Cleanova
| Company type | Collaborative enterprise |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founder | Dassault, Heuliez, Hydro-Québec |
| Fate | Ownership transferred to Dow Kokam in January 2010 |
| Successor | Dow Kokam |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Cleanova plug-in hybrid automobiles |
Cleanova represents a lineup of plug-in hybrid automobiles created by Société de Véhicules Electriques (SVE), a collaborative enterprise formed by Dassault, Heuliez, and Hydro-Québec. The Cleanova II model utilizes the chassis of the Renault Kangoo. In January 2010, ownership of SVE transferred to Dow Kokam, a joint venture between Dow Chemical and Townsend Kokam. In 2009, Dow Kokam obtained a $161 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy aimed at enhancing battery manufacturing for hybrid and electric vehicle sectors. The Townsend Kokam Advanced Battery plant, located in Michigan, targets an annual battery output sufficient for 60,000 hybrid or electric vehicles.
The Cleanova incorporates three types of battery chemistry: Li-Mn2O4, Li-FePO4, and Li-NiCoAl, with energy storage capacities ranging between 16 and 30 kWh. Nearly fifty percent of the battery's charge can be replenished within half an hour. In electric mode, the vehicle is capable of reaching speeds up to .
The French postal service "la Poste" placed an order for approximately 500 Kangoo Cleanova units.
Electric vehicle
This variant relies solely on external electrical power sources for recharging its battery.
Plug-ins
The plug-in hybrid model provides three selectable driving modes:
- All-electric
- Series
- Parallel
Its drivetrain can produce a maximum power output of .
Autolib
Efforts are underway to develop integrated payment systems combining bicycle and car rentals with public transit fare cards. Two electric vehicle producers, the Dassault Group and Bolloré, intend to supply vehicles for this initiative. Dassault offers the Cleanova, which is based on the Renault Kangoo van platform, while Bolloré's Bluecar—designed by Italian firm Pininfarina—was scheduled for commercial launch in 2009.