Brandt Citelec

The S.I.T.L Group (Societé d'Innovation et de Technologie de Lyon), acquired in 2011 Brandt Motors and took now a new vocation, the production of electric vehicles. With the Citelec the company presents the first electric commercial vehicle using a modular concept.




The Citelec van consists of two main parts, the comfortable cab with the frame, and the body. The frame/cab system includes the driver's compartment and a full frame with engine/battery unit, while the easily removable body can vary between a closed box with rear doors, a pick-up with or without side boards, a tilting flatbed or a special box for any liquid, or, for example, a refrigerated box to transport sensitive foods. Some special trailers, with the same concept, are also available to increase cargo space.

The baseline vehicle is about 3865 meters long with 1.66 meters wide and 1.96 meters high. It has a comfortable cabin for two people with the dashboard in the center, which has everything you need to control through a seven-inch touch screen. It also has a radio, navigation system and a collapsible steering column.

The frame carries the electric motor in the middle of the rear axle, with an output of 15 kW up to 30 kW peak, powered by Zebra batteries, which are sodium-nickel-chloride batteries of high temperatures, well insulated in the sides of the frame. With them the vehicle has a range of about 336 kilometers - no load and 25 km/h constant speed - allowing real autonomy in service of more than 200 kilometers. The body itself, suitable for any bodywork, has a load capacity of 600 kg. The vehicle, equipped with four powerful disc brakes, allowes a topspeed of 80 km/h and passes 18% gradients. It also has recovery system of deceleration energy, allowing increased autonomy.

This modern concept of an electric commercial vehicle is going strong in many markets, as the modular concept and the easy recharging of the batteries in a household socket of 16A / 230V - a cost of less than 1 Euro/kilometer - adaps the van to all needs.

The Brand's origins is a light arms manufacturer from 1924 on. In 1956 , the company bought the automotive subcontractor Hotchkiss starting the production of its first flat-bed, tilt-cab truck. At its plant in Lyon the company employs 400 people, with the mayor socetal challenges of the eco-mobility building a range of electric vehicles, including electric scooters and different types of electric bikes.