Frankfurt Auto Show: Peugeot BB1 Concept car

It’s not much like a car. According to Peugeot, "Its mother is a scooter. Its father is a car." So the result is that the BB1 combines the utility of a car and the flexibility of a quad bike. The name BB1 originally referred to a motorised bike from the 1960s. More important is that the car is a zero-emissions vehicle, electrically powered.

The Peugeot BB1 Concept car features a compact and smart body design, maximizing the interior space. There are a pair of reverse-hinged doors with mini roll-down windows, LED lights, a rear-view cameras replacing mirrors, and a solar cell-covered glass bubble roof which not only increases headroom but is also layered in solar panels that operate in daylight to keep the car ventilated. It can sit four people even though it is only 2.5 metres long. Another impressive feature is the car’s great mobility. It has a turning circle of 3.5m and can even park perpendicular to the pavement.

Packing two electric motors mounted in the rear wheels, the BB1 gets a maximum of 15kW (20hp) - or 7.5kW per motor. It can accelerate from 0-19mph in 2.8 seconds and 19-37mph in 4 seconds.

The power for the vehicle is provided by two lithium-ion battery packs under the right and left-hand rear seats, with a comfortable range of 75 miles. This layout avoids any reduction in interior space or storage space. Furthermore, the location helps with the weight

As a future study interior interactive technologies are a must for the BB1. As such you get a multi-function colour display that links the phone, navigation system, internet access, the radio and MP3 player.