Second-Hand Citroen C-Zero
Used Citroen C-Zero
Launched in 2011, the Citroen C-Zero is an all-electric city car. The car's power comes from a 47-kilowatt (equivalent to 66bhp) electric motor fed from a 330-volt lithium-ion battery pack. Like all electric cars, it has lots of torque and therefore accelerates well and is able to keep up with urban traffic. Many small electric cars are classed as "quadricycles" and don't have to meet the safety standards of conventional cars. The C-Zero though has been put through the full safety testing process and has a four-star NCAP rating.
What You Get
There's only one model of the Citroen C-Zero, but it comes with a good range of standard equipment, including air conditioning, power steering and electric windows. On the safety front, there's ABS, ESP, emergency brake assist and six airbags. The car's small size makes it ideal for city use, it's just 3.48 metres long and has a 9-metre turning circle, so it's easy to manoeuvre and park. The second-hand Citroen C-Zero has a range of up to 93 miles though this will vary depending on how it's used. There's a rapid charge feature to give an 80% charge in 30 minutes, though for this you'll need a 440-volt socket. You can charge it via a conventional 220v supply, but it will take around 6 hours to achieve a full charge. The car has a 3-year 60,000-mile warranty, but the drivetrain and batteries are covered for 5 years or 40,000 miles.
How it Drives
The car has strong, smooth acceleration and can do 0-60 in 15 seconds while being able to reach a top speed of 80mph. Although the C-Zero is tall, the batteries are housed under the floor which keeps the centre of gravity low. This means it's stable and rides bumps and potholes well. The used Citroen C-Zero is very simple to drive, turn the key and you get a beep to tell you it's on. It then drives like any other car with an automatic box. It's well built, safe and has a strong performance, and with zero road tax and low fuel costs should be cheap to run. However, the limited range means it's only really suited for urban use.