Peugeot bb1 EV

Urbanites take heed: Peugeot is hoping to change urban mobility with a vehicle that it claims "reinvents the automobile in every way." It's called the BB1 Concept car and emits no pollution thanks to an all-EV powertrain and wears some, er, funky contemporary styling.

Designers implemented a barrage of sweeping lines on all carbon fiber exterior panels and many of the more stylish features of the BB1 Concept are also function. Low slung doors are eye-catching, but they also ease passenger ingress and egress. LED exterior lighting and a double-bubble roofline also combine form with function. The large windows provide excellent visibility in addition to a sense of capaciousness. That said, the car is indeed spacious. Four passengers are positioned in a motorcycle-styled tandem arrangement and the driver uses no pedals to control the car. Instead, a motorcycle-like set of handlebars controls speed and braking.

Within each of the rear wheels is an electric motor that was co-designed with Michelin. The motors are powered by twin lithium-ion batteries and produce 20 hp each. In concept car form, the car has a range of around 120 km or 75 miles and can hit a top speed of 56 mph (4.2 l/100 km). Engineers placed the motor and batteries inside the wheels to promote ideal weight distribution and maximize interior space.

Above the vehicle's occupants resides a set of solar panels that act as energy generators. In addition to powering some interior accessories, the panels pre-ventilate the cabin ahead of passengers' arrival.

Given the trend and popularity of lightweight, no emission city cruisers, Peugeot is likely to greenlight the project for future production. Stay tuned for more info and images straight from the Frankfurt show.

Source : MotorTrend, by Nate Martinez, September 15th, 2009