If you live in France, you’ve certainly not only heard about this article’s news as must be already thinking of buying this car. First, the French bicycle sharing program Velib’ has been so well-accepted that motivated the car variation, Autolib’. Now, after the vehicle sharing became very successful too, BlueCar’s automaker responded to that public’s wish and started to offer it on public sales. So how about meeting the retail version of what certainly has already become one of France’s most popular cars of nowadays?
The Bolloré Group has been active since 1822, working specially in the transportation area. Developing its own vehicle is one of this company’s most recent projects, whose first public appearance was made with BlueCar EV at the 2006 Geneva Auto Show. The intention at that time was to expose the potential of its centrally-positioned lithium-ion battery, in a bubble-shaped car which was already able to hit the streets if wanted. The following step was joining Pininfarina on building another project, the B0 concept. This one brought much more attractive styling and lithium-polymer battery, increasing the system’s overall efficiency and allowing devices such as regenerative braking. Showed in 2008, this was the vehicle which led to BlueCar, the production version whose original intention was to be offered only under sharing programs. Actually, that’s the reason of this hatchback’s simplified design: besides the wheels’ plastic covers, the cost-reduction creativity fashioned one single light equipment for the front illumination and other for the rear – these images show each one was repeated respectively six and four times, only changing the lamps. Nevertheless, these solutions are exactly what is expected from a car meant to have the lowest production and maintenance costs as it’s possible.
Entering the car doesn’t exactly cease the pragmatism, but still stays far from disappointing. BlueCar’s cabin reminds once again its proposal of being a mere transportation tool, rather than an attempt to extend the owner’s home: there’s only the necessary for driving from one point to another. The equipment list features a buzzer to alert pedestrians of the car’s silent approaches, audio system, climate control, GPS navigation and driver’s airbag – although most Autolib’ users travel alone, the car seats four. The retail version adds better coatings and three driving modes: Eco, Sport and Ice, besides of changing the only external color option from silver to dark-blue. The powertrain was carried over from the Pininfarina concept, using a 67-hp electric supercapacitor, capable of providing 160-mile city range (93 miles on the highway), 6s3 for the 0-60 mph test and 130-mph top speed. In France, it’ll start at € 12.000 plus monthly € 80 for the 661-pd battery’s lease, which are estimated to last around 250,000 miles. The basic price increases with the optional domestic recharge cable (€ 700), BlueBox domestic quick charger (€ 995) or a € 15 fee to enable using Autolib’s recharge stations. If the retail sales prove themselves successful, the four-door option will be expected to arrive, since this was BlueCar prototype’s original configuration.
