► Electric conversion of DS
► 1971 DS gets 120bhp e-motor and 200 mile range
► You can buy one too if your pockets are deep enough
Remember the mad electrified Morgan 4/4? The company behind that has now ripped the 2.0-litre straight four from a Citroen DS and shoehorned in a 120hp brushless motor.
The one you see in the pics is a one-off commissioned by a customer. But, Oxfordshire-based Electrogenic will make you one for £55,000, not including the donor car.
Battery tech
The 48.5kWh battery has an official range of 140 miles, according to the car’s creators. It’ll take around two hours to charge, plus there’s the option of a larger battery with up to 200 miles if you really want to travel in style.
Power output for the motor is 120bhp/173lb ft. That’s about 15bhp and 50lb/ft more than it would have had from new.
What about the engineering?
The word iconic pings up in everyday talk more than Track and Trace. But it really is an appropriate term to describe the DS.
It was an early adopter of radial tyres, had hydraulically powered brakes (including front discs) and steering, plus it could be had with a semi-auto that’s been confusing enthusiasts and journalists alike for 66 years.
Electrogenic is well aware of how technically groundbreaking the DS was. Which is why it’s improved the self-levelling hydropneumatic suspension by switching the mechanical pump for an electric one.
It’s even managed to incorporate regen braking. It works from a pressure sensor in the hydraulic line, with a neutral regen on the accelerator pedal. This means it retains its lovely mushroom-like brake pedal.
Interior and exterior remain pretty much original too. The differences on the outside basically run to an EV badge on the back and no exhaust pipe. Even the fuel filler cap is used as a charging port.
Director and co-founder of Electrogenic, Ian Newstead, said: “It seems right to use modern technology to future-proof a car that was so far ahead of its time when it came out in the 1950s.
“Our conversion breathes new life into the DS and means that future generations can continue to enjoy its charm for decades to come.
“As with all first-time conversions, the DS presented us with unique challenges. In this case adapting the hydro-pneumatic suspension to run without the combustion engine.
“The old pump was so noisy that it detracted from the silent drive of the car, but our new electric pump solved the issue completely.”
