Cedre

Cedre SARL

Company type	Non-profit organization
Industry	Electric vehicles
Founded	1975
Founder	François Guerbet
Defunct	1987
Headquarters	Montesquieu-Volvestre , France
Products	Compact electric vehicles powered by lead-acid batteries

Cedre SARL—originally named Société Seve-Cedre until 1979—was a French company specializing in the production of compact electric vehicles powered by lead-acid batteries. Established in 1975 by François Guerbet in Montesquieu-Volvestre, located roughly 54 kilometers south of Toulouse, the firm concentrated on creating electric cars tailored for urban environments.

The acronym Cedre represented Centre d'Études pour la Développement et la Réussite des Entreprises. Functioning as a non-profit organization under the French 1901 association law, Cedre’s mission prioritized ecological innovation over commercial profit.

Manufacturing operations were discontinued in 1987.

Origins

By 1974, François Guerbet had been developing concepts for city-focused electric vehicles, fully aware of the performance and range constraints imposed by lead-acid battery technology. To mitigate these issues, he engineered a lightweight three-wheeled vehicle capable of reaching speeds up to 50 km/h (31 mph) and carrying 200 kg of batteries. This configuration allowed for a driving range near 100 km (61 miles) while supporting a payload of 120 kg. This prototype evolved into the Midinette, which Guerbet introduced at the 1975 Paris Inventions Fair.

Funding issues

Although Guerbet lacked sufficient capital in 1975 to commence production, he remained steadfast in promoting Cedre’s electric vehicles. He presented the Midinette at various venues, including the International Symposium of Electric Cars held in Düsseldorf (1976) and a comparable event in Brussels. The vehicle was also displayed on Paris’s Champs-Élysées, despite persistent financial obstacles.

This determination culminated in September 1978 with the delivery of the first production Midinette units, priced at 14,110 francs—on par with the entry-level Citroën 2CV, which offered greater space and speed. Earlier that year, in May 1978, the Midinette had garnered attention as a featured exhibit at the annual Concours Lépine invention competition.

The cars

Guerbet’s earliest electric vehicle prototype from 1974 was designated as the Mini 1 or Soubrette. The Midinette, introduced in 1975 and manufactured until around 1979, was equipped with a 1.2 kW motor delivering a maximum speed of 50 km/h and an approximate range of 60 km. This single-seat model featured a body constructed from plastic and polyester materials, accessed through a sliding door on its left side. With dimensions measuring 1800 mm in length and 880 mm in width, it employed three wheels arranged with one at the front. Its price point was set at 9,540 francs, making it somewhat less costly than the basic Citroën 2CV but offering significantly lower capacity and speed.

In 1981, the Midinette was succeeded by the Cedre 1000, which had a reduced top speed near 40 km/h but doubled its driving range to approximately 120 km. This model supported overnight charging via standard household electrical outlets as well as emerging public charging stations found in select French cities. Although its length increased to 2000 mm, it remained a single-seater vehicle. Priced at 23,500 francs, it was slightly more affordable than the entry-level Citroën 2CV available at that time. Optional solar panels could be installed to extend the range by roughly 20 km on sunny days.

A more powerful variant featuring a maximum output of 5 kW was also offered. Furthermore, Guerbet developed a specialized version known as the 5x5 Solaire.

Bibliography

• Harald Linz and Halwart Schrader: Die Internationale Automobil-Enzyklopädie. United Soft Media Verlag, Munich, 2008. (German)
• Edited by George Nick Georgano: The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile, Volume 3: P–Z. Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, Chicago, 2001. (English)
• George Nick Georgano: Autos. Encyclopédie complète. 1885 à nos jours. Courtille, Paris, 1975. (French)