Electric Cars: The Basics
For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:
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The All-Electric Peugeot e-208 Hatchback
Peugeot is part of the Netherlands based Stellantis N.V., which was formed by the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (Italian/ American) and Groupe PSA (French). You may not be familiar with these names, but the automotive brands in the portfolio would be well known to most consumers. These include: Maserati, Opel, Vauxhall, Jeep, FIAT, Alfa Romeo etc.
Peugeot was founded in 1810 in Eastern France (Sochaux), and has a rich heritage in motor racing and the broader automotive sector. Peugeot has won many awards for its passenger cars, to include, six European Car of the Year awards. As part of the broader Groupe PSA, Peugeot is very committed to the electric vehicle (EV) sector. The company’s portfolio of electric vehicles (EVs) include:
- The all-electric Peugeot e-2008
- The all-electric Peugeot e-208
- Peugeot 308 PHEV
- Peugeot 308 SW PHEV
- Peugeot 408 PHEV
- Peugeot 3008 PHEV
- Peugeot 508 PHEV
- Peugeot 508 SW PHEV
- The all-electric Peugeot e-Rifter
- Peugeot e-Traveller PHEV
The automotive company also develops and sells plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), to include the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid, Peugeot 508 Hybrid and the Peugeot 508 SW Hybrid models. Peugeot has committed to offering a fully electric (BEV) or a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) for every model in its portfolio by 2023.
The Peugeot pure electric e-208 hails from the Peugeot 208 supermini portfolio, first unveiled at the Geneva Motors Show in 2012. The second generation 208 was unveiled by the French automotive manufacturer in 2019, at the Geneva Motor Show. At the same time, the company also unveiled the all-electric e-208 hatchback. The EV also uses the dedicated e-CMP platform.
Peugeot has retained ‘familiarity’ with the exterior design for the e-208 electric hatchback. From the outside, the battery-electric vehicle (BEV) is very similar to its sibling petrol and diesel internal combustion engine (ICE) cars. However, that is where the similarity ends. The e-208 has much more to offer than the conventional petrol and diesel variants. This includes: zero-tailpipe emissions, lower cost of motoring per km, smoother and more silent drive, instant torque, and more!
For families and company-car drivers keen to migrate to electric driving via a more affordable and compact electric car, the Peugeot e-208 is certainly worth considering. The pure electric Peugeot has a 50 kWh onboard EV battery. It is true, in that, the more recent introduction of electric cars have a larger EV battery, but given the positioning of the e-208 electric car, primarily as a city car, the 50 kWh battery size is appropriate.
The manufacturer claims a zero-emission electric range up to 350 km (WLTP). Even adjusting for real-world driving conditions, the EV should be able to deliver an electric range over 310 km. A useful and practical EV range for most day-to-day needs and for longer distance motorway driving.
For those new to electric driving, a number of factors impact the claimed range. These include: driving profile, weather conditions, road surface, wheel size, onboard services used, passenger load and more.
The electric car also incorporates regenerative braking to increase the efficiency and electric range. The EV offers two regenerative braking modes: moderate and emphasised. We recommend using the ’emphasised’ mode as often as possible to increase the efficiency of the electric car.
The Peugeot EV offers DC charging up to 100 kW, which is more than sufficient given the size of the onboard EV battery. At 100 kW DC, the EV can be charged up to 80% in 30 minutes. Just enough time for a coffee and short motorway break.
The e-208 incorporates a 7.4 kW AC (1-phase) onboard charger. This again is appropriate, given that most homes in Ireland are powered by single-phase power supply. The EV battery can be fully charged in 7 hours and 30 minutes.
We at e-zoomed recommend charging overnight when the electricity tariff prices are cheaper and we also encourage the use of a dedicated home EV charging station like zappi, which is compatible with solar energy. We discourage the use of a domestic 3-PIN plug for charging an electric car. The EV will take up to 24 hours to fully charge via a standard domestic socket!
In terms of performance, the front-wheel drive Peugeot e-208 delivers 0-100 km/h in 8.1 seconds, with a 150 km/h top speed (maximum power: 136 hp/ torque: 260 Nm). The electric car also benefits from instant torque. The pure electric e-208 comes with 3 driving modes: Sport, Normal and Eco. The Eco gives priority to electric range, while the Sport gives priority to performance. The Normal mode is for everyday use.
In terms of technology and safety features, the e-208 includes the following (depending on the variant): active safety brake, acoustic vehicle alerting system, blind spot monitoring, Peugeot i-cockpit, 3D head-up digital instrument panel, 8 colour ambient lighting, 7″ high definition touchscreen, climate control and more. In terms of practicality, the EV offers 311 L boot space.
Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet!
