking things easy on diesel hybrids, it's at least good to know that they have decided to make the Start & Stop system available for the whole range of models. Nowadays, only certain versions of the Citroën C2 and C3 can be ordered with the Stop & Start system, a nifty fuel saver that shuts down the engine at traffic lights or when stuck in a traffic jam. This accounts for a 10 to 15 percent reduction in fuel consumption and CO₂ production figures.

PSA has just announced that they will make the system available for their complete lineup and - even better - it will be made standard. Their target is to install the system in a million vehicles by 2011 and 1.6 million by 2012.

[Source: Autoplus (thanks to my buddy Dominique for the tip)]

When you hear about a "3-liter car," what do you think of? For this story, think not of a car with a 3-liter engine but one that uses 3.13 liters of fuel per 100 km. That's 75 miles per gallon (U.S.) we're talking about a simple Peugeot 308.

John and Helen Taylor traveled 14,580 km in Australia (9,100 miles) using a Peugeot 308 with a standard 1.6 HDI 110 HP diesel engine. The Taylor's 308 was a standard model, just like the ones you can buy it from the showroom (at least in Europe and Australia), including Michelin Energy XM1+ tires. They used 453.94 liters of Shell diesel for the trip, which broke a previous record (with a 307) of 3.49 l/100 km (67 mpg U.S.). The CO₂ figures (which Peugeot states include the supply chain) were a mere 90.3 g/km.

This makes it almost unnecessary to wait for the hybrid! But, please, Peugeot mate this powertrain to a hybrid system and treat the exhaust gases.

[Source: Peugeot Australia via Moteur Nature]

While it has looked like Peugeot would be the first company to market a mainstream passenger vehicle with a diesel hybrid powertrain, it now looks like it won't come as quickly as previously thought. PSA (parent company of Peugeot and Citroen) has been developing a diesel hybrid system in cooperation with suppliers Bosch, Continental, Valeo and Thyssen-Krupp. The system was originally supposed to debut in the compact Peugeot 308 in 2010. The cost of developing the system was to have been partially subsidized by the French government. With the European Commission putting the screws to that plan, PSA and its partners will move forward without the handout. As a result, the company has decided that in order to recover those development costs, they need to apply the system on a more expensive model first, which of course means the volumes will be lower. The change in plans also means the new powertrain won't appear until at least 2011. At the current rate, Peugeot may still be first to market, unless Mahindra's plans for a diesel hybrid version of their pickup come to fruition in 2010.

[Source: GreenCarCongress]

This can be called a case of greenwashing or simply an honest declaration of good intentions. The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), has issued a formal declaration supporting and encouraging the UN-sponsored ministerial talks on climate change in Bali, Indonesia. The letter is signed by the members' CEOs.

In the ACEA's press release (which you can find after the jump), the group describes their efforts to make more efficient cars and hopes for a collaboration with legislators to create policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The CEOs clearly ask for policies that encourage the purchase of cars with "carbon-lowering technologies," advanced technologies and sustainable alternative fuels. The also say that they spend a lot of money on technology (20 billion EUR), so they also ask for R&D support.

The ACEA was founded in 1991 and represents the interests of the thirteen European car, truck and bus makers: BMW, DAF, Daimler, Fiat, Ford, GM, MAN, Porsche, PSA, Renault, Scania, Volkswagen and Volvo

[Source: ACEA]

Besides the entries from Daimler, Volkswagen and Renault/Dacia, Peugeot has also sent a green model to the Challenge Bibendum in Shanghai. The model is the Peugeot 307 Hybride, which matches a hybrid system to a diesel engine that is certified to run on biodiesel in blends up to B30 (ok, PSA: Put it on sale, maintenant!).

The model is based on the current 1.6 liter diesel which is one of the top-selling diesel engines in Europe (you can see it in the Mini, the Ford Focus, the Volvo S40, the Peugeot 308, the Citroën C4 and the Citroën C4 Picasso) and is, in fact, one of the cleanest diesels available in the market. For this model, Peugeot added a hybrid system (not new) and filled the tank with diester (the French name for B30). The result: 74 grams of CO₂ per kilometer.

[Source: PSA]