The ŠKODA CITIGOᵉ iV Is Here. What’s Hidden inside?

How powerful and fuel efficient is it?

The electric motor delivers 60 kW, which is 5 kW more than the most powerful internal combustion engine. One of the biggest advantages is the electric motor’s torque of 210 Nm, available from zero rpm. This makes for a better driving experience and enhanced vehicle dynamics compared to a 95 Nm internal combustion engine. Efficiency depends on the user’s driving style and on ambient conditions, but realistically we are looking at between 12 and 15 kWh per 100 km.

Is the motor different in size and weight from an internal combustion engine?

Compared to the 1.0 MPI engine fitted in conventional CITIGOs, the CITIGOᵉ iV’s electric motor is more compact and more or less the same weight.

The electric motor is smaller and easier to install than an ICE. As far as weight is concerned, the electric motor itself weighs 54.1 kg, which is a tad more than the internal combustion engine’s 50.5 kg. However, to make a proper powertrain comparison we should also factor in the gearbox. This results in a 70.4 kg electric motor and 80.2 kg ICE, mainly because the electric motor transmission has a single gear, making it much simpler and lighter.

How long does it take to charge a battery?

The fastest option is to charge from a DC rapid charging point, which can charge a flat battery to 80% total capacity in about an hour. Using a home-charging wallbox, it should take 4:08 hours to reach the same capacity, or just under 5 hours 30 minutes to fully recharge the battery.

Has electric drive necessitated any changes to the car’s design?

The drive unit has been designed to allow for installation in the place primarily intended for the internal combustion engine. The high-voltage battery, taking up the space previously occupied by the now redundant fuel tank, the place left behind by the exhaust pipe in the tunnel console and the under-seat space, has also had to be adapted.

Is there any difference in the transmission from the driver’s point of view?

It is a single-speed reducer that, as far as the customer is concerned, behaves like an automatic transmission. It is absolutely smooth, without any torque drop at all.

Do the dashboard indicators differ in any way? Any extras, anything missing?

In addition to the standard indicators, the instrument panel includes a battery indicator and information on the range remaining. The dominant indicator is the pointer display for driving mode, which indicates the relative power of the drive or the relative level of brake energy regeneration for the high-voltage battery.