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Venturi Global Challenges – Mission 02 : « Shanghai to Paris 100% Electric »


November 24th, 2009





SHANGHAI TO PARIS
100% ELECTRIC


On November 21st 2009, with the presence of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco,
 Venturi presented the Mission 02 of the “Venturi Global Challenges”
in the Grimaldli Forum in Monaco.


Last September, the Venturi Jamais Contente reached about 302 mph (487 km/h), and established a new world speed record (in the category of electric drive vehicles equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell - subject to FIA homologation). The mission 01 of the « Venturi Global Challenges » was accomplished.

This weekend, the Azur Cruise organized by Citroën for its 90th birthday was passing by Monaco. This was the occasion for Venturi to present the mission « Shanghai to Paris – 100% Electric » as well as the vehicle and the crew who will perform this trip.

This new mission is an amazing human experience: about 80 years after André Citroën’s adventure of “La Croisière Jaune” (the yellow cruise), Venturi will accomplish the return journey, from shanghai to Paris in electric vehicle.

The purpose of this adventure of 8 300 miles (13 400 km) through China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany and finally France is to establish a new distance record for electric production models and to demonstrate the reliability of Venturi’s electric vehicles.

The departure will take place on May 2nd, 2010 in the Pavilion of Monaco in Shanghai China Expo 2010 (Universal Exhibition of Shanghai). The vehicle will arrive in Paris at the end of July 2010.


OBJECTVE :

 Technical objective:
The Citroën Berlingo « Powered by Venturi », which is in final of a call for tender of the French Postal Services (La Poste), is exposed to such conditions to show its reliability, effectiveness and robustness. We would like to establish a new record of distance for a mass produced electric vehicle.

Ecological objective:
The development of clean vehicles is one of the major challenges of our century: the strength of the mission "Shanghai to Paris" is to bring a positive message about the viability of electric vehicles.

Educational objective:
In partnership with Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, several conferences will be organized throughout the course on the topic of new energies, technology of electric motors, and the trip itself (geography, anthropology, and history).

Cultural objective:
« Shanghai to Paris » really is a human adventure. The crew will have to find every evening a place to recharge the vehicle and to spend the night. This is the best way to meet people and to get to know them which will be part of this adventure’s learning.
The crew will film the different places crossed and a video will be edited to show the whole expedition.


THE CREW :

Xavier Chevrin and Géraldine Gabin, two Professors of University living in the Ile de la Reunion, are experienced in this kind of expeditions. They organized and participated in the raid of the Green Cruise linking Paris to Almaty (Kazakhstan) in electric scooter and making the longest journey ever made in electric vehicle.
The experience of such challenges, knowledge of the course or skills in foreign languages (including Mandarin) are all factors that ensure the success of this mission.


THE VEHICLE :

As a result of a partnership between PSA Peugeot Citroën and Venturi Automobiles, the Berlingo « Powered by Venturi » is similar to the ones currently tested by La Poste and commercialized in Europe from March 2010.

The vehicle given to these two experienced adventurers will be equipped with extra batteries in order to increase the range to 250 miles (400 km).


The Citroën Berlingo « Powered by Venturi » exhibited next to the Citroën Kégresse which accomplished the Yellow cruise in 1932
Photo credit : Julien Taylor
Technical specifications:

Batteries
 - Nickel Sodium Chloride « Zebra for Venturi »
 - Energy: 70,5 kWh (3 x 23,5 kWh)

Electric motor
 - Asynchronous three-phase motor
 - Max power: 42 kW (4000 rpm)
 - Max torque: 180 Nm

80% recharge
 - With onboard charger: 5 hours (220 V–16 A standard plug)

Performances
 - Range:  350 to 400 Km (220 to 250 miles)
 - Max speed: 110 Km/h (68 mph)


HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, Gildo Pallanca Pastor, President of Venturi Automobiles, Louis Nègre, Senator of Alpes-Maritimes and Mayor of Cagnes-sur-Mer, Anne Poyard - Vatrican, National Councillor and Chairman of the Committee of Environment in Monaco. In the center: Géraldine Gabin and Xavier Chevrin. On the left side: Michel Valet, Commercial Director France of Citroën.
Credit: Charles Franch / Prince’s Palace of Monaco






Since 2001, VENTURI has led a sustained innovation drive that has made it an undisputed leader in electric vehicles. Driving the most advanced technological solution in its field, VENTURI has a unique experience extended from high-performance sports cars to city quadricycles through electric conversions. Venturi, through its accomplishments, has influenced the future of automobile changing the electric vehicle perception.

The VENTURI GLOBAL CHALLENGES are a series of technological and human challenges in order to show the company’s advance in the electric propulsion.
Each challenge, presented as a specific mission, will take place on a different continent and will allow to establish new records, underlining the reliability, the effectiveness and the robustness of Venturi’s electric vehicles in extreme conditions.


PRESS CONTACT
Clement Dorance
Ph. : +377 9999 5200 / +33 6 80 86 85 90
E-mail : press@venturi.fr