Peugeot iOn
19th March 2012. Text and images © ecodrive 2012 unless otherwise stated. No reproduction without express permission.
Special Offer: Peugeot iOn for just £12,999 On The Road whilst stock lasts, from participating dealers.
Peugeot have had a long history with Electric Vehicles since the Peugeot 106 Electric back in the mid-1990s - the first semi-production model to sell in real numbers in Europe. Their return to the EV market is the spiritual successor to the 106: the Peugeot iOn. Bearing more than a passing resemblance to its sister car, Citroën's C-Zero, and even more to the vehicle on which they're both based, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, the Peugeot and Citroën offerings are now the most affordable electric cars on the market today.
 |
|
|
There is no denying that the Peugeot iOn is broadly
similar to the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, largely being a
rebadging exercise, but that is no bad thing in the
fledgling EV market. Mitsubishi have had various
incarnations of i-MiEV for around 5 years so it is a
well-proven vehicle. Peugeot/Citroën's
pre-existing relationship with Mitsubishi to buy-in
other low volume models (they also rebadge the Outlander
4x4 model as the Peugeot 4007) meant it was an obvious
choice as a partner. And it's not the first
collaboration: Peugeot 107, Citroën C1 and Toyota Aygo
are all basically the same car.
In terms of specification, the Peugeot and Citroën
products are identical
so what are the differences between Peugeot iOn
and the Mitsubishi upon which it is based? Well,
the most noteworthy addition is Peugeot Connect, fitted
to all other Peugeots now, allowing you to summon
roadside assistance or the emergency services at the
touch of a button - or automatically in the case of an
accident. A built-in SIM card, mobile phone
technology and a GPS allow emergency calls to be tracked
and the vehicle location pinpointed. On Peugeot
iOn the service extends cover to running out of juice -
a comforting safety blanket, especially for a novice EV
driver.
The mature one?
The colour pallette for iOn is far greater than the
paltry 4 choices available on i-MiEV, although they are
largely the same between the French branded cars (solid
white, silver, black, pearlescent white, red &
yellow) and Peugeot also offer metallic Killi
Blue. Most publicity shots are in the conservative
white, silver or Killi Blue, reflecting the brand's main
colour. Peugeot iOn and Mitsubishi i-MiEV have
opted for body-coloured door frames which give it a
subtly different appearance to C-Zero's black borders
and darker headlamp bodies.
Peugeot have changed the exterior appearance more so
than Citroën have, with the bonnet being unique to
include the U-shape recess for the Peugeot 'lion'
badge and a similar moulding on the tailgate.
Clear red rear light clusters seem to lend iOn a more
upmarket appearance than the smoke-tinted clusters on
the Citroën which are carried straight over from the
i-MiEV, reflecting the same choices on C1 and 107.
Peugeot iOn comes with automatically folding mirrors
activated by the remote central locking and 7-spoke
alloys are standard - which are an option on i-MiEV.
You get a standard DIN radio with 2 speakers and 2
tweeters but it has both a CD and a USB connection - to
connect straight to an iPod, other MP3 player or even
just a memory stick with your favourite tunes. It
also has Bluetooth and a microphone in the dash to use
hands-free with a compatible mobile phone.
On the road
Being rear-wheel-drive it doesn't have a huge boot,
just 166 litres, but the 50:50 rear seats fold flat very
simply (no issue with seat-belts being caught up etc) to
yield a high, level load floor making it more practical
than many larger hatchbacks. Without drive going through
the front wheels it has an incredibly tight steering
lock, particularly useful in city driving and for making
U-turns in the road.
Its 49kW, 180Nm high-torque motor gives spritely
acceleration and the low centre of gravity gives good
roadholding despite its tall, narrow body.
There is only one trim level, in a sombre black and
blue, but it is relatively well-specified with remote
central locking (with folding mirrors) and all-round
electric windows. Electric heating and
air-conditioning need judicious use to avoid reducing
range, where this will be an issue.
The three cars achieved an impressive 4-star Euro-NCAP
rating, with 6 airbags including curtain airbags, Isofix
points for child seats in the rear and a disabling
function for the passenger airbag to permit a
rear-facing childseat.
