Electric Cars: The Basics
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The All-Electric Citroën E-C4 Hatchback
Citroën is a leading French automobile manufacturer, now owned by Netherlands based Stellantis N.V., which was formed by the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (Italian/ American) and Groupe PSA (French). Stellantis owns a diverse and comprehensive portfolio of leading automotive brands, to include, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Jeep, FIAT, Alfa Romeo etc. Previously, Peugeot owned a 89.95% stake in the company. The Citroen electric vehicle (EV) portfolio includes both, battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) models:
- Citroen C5 Aircross Plug-In Hybrid
- All-electric Citroen ë-C3
- All-electric Citroen ë-C4
- All-electric Citroen ë-C4 X
- All-electric Citroen ë-Berlingo
- All-electric Citroen ë-Spacetourer
- Citroën C5 X Plug-In Hybrid
- All-electric Citroen Ami
The Citroen C4 hatchback has been manufactured since 2004. The current third-generation C4 was introduced in 2020, with a new body style, a transformation from a hatchback to a more crossover/ SUV type exterior design. The Citroen all-electric E-C4 variant was also introduced in 2020. The E-C4 battery-electric vehicle (BEV) is built on the CMP platform.
For families keen on migrating to zero-emission electric driving, but keen on a more affordable price point and decent practicality, the pure electric e-C4 has much to offer. Though the EV does not have the largest onboard EV battery, the 50 kWh battery on offer is still a reasonable size.
The manufacturer claims an emission-free electric range up to 350 km (WLTP). Even adjusting the EV range for real-world driving conditions, one can expect to achieve close to 300 km on a fully charged battery.
Given that the majority of day-to-day driving are short commutes i.e. school-runs, grocery store, gym, local high street etc, the 350 km e-range is more than sufficient. Even for those that need to commute to work, weekend trips etc, the EV has a respectable electric range. Moreover, the all-electric Citroën e-C4 offers DC charging capability up to 100 kW and can be charged up to 80% in 30 minutes, enough time to get a coffee and a quick bite on the motorway!
For home charging, the manufacturer provides a 7.4 kW onboard charger as standard, with an option to upgrade to a 11 kW onboard charger. Given that most homes in Ireland have single-phase power supply, very few will need to upgrade to the 3-phase 11 kW onboard charger.
Of course, if you have access to three-phase charging at home or at the workplace, then worth upgrading to 11 kW. Using a dedicated single-phase electric car charger like myenergi zappi, the electric hatchback can be fully charged in 7 hours and 30 minutes. We at e-zoomed discourage the use of a 3-PIN domestic plug to charge an electric car.
In terms of performance, the pure electric e-C4 family car will not set the heart racing, but it will certainly do the job. The front-wheel drive electric vehicle (EV) can achieve 0-100 km/h in 9.0 seconds. The EV delivers a maximum power up to 136 hp (torque: 260 Nm). The top speed is 150 km/h. Again, it is worth labouring the point that the core proposition for this electric car is not performance, rather it is affordability and practicality.
Indeed, affordability, is a key determinant for higher ticket family purchases like a car. Having said that, electric driving is far cheaper per km compared to driving a conventional petrol or diesel car. Depending on the cost of charging, the cost per km can be as little as 10 cents! We at e-zoomed recommend charging overnight at home when the electricity prices are cheaper.
The exterior styling of the e-hatchback is attractive given its unmistakable coupé roofline. Though Citroën markets the EV as a family hatchback, it does demonstrate many characteristics usually found in a crossover/ SUV body style. The EV is practical and versatile without compromising on quality and comfort. The rear seats are comfortable for adults, with ample legroom and headroom. The boot size on offer is also reasonable (380 L).
Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet!
