Peugeot VLV

The Peugeot VLV was an electric microcar made by Peugeot in 1942. VLV stood for Voiture Légère de Ville ("Light City Car"). The car's announcement, on 1 May 1941, triggered some surprise, since Peugeot was the only one of France's large automakers to show interest in electric propulsion[1] at this time.

It was powered by four 12V batteries placed under the hood (bonnet) and a 2.5 kW (3.4 hp) Safi motor, giving it a claimed top speed of 36 km/h (22 mph) and a range of 80 kilometres (50 mi).[2][3] Charging was completed via a supplied charger that could plug into a standard socket.[4]

The car had two wheels at the front and two at the back. The rear track, however, was very narrow, thus dispensing with the need for a differential for the driving wheels and it utilized only one brake drum for both wheels.

The VLV was built during the war as a way to side-step fuel restrictions imposed on non-military users by the occupying German forces. Yet, it was banned after only 377 examples were built between 1941-1943 and the conventional pre-war Peugeot 202 began production again in 1946.[5]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Peugeot VLV.
  1. ^ Musée de l'Aventure Peugeot. The exhibit label (2012) states:
    Pendant la deuxième guerre mondiale le rationnement d’essence incita les constructeurs à rechercher des sources d’énergie de remplacement.
    Peugeot fut le seul grand constructeur à s’intéresser a ce mode de propulsion et provoqua la surprise en annoncent le 1er mai 1941 la sortie de sa « VLV ». Présenté sous la forme d’un mini cabriolet, a deux places décollées, ce véhicule économique destinée a un usage urbain, fut plus particulièrement utilise par les postiers ou les médecins.
    377 exemplaires furent produits de 1941 à 1945.
    Caractéristiques techniques :
    Moteur électrique, 3,3 ch., alimente par 4 batteries de 12 volts, autonomie de 75 a 80 km. Vitesse maximum 36 km/h.
  2. ^ Ingram, Antony (27 May 2022). "The Peugeot VLV was the Twizy of the 1940s". Hagerty Media. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  3. ^ "VLV". L'Aventure. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  4. ^ Kierse, Matthias (21 July 2020). "Peugeot VLV". Secret Classics. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  5. ^ "Peugeot VLV Two-seater electric car provided zero-emissions transport during the war". Auto Express. 24 May 2010. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
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