The official range figure from the European 'NEDC' test
cycle quotes a range of 93 miles, but this is an
overestimate in virtually all circumstances. A
practical maximum of 80 miles is a more honest estimate,
subject to modest speeds and without the use of the
electric heating or air-conditioning. With
automatic style driving controls and just
Park-Reverse-Neutral-Drive selections, it is incredibly
simple to drive. There is no built-in satellite
navigation but is available as an accessory to fix to
the windscreen. The range can be down to as little
as 40 miles, especially in winter with heating and a
heavy right foot, but with care a reliable 60 mile range
is easily achievable.
Mu-sic to your ears
Peugeot have addressed the occasional need for a longer
range through their new Mu scheme, offering access to
larger or 'unlimited range' conventional vehicles at a
rate cheaper than typical car rental companies.
Presently only offered by Peugeot's own Robins & Day
dealerships in the larger cities, the scheme is not only
aimed at buyers of iOn but allows anyone to buy a
smaller, more efficient Peugeot than they might
otherwise choose, safe in the knowledge that they can
access a more practical vehicle - an estate or people
carrier for instance, or something more fun like a
convertible - on the rare occasion that they need or
want one. Other iOn specialist dealers (of which
there are 22 across the UK) may individually offer
similar.
For iOn customers, the dealership will charge your car
from their dedicated charging point whilst you use the
conventional vehicle, so even if you are at the limit of
reaching the dealer from home you can return to your
vehicle with a full charge.
The Mu scheme is a very attractive proposition
particularly where iOn may be a household's only car and
is a more efficient, lower carbon alternative to buying
an Extended-Range EV where trips beyond the daily range
of the EV are the exception rather than the rule.
Charging
In common with the other Japanese origin cars,
including Nissan and Mitsubishi, Peugeot iOn has 2
charge inlets, one on each rear quarter panel: the
right-hand-side has the 'normal' inlet for charging at
home (or base) from a wallbox
charger or at a charging station, recouping 8-12
miles' worth of driving per hour. On the
left-hand-side rear is the Quick Charge inlet for use
with ChaDeMo chargers to bring up 80% in 30 minutes from
empty: 30%-80% in about 15 minutes. Plugged In
Places areas deploying these chargers (as well as
Ireland, the Netherlands and Estonia) give longer legs
to the pint-sized car.
 |
|
|
Using the Type 2 (Mennekes) cable will charge iOn 30%
faster, as will using the wallbox at home.
Economics
Following a recent price drop, Peugeot iOn and Citroën
C-Zero now have the lowest (battery included) purchase
price of any of the Plug-In Car Grant eligible vehicles
at just £21,216 On The Road, including VAT and PICG.
Businesses can contract hire at just £249+VAT per month
on a 3-year, 30,000 mile basis. When factoring in the
potential to save over £100 per month on fuel charges,
nil road tax, exemption from Congestion Charge (in
London, with a £10 annual admin fee) and, as a business,
0% Benefit-In-Kind (Company Car tax) for an employee
& nil National Insurance contributions for the
employer, you can quickly see how affordable
Peugeot iOn really can be. Businesses can claim
100% First Year Allowance against tax reducing the
effective purchase price significantly.
Verdict
In common with the stablemates, Peugeot iOn is a nimble, agile EV with generous interior space for 4 adults considering its small footprint on the road. Fantastic steering lock make it incredibly manoeuvrable and at home in the city. There are a good choice of colours (better than the Mitsubishi i-MiEV on which it is based) of solid, metallic and pearlescent shades, but just the one rather dark and sombre interior with a blue hue to the dashboard top.
Avoid the pearlescent black paint unless it is really
important to a business brand etc. since it will require
greater ventilation or air-conditioning in summer.
The only option of the Cold Pack (heated drivers seat
and heated mirrors) at just £155 (inc VAT) should always
be specified: the heated seat can take the chill off and
avoid use of the energy-hungry main heating, preserving
range.
The standard 10A charging cable that comes with the car
for away-from-home use is slow: future public charging
stations will use 'Type 2' (commonly referred to as
'Mennekes') connectors which can charge 35% faster so if
you plan to charge elsewhere, especially in Plugged in
Places areas, it is advisable to buy
one of these cables.
It is presently the cheapest EV on the market (along
with Citroën C-Zero) undercutting both the Nissan LEAF and Mitsubishi i-MiEV
as an outright purchase with a competitive Contract Hire
rate if that is the preferable route.
Peugeot iOn is £21,216 inc VAT (including the Plug-In Car Grant) or is available for £249+VAT per month on a 36-month (3+35) and 10,000 miles per annum contract. Special offer: Limited stock available at £12,999. Contact for details.
» Express your interest in Peugeot iOn now