PROS | CONS |
---|---|
A good option for city driving | Only available in one EV battery size |
Decent pure electric range | A more traditional exterior design than futuristic |
100 kW DC charging as standard | Limited boot space |
The All-Electric Peugeot e-208 Hatchback (credit: Peugeot)
At A Glance | |
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EV Type: | Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV) |
Vehicle Type: | Hatchback |
Engine: | Electric |
Available In Ireland: | Yes |
Variants (3 Options) |
---|
Peugeot e-208 Active (from € 28,730) |
Peugeot e-208 Allure Pack (from € 31,170) |
Peugeot e-208 GT (from € 33,285) |
EV Battery & Emissions | |
---|---|
EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion |
EV Battery Capacity: | Available in one battery size: 50 kWh |
Charging: | 100 kW rapid charging standard (10%-80%: 30 mins). Onboard charger 7.4 kW AC (0%-100%: 7 hrs 30 mins) |
Charge Port: | Type 2 |
EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
Tailpipe Emissions: | 0g (CO2/km) |
Warranty: | 8 years or 160,000 km |
Average Cost Of Residential Charging | |
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Battery net capacity: 16.7 kWh | € 4.00 |
Battery net capacity: 30.0 kWh | € 7.19 |
Battery net capacity: 39.2 kWh | € 9.39 |
Battery net capacity: 45.0 kWh | € 10.78 |
Battery net capacity: 50.0 kWh | € 11.98 |
Battery net capacity: 64.0 kWh | € 15.34 |
Battery net capacity: 71.0 kWh | € 17.01 |
Battery net capacity: 77.0 kWh | € 18.45 |
Battery net capacity: 90.0 kWh | € 21.57 |
Battery net capacity: 100.0 kWh | € 23.97 |
- Note 1: The average cost of residential electricity in Ireland varies depending on the region, supplier and type of energy used. An average for Ireland is 23.97 cents/kWh.
- Note 2: Not all EV manufactures make available the data on net EV battery capacity, and in a number of instances the EV battery capacity advertised, does not state if it is gross or net capacity. In general, usable EV battery capacity is between 85% to 95% of the gross available capacity.
Charging Times (Overview) | |
---|---|
Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW): | 6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC) |
Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW): | 3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
Rapid charging AC (43 kW): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
Rapid charging DC (50 kW+): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW+): | 0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
Tesla Supercharger (120 kW – 250 kW): | 0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
- Note 1: SoC: state of charge
Dimensions | |
---|---|
Height (mm): | 1430 |
Width (mm): | 1745 |
Length (mm): | 4055 |
Wheelbase (mm): | 2540 |
Turning Circle (m): | 10.4 |
Boot capacity (L): | 311 |
Peugeot e-208 | |
---|---|
EV Battery Capacity: | 50 kWh |
Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 350 km |
Electric Energy Consumption (Wh/km): | 159 – 176 |
Charging: | 100 kW rapid charging standard (10%-80%: 30 mins). Onboard charger 7.4 kW AC (0%-100%: 7 hrs 30 mins) |
Top Speed: | 150 km/h |
0-100 km/h: | 8.1 seconds |
Drive: | Front-wheel drive |
Electric Motor (kW): | 100 |
Max Power (PS): | 136 |
Torque (Nm): | 260 |
Transmission: | Automatic |
Seats: | 5 |
Doors: | 5 |
Kerb Weight (kg): | 1,483 |
Colours: | 8 |
NCAP Safety Rating: | Four-Star |
Electric Vehicles (EVs): Top 5 Jargons
There is no doubt, in that, for those new to electric driving, the terminology can be both daunting and confusing. We have chosen the top 5 jargons to help you get more familiar with electric vehicles (EVs)!
Top 5 Jargons : Electric Vehicles (EVs) | |
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EV (Electric Vehicle) | An EV is any vehicle that uses ‘electricity’ or an ‘electric motor’ to power the vehicle. The electric motor derives its power from a rechargeable battery or batteries. In general, EVs are less dependent on petrol or diesel as fuel, and in the case of pure electric cars, not dependent at all, on petrol/diesel for propulsion. EVs encompass all types of electric vehicles, to include Battery-Electric Vehicles (BEVs), Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), Extended Range Electric Vehicles (E-REVs) and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs). |
Regenerative Braking | Driving at all times requires braking. However, on more densely populated roads, the frequency and intensity of braking increases, reducing the efficiency of the vehicle. Regenerative braking is the process of capturing energy, otherwise wasted during braking. According to the rules of physics, energy cannot be destroyed, instead it simply transfers from one state to another. The same principle applies to braking. The kinetic energy that propels a car forward is usually displaced or wasted as heat. Regenerative braking captures this kinetic energy, that in turn recharges an onboard EV battery, increasing both efficiency and electric range. Electric cars like Toyota Prius PHEV, Jaguar I-PACE BEV and Tesla Model 3 BEV use regenerative braking to increase efficiency and electric range. |
Torque | Torque (Nm) is the measure of the force that can cause an object to rotate about an axis. Torque is a key factor in determining acceleration of a vehicle and is defined as the engines rotational speed. Torque is most commonly defined as the force required to twist an object. For example, a wrench being used. The heavier a car, the more important is the role of torque i.e. the vehicle needs more rotational force to help it accelerate faster. |
WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) | In a bid to continue to improve the quality of data released by automotive manufacturers (OEMs), on efficiency, range and CO2 emissions, Europe has introduced the WLTP testing procedure. WLTP is seen as a significant improvement over the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) testing standard designed in the 1980s. In general, WLTP data is more realistic compared to NEDC! WLTP has been developed with the aim of becoming a global standard, so that cars can be easily compared between regions. However, real world driving data will still differ from WLTP data. As an example, the real world electric range of an electric car can be significantly lower than the stated WLTP range, depending on driving style, driving conditions, weather, onboard services used and more! |
ULEVs (Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles) | An ultra low emission vehicle is any vehicle that emits less than 75g of CO2/km and is capable of operating with zero-tailpipe emissions for at least 10 miles. In general, ULEVs release emissions that are at least 50% lower than petrol and diesel cars, by using low carbon technologies. ULEVs include all types of electric vehicles: BEVs, PHEVs, E-REVs etc. and are a key solution in improving air quality. There are currently numerous ULEVs available, to include e-cars, e-vans, e-motorcycles, e-mopeds and e-taxis. Examples include: Nissan Leaf, BMW i3, MINI Countryman PHEV and Renault Kangoo ZE. |
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