#Product Trends
Iconic vehicle reinvented: with an electric drive – and a brake from Kendrion INTORQ
Méhari and 2CV replicas by French manufacturer MLT Automotive
In July 1990, the last Citroën 2CV, which is affectionately called the “duck” in Germany, rolled off the assembly line. But plans are now underway to resurrect the famous vehicle: the replica will have an electric drive that combines the unique driving experience of this vehicle with the advantages of electromobility. Also on board is the INTORQ BFK458 spring-applied brake from Kendrion, which is used as the parking brake in this extraordinary EV.
“We have been in contact with the manufacturer for a number of years,” says Vincent Triquet, Sales Manager at Kendrion Industrial Brakes. “MLT is a French manufacturer of retro vehicles, which are operated 100% electrically. Today, the company is already selling the “E-Story” model, an electric replica of Citroën's Méhari. This vehicle also features brakes from Kendrion.” Customers will soon be able to purchase an electric replica of the ‘duck’, too. The model is now available for pre-ordering. Fitted with a 13.5 kWh battery, the EV has a range of up to 30 miles and can be charged from a 220 V household socket. The top speed is 56 miles/hour.
“The electric replicas of the Méhari and the ‘duck’ are not part of the traditional automotive industry,” explains Vincent Triquet. “So the brakes don’t have to comply with the current automotive standards either.” The standard INTORQ BFK458 with manual release and a cover ring (for dust protection) meets the requirements of MLT. And to ensure that the brake can still be released in an emergency when de-energized, the manufacturer has made the appropriate adjustments.
The INTORQ BFK458, which has stood the test of time for decades, is an out-of-the-box component available from batch size 1, which is particularly interesting for customer-specific projects. The modular solution enables tailor-made configuration, which allows customers to select from various sizes, different friction linings and different connection voltages, among other things. “The BFK458 spring-applied brake is a true all-rounder. It can be used for many different applications, as is demonstrated impressively in the case of MLT,” concludes Vincent Triquet.
