C's electric

Just six months after the launch of the Citroen C3 hatchback, its electric counterpart is ready to go on sale and we got a chance to drive the all-electric e-C3 ahead of its launch

- Dhruv Saxena

THE E-C3 WILL BECOME ONE OF THE MOST AFFORDABLE, IF NOT THE MOST AFFORDABLE, ELECTRIC CAR ON SALE IN INDIA

While most established car makers are still approaching the Indian EV market with a sense of trepidation, Citroen, a brand that started selling cars in India only in 2021, has bucked the trend by announcing an affordable, made-for-markets like India product in the form of the e-C3. What’s more, it’s ready to go on sale a mere six months after the arrival of the ICE variant on which it is based.

Save for the white roof available in combination with Zesty Orange, Platinum Grey and Steel Grey, the charging flap on the front fender and telltale badging, the e-C3 is identical to the C3. Even the fuel filler cap from the ICE variant has been retained above the left rear wheel arch, although it is sealed shut. The grille hasn’t been replaced by a plastic panel either, something that’s almost customary in the case of ICE-derived EVs. The floor height has risen by a small margin resulting in a slightly more knees-up seating position in the rear compared to the petrol C3. Headroom, knee room, leg room, are all the same, which means, like the C3, one of the strengths of the e-C3 is space. Boot space also remains unchanged at 315 litres and there is a spare wheel present too. The inclusion of the battery pack has resulted in the ground clearance dropping from 180mm to 170mm.