On 7th December, the French car manufacturer Citroen unveiled the new 100% electrical version of the Mehari, its emblematic leisure vehicle of the 1970s. Driven by Leroy-Somer, the new E-Mehari benefits from: 

• Our tried-and-tested Dyneo® permanent magnet motor technology 
  
• Expertise from one of the pioneers of electric traction motors
  

By applying its know-how of specialist industrial drive solutions to electric traction for over 40 years, Leroy-Somer has substantial experience of motors for electric vehicles. The company has been investing in many customized project development programs for all kinds of electric vehicles, including service automobiles for ports and airports, leisure vehicles, maritime shuttles and heavy industrial handling. 

In 2011, Leroy-Somer embarked on the BlueCar adventure, the small city car made by the Bolloré Group, intended for the Paris Autolib electric car sharing service. As the car sharing concept became a runaway success, it has been replicated in several French cities, including Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux. This has since been exported to the United States (Indianapolis) and more recently to Italy. More than 6,000 BlueCar vehicles driven by Leroy-Somer motors are currently in circulation.

The E-Mehari design is based on developments completed for the BlueCar project. It has kept the platform, battery and powertrain, integrating a 52 kW peak water-cooled LSRPM synchronous magnet motor from the Dyneo® range. Characterised by particularly high efficiency levels, these motors provide new opportunities in performance, compactness and power-to-weight ratios. 

Dyneo® solutions are the outcome of tried-and-trusted technology with over 15 years’ experience and the largest industrial installed base worldwide. They deliver reliability, robustness, a wide range of options, flexible adaptation, easy commissioning and a short return on investment.

With this application, Dyneo® solutions display versatility and performance in an industrial segment just as demanding as the electrical traction sector.