Electrogenic electrifies the iconic Citroen DS

Pioneering classic car electrification specialist Electrogenic has created an all-electric Citroen DS. The 1971 DS is a fresh and exciting version of an all-time great French motoring icon, renowned for its beauty and luxurious drive.

electric citroen

The Oxford-based company has retained and improved the car’s famous ‘magic carpet’ ride, combining it with a silent, zero-emission electric powertrain.

  • Pioneering classic car electrification company, Electrogenic, creates the first professionally converted battery electric Citroen DS
  • The company has created an innovative electric pump for the hydro-pneumatic suspension ensuring the car maintains its famous ‘magic carpet ride’ – silently
  • A better version of itself – the silent, zero-emission electric powertrain enhances the DS’s comfortable and serene driving experience

Creating what is believed to be the first professionally converted electric Citroen DS, Electrogenic has removed the car’s original 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and replaced it with a ‘Hyper9’ brushless electric motor. This produces 120bhp, allied with 235Nm of instant torque – both of which are substantial increases over the original. Power is delivered to the front wheels through the car’s existing manual gearbox.

Housed within the DS’s sleek saloon body is a 48.5kWh battery, offering a real-world range of approximately 140 miles on every charge. The car is fitted with a 29kW charger, which will charge the batteries in around two hours. Both the battery size and charger type can be tailored to suit the type of driving an owner will use it for. An optional ‘range extender’ battery provides customers the choice to extend the range of the car to over 200 miles.

One of the DS’s defining features is its hydro-pneumatic suspension system, which enables it to self-level, and is responsible for the car’s famously plush ride quality. Rather than using the original noisy mechanical pump, Electrogenic has created a silent electric pump, which delivers a more sophisticated ride than the original.

Electrogenic always maintains the beauty of the original car when converting classics to electric power, so the DS’s distinctive design remains unchanged. The absence of exhaust pipes and a subtle new “DS EV electronique” decal on the boot, are the only visual clues to the car’s new electric powertrain.

Steve Drummond, Director and Co-Founder of Electrogenic “Repowering classic cars with all-electric drive brings a number of benefits, from ease of use to reliability and performance gains. But with our conversions, the aim is always to enhance the original characteristics of the car. In this respect, the Citroen DS was ideally suited to an electric conversion – the silent powertrain adds to the serene driving experience and fits perfectly with the character of the car.”

Ian Newstead, Director and Co-Founder of Electrogenic “It seems right to use modern technology to future-proof a car that was so far ahead of its time when it came out in the 1950s. Our conversion breathes new life into the DS and means that future generations can continue to enjoy its charm for decades to come.

“As with all first-time conversions, the DS presented us with unique challenges. In this case adapting the hydro-pneumatic suspension to run without the combustion engine. The old pump was so noisy that it detracted from the silent drive of the car, but our new electric pump solved the issue completely. As with every conversion, the DS has added further to our knowledge of converting beautiful classics.”

The Citroen DS has been converted to a customer’s specification. Electrogenic uses its leading, proprietary EV technology to sympathetically convert a wide range of classics to electric power, including recent world first conversions of the Triumph Stag and the first professionally converted four-wheeler Morgan.

About Electrogenic

Electrogenic takes beautiful classic cars and sympathetically converts them to electric power using its leading, proprietorial EV engineering and technology. Each model conversion is bespoke, enabling Electrogenic classics to be reborn as a better version of themselves.

The company is led by Steve Drummond, who brings with him two decades of engineering and finance experience in the energy and climate change sector prior to setting up Electrogenic, and expert mechanic Ian Newstead. Motivated by a passion for classic motoring history and for contributing to a sustainable future, the pair use their deep respect for and knowledge of classic cars to future-proof them for the 21st century.

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About Rob Fraser 2510 Articles
Rob Fraser – General dogsbody & Director Rob is the founder of the business. He constantly mutters something about way too many red wines one evening being to blame. Often known for taking the 4WD in the driveway over the sports car, he has travelled pretty much everywhere in Australia and when he is bored goes for a drive. He first learned to drive on the farm in a left hand drive WW11 Jeep when he was 11, and was hooked on 4WDriving way back then. In addition to 4WD he is an avid motoring enthusiast and has maintained a strong interest in the industry ever since his teens. He has owned way too many cars in his time as well. Having previously lived at the top of corporate life he retired in 2000 and hasn’t put a suit and tie on since. Cars are his passion so why not have a business doing what you love he figures. He has towed either a caravan or camper trailer to most parts of Australia, has run guided tours for camper trailers’ and instructed drivers in off road towing.