Peugeot e-208 electric car update: charging level limitation and increased range
Peugeot is improving the e-208 with a minor technical model update. This is beneficial for customers and necessary for the Group in the face of new competition.
(Image: Peugeot)
Last year, Peugeot is proud to announce that the e-208 was the best-selling electric car in its class in Europe. For a car that came onto the market just over six years ago, this is a remarkable success. It was also because the number of competitors was quite limited. This is changing, and Peugeot must take countermeasures. There are several small improvements.
23 km more range
These initially only affect the version with the 115 kW drive. The battery remains unchanged at 51 kWh. Nevertheless, the WLTP range increases by 23 km to 432 km. Peugeot specifies consumption in the cycle, which includes charging losses, at 14.1 to 14.5 kWh. As neither the consumption nor the energy content of the battery has changed, we asked Peugeot. The answer: there is a higher energy density per cell, which means that the net share of the energy content can be better utilized. This should translate into: Of the 51 kWh gross, Peugeot releases a little more for direct use.
What is new is that the battery can also be tapped externally with up to 3 kW up to a minimum charge level of 30 percent. Peugeot offers an adapter as an accessory. Finally, the charge level can be limited to 80 percent by software, albeit only when charging via alternating current. Peugeot still charges, 1190 euros for a three-phase charger. A heat pump is fitted as standard. Targeted preconditioning of the battery, which would increase the DC charging capacity during the cold season, is not available on this platform.
A route planner is also included, provided the customer invests in a navigation system ex works. Among other things, it takes speed, traffic, road type and altitude into account for its calculations. This service will presumably only be available via a subscription model, which will be subject to a charge six months after initial registration.
Hybrids with more power
The hybrid drives were already strengthened in March. Instead of 74 and 100 kW, their system output is now 81 and 107 kW. Both are only available with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. Peugeot puts fuel consumption in the WLTP at 4.5 to 4.7 liters. Last year, we had an Opel Corsa with this drive in the editorial office, which achieved a total of 5.2 liters/100 km in the test. In some cases, consumption was just under 4 liters/100 km.
Ambitious price expectations
In the price list from March 12, which does not yet include the revised e-version, the e-208 costs at least 36,325 euros. For this price, the small car is available with the 100 kW e-motor and the 50 kWh battery. If you want the more economical 115 kW drive with the 51 kWh battery, you will have to pay at least 37,325 euros. These prices are not set to change for the moment.
(Image: Peugeot)
It remains to be seen how long this statement from Peugeot will last. At the latest, when the Group comes under pressure in terms of fleet consumption and has to increase its share of e-car sales, these price expectations will be difficult to maintain.
Because the competition is growing. Electric cars such as the Hyundai Inster, Mini, Renault R4 and R5 are ultimately aimed at a similar target group – and are priced well below Peugeot's asking prices, especially at the base. Even Opel sells the Corsa Electric on the same platform for significantly less money. This can be clearly seen from the German registration figures for the first two months: Of 3188 Peugeot 208s sold, 81 had a battery-electric drive. Opel even managed to register 659 Corsa Electric cars for the first time (test). A little more range and fine-tuning of details are unlikely to be enough to significantly increase the proportion of 208 sales accounted for by electric cars.
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(mfz)