The Peugeot VLV was an electric microcar made by Peugeot in 1942. VLV stood for Voiture Légère de Ville (Light City Car). The car's announcement, on 1 May 1941, triggered some surprise, since Peugeot was the only one of France's large automakers to show interest in electric propulsion[1] at this time.
It was powered by four 12V batteries placed under the hood (bonnet) giving it a claimed top speed of 36 kilometres per hour (22 mph) and a range of 80 kilometres (50 mi).
The car had two wheels at the front and two at the back. The rear track, however, was very narrow, thus dispensing with the need for a differential for the driving wheels.
The VLV was built during the war as a way to side-step fuel restrictions imposed on non-military users by the occupying German forces. Yet, it was banned after only 377 examples were built.[2]
References
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- ^ Musée de l'Aventure Peugeot.[circular reference] The exhibit label (2012) states:
- Pendant la deuxième guerre mondiale le rationnement d’essence incita les constructeurs à rechercher des sources d’énergie de remplacement.
- Peugeot fut le seul grand constructeur à s’intéresser a ce mode de propulsion et provoqua la surprise en annoncent le 1er mai 1941 la sortie de sa « VLV ». Présenté sous la forme d’un mini cabriolet, a deux places décollées, ce véhicule économique destinée a un usage urbain, fut plus particulièrement utilise par les postiers ou les médecins.
- 377 exemplaires furent produits de 1941 à 1945.
- Caractéristiques techniques :
- Moteur électrique, 3,3 ch., alimente par 4 batteries de 12 volts, autonomie de 75 a 80 km. Vitesse maximum 36 km/h.
- ^ "Peugeot VLV Two-seater electric car provided zero-emissions transport during the war". Auto Express. 24 May 2010. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
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