This quirky EV dates back to the 1940s

The car industry has long used EVs as a way to adapt to energy crises.
By Teodosia Dobriyanova  on 
A split screen in B&W shows Peugeot's retro VLV from the back (left) and its front opened to show the E batteries' storage (right); caption reads: "Vintage EV"
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One of the world's most adorable electric vehicles was created as a response to an energy crisis. The Light City Vehicle (LCV) was produced by Peugeot between 1941 and 1943 as a response to France’s fuel shortages during the German occupation.

The two-seater convertible, used mostly by postal workers and doctors during WWII, was powered by four 12V batteries that were stored at the front of the vehicle. This allowed it to travel with a top speed of 21 miles per hour, and go as far as 50 miles with each charge.

Peugeot produced a total of 377 LCVs before the German authorities banned it. Most of the produced vehicles can now be seen in museums, such as the Peugeot Adventure Museum.

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Teodosia Dobriyanova
Video Producer

Teodosia is a video producer at Mashable UK, focussing on stories about climate resilience, urban development, and social good.


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