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| A practical and spacious pure electric family car | Only available in one battery size |
| Decent emission-free electric range | Rear-view visibility impacted by roofline |
| 100 kW DC charging standard | 11 kW on board charger not a standard option |
Gallery
The All-Electric Citroen E-C4 Hatchback (credit: Citroen)
| At A Glance | |
|---|---|
| EV Type: | Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV) |
| Body Type: | Hatchback |
| Engine: | Electric |
| Available In Ireland: | Yes |
| Variants (3 Options) |
|---|
| Citroen E-C4 Feel Pack (from € 39,789) |
| Citroen E-C4 C-SERIES Edition (from € 40,876) |
| Citroen E-C4 Flair Pack (from € 41,775) |
| EV Battery & Emissions | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion |
| EV Battery Capacity: | Available in one battery size: 50 kWh |
| Charging: | 100 kW DC charging (10%-80%: 30 mins). Onboard charger: 7.4 kW Standard (0%-100%: 7hrs 30 mins)/ 11kW AC available as an option |
| Charge Port: | Type 2 |
| EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
| Tailpipe Emissions: | 0g (CO2/km) |
| Battery Warranty: | 8 years or 160,000 km |
| Average Cost Of Residential Charging | |
|---|---|
| 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): | 1520 |
| Width (mm): | 1800 |
| Length (mm): | 4360 |
| Wheelbase (mm): | 2670 |
| Turning Circle (m): | 10.9 |
| Boot Space (L): | 380 |
| e-C4 | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 50 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 350 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km): | 16,0 |
| Charging: | 100 kW DC charging (10%-80%: 30 mins). Onboard charger: 7.4 kW Standard (0%-100%: 7hrs 30 mins)/ 11 kW AC available as an option |
| Top Speed: | 150 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h: | 9.0 seconds |
| Drive: | Front-wheel drive (FWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | 100 |
| Horsepower (hp): | 136 |
| Torque (Nm): | 260 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Unladen Weight (kg): | 1,650 |
| Colours: | 7 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | Four-Star |
Electric Vehicles (EVs): Jargons
There is no doubt, in that, for those new to electric driving, the terminology can be both daunting and confusing. We have chosen a few jargons to help you get more familiar with electric vehicles (EVs)! We also recommend reading our article ‘Electric Car Jargon Buster‘ for a more comprehensive list of terms.
| Glossary: Electric Vehicles (EVs) | |
|---|---|
| Alternating Current (AC): | What is alternating current? Though we may not be familiar with this term, we use alternating current everyday in our homes to power our appliances! Alternating current is a type of electric current, in which the direction of the flow of ‘electrons’ switches back and forth at regular intervals or cycles. When an electric car is charged at home, the type of electric current used, is alternating current. |
| Direct Current (DC): | What is direct current? Direct current (DC) is a type of electric current that flows in only one direction i.e. uni-directional. DC enables the constant flow of electrons from an area of high electron density to an area of low electron density. DC is quite common in our day-to-day lives. Many of the appliances we use on a regular basis that are operated by batteries, use DC. A mobile phone, a laptop, a torch light etc. In electric cars, the onboard EV battery also uses direct current to store energy. |
| Internal Combustion Engine Vehicle (ICEV): | What is an internal combustion engine car? Put simply, conventional petrol and diesel vehicles are powered by an internal combustion engine (ICE). These vehicles ‘combust’ fuel with the help of an oxidizer (typically oxygen from the air). These vehicles mostly use fossil fuels, like petrol, diesel, jet fuel etc. These vehicles are characterised by high tailpipe emissions, which pollute the local air. |
| One-Pedal Driving: | What is one-pedal driving? In one-pedal driving, the EV slows down or stops, when the pedal is released. One-pedal functionality reduce the need to use the brake pedal, for speed reduction or stopping. Of course, the brake pedal is still the best way to hold a vehicle in place at a complete stop. |
| Smart EV Charger: | What is a smart EV charger? A smart or ‘intelligent’ electric car charger, is a type of EV charger that enables smart functionality, to include, more control by the user, and communication between the EV charging station, the operator, the utility and the national grid. |
While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.
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