The Mitsubishi i-MiEV production for Europe has commenced but it leaves us wondering just how many of these cars we need on the European car market. The factory producing the vehicles has also started its production of the French siblings to the i-MiEV, the Citroen C-Zero and the Peugeot iOn.

While the i-MiEV has been on sale in Japan since last year, plans for sales of the three models put together are to total 5,000 units (from April 2010 to March 2011). Just how all three models will be distributed is anyone’s guess, though. The i-MiEV will be available in Germany, France, the UK, Italy and Spain from December, with other markets to follow at the end of 2011.

There’s no doubt that these kinds of cars are becoming more popular in European urban centres but what with Smart and the Toyota iQ, plus the two French models and the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, just how many of these will be absorbed by the European market is difficult to say. Citroen has announced that orders for its C-Zero model so far total 800 but most of these have been purchased in company leasing arrangements. Just 63 have been ordered by private customers in Norway.

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The new Peugeot iOn model will be presented at the 2010 Paris Motor Show at the end of this month, and in the pics you can see its final look. The model, one of the sister models to the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, will go on sale across European markets in the next few months, and will be offered in France in a kind of leasing arrangement.

The Peugeot iOn is equipped with an 88 cell lithium ion battery which powers an electric motor capable of achieving 64 hp and 180 Nm of torque. We won’t bother you with acceleration statistics, but the iOn has a range of 150 km and can get to a top speed of 130 km/hr.

The range seems almost too good to be true, considering the general daily kilometre run required of anyone completing city driving. Peugeot also declares that with a 220 V outlet, the iOn can recharge in six hours, while with a 380 V connection you can get 50 percent recharge in 15 min, or 80 percent in half an hour.

Continue reading: Peugeot iOn at Paris show

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The Citroen C-Zero electric city car has been presented, equipped with a magnetic synchronous motor with 64 hp (or 47 kW) and 180 Nm of torque between 0 and 200 rpm. The synchronous motor works like an induction motor, but off a magnetic field that requires no slip to run, and the C-Zero uses one single-speed reduction grear to send power to the rear axle. The unit is powered by a 330volt lithium ion battery pack for its light weight and durability.

The C-Zero is a joint effort between Citroen and Mitsubishi, and is the French firm’s version of the Mitsubishi iMIEV. Peugeot also has its version, called the iOn. The C-Zero will go into production in 2010 and will join the DS3 and C3 low-emissions versions as part of an effort to reduce CO2 emissions across the range. It will expand to include the first Citroen hybrid, the DS5, in 2011.

The Citroen C-Zero has a range of nearly 130 km, and a top speed of about 130 km/hr as well. It does 0-100 in 15 secs, and has a recharge time of about six hours in a normal 220-volt socket. Using a 400-volt outlet you can get an 80 percent fast charge in just 30 minutes. See the new C-Zero in the pics below, with the video after the jump (it’s a silly video - check out the first C-Zero video here for some better enviro messages).

Citroen C-Zero

Continue reading: Citroen C-Zero electric city car: environment vs luxury yachts

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