Peugeot’s first electric vehicle in Australia will be a version of its small Partner van.
The 2023 Peugeot e-Partner will arrive in the first half of this year, with full specifications and local pricing to be revealed closer to launch.
The brand has committed to offering electric vehicles across its passenger car, SUV and light commercial vehicle ranges.
The e-Partner will be offered exclusively in long-wheelbase guise, unlike the combustion-powered model which can also be had with a shorter wheelbase.
It’s powered by a single electric motor with 100kW of power and 260Nm of torque, powered by a 50kWh lithium-ion battery.
Peugeot in Europe claims range of up to 275km on the stricter WLTP cycle, with payload of up to 800kg and towing capacity of up to 750kg.
It supports DC fast-charging at up to 100kW, good for a 0-80 per cent charge in 30 minutes. There’s a standard 7.4kW on-board charger for AC charging, with an 11kW charger optional.
“We are confident that the arrival of our first electric vehicle will provide new avenues for growth for the brand as well as further choice for discerning Peugeot LCV customers wanting to make the move to electric,” said Peugeot Australia managing director Kate Gillis.
While electric vans are far from common in Australia, Renault has been offering an electric version of its Kangoo locally since 2017.
A new-generation model arrives here early this year, with a 90kW/245Nm electric motor and a 45kWh battery.
Peugeot has indicated its EV range could quickly grow this year to include the e-208 hatchback and e-2008 crossover. The e-308 is under evaluation, and could launch in 2024.
Peugeot has also indicated it wants to bring the people mover version of the Partner van to Australia, which appears to open the door to its electric e-Rifter variant.
While Peugeot has rolled out plug-in hybrid versions of its 3008 and 508 locally, with PHEV versions of the 308 and 508 Sportswagon to follow, the e-Partner is the first EV that it will offer here.
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e-308
In Europe, however, there’s already a wide range of EVs. These include the aforementioned e-208 hatchback and e-2008 crossover, as well as the e-Expert and e-Boxer vans, and the Partner and Expert-based e-Rifter and e-Traveler people movers.
The company has also revealed the e-308 hatch and wagon, and confirmed the upcoming 408 will be available with an electric powertrain.
In Europe at least, it will have an electric version of each of its models by 2025 and will cease sales of combustion-powered vehicles on the continent from 2030.
