Error parsing XSLT file: \xslt\FacebookOpenGraph.xslt All or nothing
Cookies on Businesscar

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Car website. However, if you would like to, you can change your cookies at any time

BusinessCar magazine website email Awards mobile

The start point for the best source of fleet information

All or nothing

Date: 18 September 2018   |   Author: Rachel Boagey

DS tells BusinessCar its future electrification plans. Rachel Boagey reports.

At its Advanced Design Network in Paris, DS execs gathered to reveal that, from 2019, every model from the manufacturer will have an electrified version.

The first model in this new crop of electrified models will be the DS 7 Crossback E-Tense 4x4, which is due to enter the market in early 2019. DS gave us an early taste of what to expect from the driver's seat of the car in Paris, revealing that it will be available as a PHEV petrol-electric hybrid.

DS exclusively announced that the second model in the line-up will be the DS 3 Crossback, which will be available with a 100% electric powertrain. Interestingly, also at the event, DS revealed that, from 2025, new models are planned to come with only electrified propulsion, be they 100% electric, hybrid or available with the choice of both.

"Electrification is at the very heart of our strategy," DS CEO Yves Bonnefont told BusinessCar. "We consider the future of DS to be addressing the environmental issues and future regulation we will be facing, so we have come up with DS 7 Crossback E-Tense as the first in our offering. All of our models will have one plug-in hybrid or full battery electric vehicle, or in some cases, both will be available."

Designed and built in the Paris area, the DS 3 Crossback inaugurates the new Common Modular Platform. This applies to the DS 3 Crossback's petrol and diesel internal combustion engines (ICEs) and the electric DS 3 Crossback E-Tense; both types of drivetrain are built on the same production line, according to specific customer requirements, for an agile way to address changes in the market and client demands.

Pascal Béziat, project director on DS 3 Crossback, said the car is based on the platform, as "this makes it possible to fit an all-electric drivetrain with no trade-off in features, cabin space or boot capacity. Naturally, this new optimised platform also has other advantages. It is lighter (less than 40kg on average) than previous generations, more modular in terms of length, width, height and wheel diameter, while maintaining interior space."

This vehicle will be available from the second half of 2019 with an all-electric motor. It will deliver a range of 280 miles (NEDC cycle) with a function to charge the battery to 80% in 30 minutes. This advanced level of performance does not detract from interior space, since the batteries are placed under the floor.

"The EV variant of the new car, which will run alongside more traditional powertrains, will be available from launch and will offer a range of more than 200 miles on each charge. The urban-focused car is likely to have a 50kW battery pack," said Bonnefont. 

"DS 3 Crossback is a perfect fit with the second-generation DS range: technology and refinement. It further confirms the electrification strategy pursued by the DS brand, since it will be available either in ICE or with an all-electric version, with no trade-off in features or styling."

Technologies on the car include DS Matrix LED Vision, which allows the driver to keep the main beam on at all times without worrying about vehicles in front or on the other side of the road. The system is fully automatic and a standard feature on all models of DS 3 Crossback. 

As for the rest of DS's plans for its future line-up, we were sworn to secrecy.



Share


Subscribe