Peugeot Australia says the arrival of its first battery electric vehicle (BEV), in the form of an e-Partner van marks the next step in the brands local electrification journey.
It says the appeal of the Partner Van range has been enhanced, with this latest addition offering unrivalled comfort in a utility vehicle, as well as the freedom to choose between a petrol engine or an electric motor.
Priced from $59,990 MLP, the e-Partner is offered to Australian consumers in a single, long wheelbase variant known as the e-Partner Pro Long Auto.
Powered by a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 50kWh, the e-Partner produces 100kW of power and 260Nm of torque and delivers a WLTP test range of 258km. it is built on Peugeot’s EMP-2 modular multi-energy-platform.
“Not only does the e-Partner’s arrival herald what is to come on our electrification journey in Australia, it also offers a compelling alternative to an important audience: businesses who are looking to make the move to electric when considering how to power their operations,” Peugeot Australia managing director Kate Gillis says.
“There’s no doubt that Partner’s reputation as a capable, adaptable and efficient workhorse will be bolstered by the benefits of a fully electric mobility solution.”
Peugeot Australia says the e-Partner was designed with the needs of a commercial van customer in mind, being volume and use of the cargo space along with ease of handling and manoeuvrability
To address these requirements, the e-Partner combines compact external dimensions with maximum loading capacities. To achieve this, the batteries are located under the floor, without any impact on the e-Partner’s 3.9 cubic meters loading volume, identical to the internal combustion variant.
The e-Partner features a turning circle of 11.4m, a body length of 4.75m, a width of just over 2.10m with mirrors open and a height of less than 1.90 m for ease of access to most car parks.
The dual rear swing barn doors allow for easy access when loading and 6 tie-down rings in the cargo bay help secure goods, with a payload of up to 753kg.
The battery placement in the e-Partner fosters rigidity and delivers optimal weight distribution says the manufacturer. It says a specially adapted power steering system and optimised suspension comfort, helps ensure the e-Partner delivers ease across the variety of driving situations and the best performance when unladen or laden.
The new e-Partner offers three selectable driving modes:
- Eco (60 kW, 190 Nm): promotes autonomy and smooth driving,
- Normal (80 kW, 210 Nm): optimal for everyday use,
- Power (100 kW, 260 Nm): optimises performance when transporting heavy loads.
The cockpit of the e-Partner has evolved to suit the requirements of an electric vehicle. The standard analogue display has been adapted to include:
- A powermeter for displaying the level of consumption (ECO for energy optimisation or POWER for maximum power) or energy recovery (CHARGE),
- A consumption gauge for temperature comfort accessories (heating and air conditioning),
- A battery charge level gauge,
- A colour matrix to view energy flows, monitor charging (current or delayed), onboard computer information and autonomy.
The 8″ central touchscreen is, via a dedicated button, now also the central access point for the ‘electric’ menu where you can navigate through the menus:
- “Flow” to view live energy flows,
- “Statistics” to display consumption statistics,
- “Charge” which allows you to schedule a delayed charge.
The touchscreen’s infotainment capabilities include Bluetooth®, Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto connectivity4 plus FM/DAB radio to play a musical soundtrack via a 4-speaker sound system.
Housing the touchscreen, the central console has also been redesigned to accommodate:
- The new “e-Toggle” gearbox control, perfectly integrated and ergonomic, it gives access to the Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive and Brake functions,
- The selector switch for the 3 driving modes – Eco, Normal and Power.
The new e-Partner is equipped with the electric parking brake, a new feature on this model, which in addition to freeing up floor space, enhances the vehicle’s practicality and ease of use.
Storage space throughout the cabin has also been designed with practically and ease of use in mind, meeting the many different uses of those professions behind the wheel. Storage compartments are easy to reach and cleverly distributed throughout the cabin including the space in front of the passenger left by the airbag, which is now a “bag in roof”, that can be used to hold a 15″ computer. A cable threader also allows the computer to be left charging directly in the storage compartment.
Safety
A unique feature for electric vehicle to ensure pedestrian safety, at speeds of up to 30 km/h an audible signal is emitted from the e-Partner to indicate the presence of the vehicle in forward and reverse gear, known as the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS).
Among the list of standard features for e-Partner, the colour reversing camera plus front and rear parking sensors not only help keep other road users safe, but also make manoeuvring tight spaces easy.
The e-Partner also features automatic dusk sensing headlights, automatic door locking, programmable cruise control, speed limit recognition and recommendation, and a speed limiter function.
Charging technology
The e-Partner van comes as standard with a mode three public station charging cable supplied with the vehicle at time of delivery. Additionally, a domestic socket home charging cable is available for customers to purchase. The on-board charger unit allows charging of a capacity of 7.4kW.
There are three methods to charge the e-Partner including:
- Domestic Socket: using a 2.3kW single-phase 10A charger, charging at home can be achieved by simply plugging into a domestic socket.
- Home Charging Station: Using a home charging station saves significant charging time, meaning drivers can recover their entire driving range in just a few hours.
- Public Charging: utilising the expanding network of public infrastructure is an easy way to top-up range on the go. Apps such as Chargefox, Plugshare and Chargepoint are great tools to help drivers plan their journeys and view real-time availability and usage.
Indicative charging times for the e-Partner via the 50kWh battery capacity include:
- Approximately 7.5 hours from 0-100% capacity via a 7.4kW Wallbox
- Approximately 30 minutes rapid charge from 0-80% capacity via a 100kW DC Charger
Officially on sale now, the fully electric e-Partner is available to purchase at Peugeot dealerships nationally and online at www.peugeot.com.au
