Heuliez banks on electric car for survival

LE PELLERIN, France, April 2 (Reuters) - French niche car and equipment maker Heuliez is counting on the success of its 'Pelican' electric utility vehicle as it fights to stave off the threat of bankruptcy.

The company, which employs 1,014 people and is based in Cerizay, Western France, is trying to secure 45 million euros ($60 million) of funding to ensure its survival.

In the meantime, the group is hoping to sell 500 Pelicans, which have a top speed of 25 km/h and can cover 35 kilometres before recharging, this year.

The government last week said it would invest 10 million euros in the company if it came up with a realistic industrial plan. It said family shareholders should contribute to the rescue plan too. The company's local region, Poitou-Charentes, has pledged 5 million euros.

Government spokesman Luc Chatel said at the time that Heuliez had found around half the funding it needed.

($1=.7493 Euro)

(Reporting by Guillaume Frouin, Writing by Helen Massy-Beresford; editing by John Stonestreet)