Peugeot BB1 heads to London for a visit
Peugeot has sent its BB1 electric car concept to British capital for a weekend visit. The BB1 was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September as a tiny lithium ion-powered city car. The concept uses a pair of rear hub motors for propulsion and Peugeot claims it will go 75 miles on a charge.
The city of London is a prime location for the use of electric vehicles since EVs are exempt from having to pay the congestion charges to get into the city center. The concept is being displayed in Covent Garden all weekend and an assortment of local celebrities have shown up to check it out. Peugeot has branded two dozen rickshaws with BB1 badge and is offering people free rides to see the concept.
Gallery: Peugeot BB1 concept visits London
[Source: Peugeot]
press release
THE FUTURE OF MOBILITY: THE PEUGEOT BB1 COMES TO LONDON
- On Display in Covent Garden 7th and 8th November
- A New Future Urban Mobility Solution
- Electric Powered with a Range of 75 Miles
- Zero Emissions
- Accommodates Four Occupants
Peugeot's revolutionary vehicle of the future - the BB1 - will be visiting London's Covent Garden on 7th and 8th November.
The BB1 is a glimpse of what could be urban mobility in the future. A cross between a car and a scooter, it is powered by two clever electric motors mounted in the rear wheels and has enough power from its lithium-ion battery packs to travel up to 75 miles between recharges.
Unlike many small electric cars, this vehicle can accommodate up to four adults due to its innovative layout and controls which are more scooter than car. Solar panels help power the vehicle's onboard systems and it will communicate directly with a modern smart phone, so you can have your music, images, hands-free phone and navigation, just how you like it!
The Peugeot BB1 will be on show in Covent Garden from 10 am until 7 pm, on 7th and 8th November, enabling the general public to have a close up look into the future of urban mobility.
Twenty five Peugeot BB1 branded rickshaws will also be operating around Central London to ferry interested individuals to the BB1 display, free of both cost and of course emissions.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Hank 10:30AM (11/09/2009)
I actually am a big fan of quirky French cars. But this one is "a bridge too far."
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me 5:25PM (11/09/2009)
this car looks awesome!
NeilBlanchard 10:35AM (11/09/2009)
I think that this car needs to be the picture for the dictionary definition of 'fugly'... yikes!
Neil
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Rick 10:09AM (11/10/2009)
Agreed. It's so warped I can't understand it enough to even label it ugly. It's just a big swishy mess.
Mark Kiernan 10:35AM (11/09/2009)
I think the general idea is good but they need to smoothen out the edges a bit, there is a classic in there somewhere.
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Mark Kiernan 10:36AM (11/09/2009)
More Monet and less Picasso ;)
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ceo 11:54AM (11/09/2009)
There seems to be this idea that's been planted in the minds of automotive designers that a small urbo-mobile is required to be revoltingly hideous.
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Nixon 12:00PM (11/09/2009)
The headlights would make more sense, if this car was being driven around England by Dame Edna....
I still like the concept. But the VW guys from TV need to de-pimp dis auto.
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Mark 12:03PM (11/09/2009)
This vehicle is an attempt to make even the most ardent EV fan go out and order a Hummer.
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Ernie 3:43PM (11/09/2009)
I swear, that's probably about the best explanation yet for the design of this thing.
I've seen a few wackjob electric vehicle designs spurred by the idea that "we don't have to build around the old form anymore", but this one just takes the cake. There's no reason for this to look so stunningly retarded.
Willravel 12:24PM (11/09/2009)
Wait, that's the front?
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Chris M 10:01PM (11/09/2009)
Which end? I was rather puzzled by the red headlights and white tail-lights, until I realized they'd designed the darn thing bass ackwards.
I still don't know why they wanted it to look like it was driving in reverse.
neptronix 12:32PM (11/09/2009)
50% pope-mobile, 50% salvador dali painting, 100% wtf.
If i ever see one of these in person, i will make a concerted effort to punch the driver in the genitals. This has got to be some kind of joke.
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Scott K. 1:57PM (11/09/2009)
I can't remember the last time a car actually made me wince. Even the Mitsuoka Oorochi couldn't manage that. But this BB1 did. That's bad.
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mike 4:46PM (11/09/2009)
I think it's brilliant.
They only thing I dislike really is the smallish section of window which is capable of being rolled down.
Would I like it even better if they smoothed it out a little .... perhaps...
But if this went on sale tomorrow for a reasonable price and with the capabilities they claim then I think it would sell like the proverbial cake of heat.
I think it has crossed over the barrier of being so ugly that it is attractive... like a bulldog or a 2cv or Julia Roberts.
At any rate... like it or hate it... there is no denying it is striking and that sells.
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