In its latest teaser, Citroen has confirmed the eC3 moniker for its upcoming all-electric version of the C3 hatchback, which will launch in January 2023. It will be manufactured locally and will also be exported to overseas markets.
The eC3 will be powered by a 30.2kWh battery pack that will be sourced from Chinese firm Svolt, although Citroen is looking to localize it in the long run. The Citroen EV will have a 3.3kW onboard AC charger and will also be capable of CCS2 fast charging. The eC3’s front-axle-mounted electric motor is understood to produce 63kW (86hp) and 143Nm of peak torque.
When launched, the eC3 will be aimed squarely at the Tata Tiago EV, which uses a 24kWh battery pack in its higher specification for an ARAI-rated range of 315km. Hence the ARAI-rated range of the eC3 can be expected to be around 350km.
The EC3 will look almost identical to its ICE counterpart from the inside out. The only external differences would be the lack of tailpipe and a new charging port located on the front fender.
The interior is likely to see a revised center console, which will house a new drive controller that will replace the manual gear lever. All other exterior body panels, interiors and mechanicals, which are already localized for the petrol-powered C3, will remain unchanged.
This has been done to optimize cost for the eC3; Sharing parts and components with its ICE counterpart will help in achieving better economies of scale. Affordable pricing remains the biggest challenge for the EV, but Citroën is confident that they will be able to price the car competitively. While no price range has been indicated yet, it is safe to assume that it will be priced around ₹10 lakh-12 lakh.
Citroën will also export the eC3 from India, which will be crucial in providing a significant boost to overall C3 volumes which have been disappointingly low by segment standards.