The All-Electric Peugeot e-208 Hatchback: The Complete Guide For India

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India Electric Vehicle (EV) Market

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India, like many other countries, is well positioned to benefit from the shift to zero-tailpipe emission electric driving. Road transportation is a major contributor to air pollution (over 30%), choking our towns, cities and villages across India. Diesel vehicles, in particular, diesel trucks and diesel buses, are significant sources for tailpipe emissions. But given the rise in the standard of living, since liberalisation, the demand for privately owned passenger cars has increased at an unprecedented pace, further worsening the air quality. India has more than 3 crores (30 million) cars releasing tailpipe emissions on its roads!

Though we have seen some improvements in air quality during the ongoing pandemic (as a result of lower vehicle traffic), India’s shift to electric driving will be key in achieving long-term higher air quality. Of course, apart from EVs, the continued development of green and renewable energy infrastructure will be key in achieving lower long-term air pollution. India has already demonstrated global leadership in regards to large-scale solar and wind projects! Hopefully, India will replicate the success with zero-emission electric vehicles.

Despite recent announcements and support from local and national government agencies in India, the EV market is still at a nascent stage, well, at least in terms of electric cars and electric vans. Two-wheel electric scooters and three-wheel electric rickshaws (e-rickshaws) have demonstrated a strong uptake, and India is poised to become a global leader in electric scooters and electric rickshaws (e-tuk). In fact, the ubiquitous e-rickshaw commands an impressive 83% of the Indian electric vehicle market. India currently has over 15 lakhs (1.5 million) e-rickshaws, with each EV playing a role in reducing tailpipe emissions on our roads in India.

Sales of passenger electric cars is still at an early stage. In FY2021, though the market witnessed a growth of nearly 110% from the previous year, the absolute volume of cars sold was only 5,905 electric cars. Currently there are less that 15 pure electric car models available on sale in India.

Tata Motors, the biggest automotive manufacturer in India has launched the Tata Nexon electric SUV. Mahindra Electric, another leading Indian automotive manufacturer, has also launched a number of plug-in electric vehicles (EVs), to include, the Mahindra eVerito electric car, Mahindra eSupro electric van and Mahindra e2o Plus compact electric car. International manufacturers, like UK based MG Motors, have also launched the MG ZS electric SUV in India. Also available are the all-electric Jaguar I-PACE SUV and the Hyundai Kona electric SUV.

For those keen on an overview of the types of electric vehicles (EVs), simply scroll down to the end of the article.

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Electric Cars: The Basics

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For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:

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The All-Electric New Peugeot e-208

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Peugeot is part of the Netherlands based Stellantis N.V., which was formed by the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (Italian/ American) and Groupe PSA (French). You may not be familiar with these names, but the automotive brands in the portfolio would be well known to most consumers. These include: Maserati, Opel, Vauxhall, Jeep, FIAT, Alfa Romeo etc. The company’s portfolio of electric vehicles (EVs) include:

• The all-electric Peugeot e-2008
• The all-electric Peugeot e-208
• Peugeot 308 PHEV
• Peugeot 308 SW PHEV
• Peugeot 3008 PHEV
• Peugeot 508 PHEV
• Peugeot 508 SW PHEV
• The all-electric Peugeot e-Rifter
• Peugeot e-Traveller PHEV

The Peugeot pure electric e-208 hails from the Peugeot 208 supermini  portfolio, first unveiled at the Geneva Motors Show in 2012.  The second generation 208 was unveiled by the French automotive manufacturer in 2019, at the Geneva Motor Show.  At the same time, the company also unveiled the all-electric e-208 hatchback. The EV also uses the dedicated e-CMP platform.

Peugeot has retained ‘familiarity’ with the exterior design for the e-208 electric hatchback. From the outside, the battery-electric vehicle (BEV) is very similar to its sibling petrol and diesel internal combustion engine (ICE) cars. However, that is where the similarity ends. The e-208 has much more to offer than the conventional petrol and diesel variants. This includes: zero-tailpipe emissions, lower cost of motoring per mile, smoother and more silent drive, instant torque, lower taxes and more!

For families and company-car drivers keen to migrate to electric driving via a more affordable and compact electric car, the Peugeot e-208 is certainly worth considering. The pure electric Peugeot has a 50 kWh onboard EV battery. It is true, in that, the more recent introduction of electric cars have a larger EV battery, but given the positioning of the e-208 electric car, primarily as a city car, the 50 kWh battery size is appropriate.

The manufacturer claims a zero-emission electric range up to 224 miles (WLTP). Even adjusting for real-world driving conditions, the EV should be able to deliver an electric range over 190 miles. A useful and practical EV range for most day-to-day needs and for longer distance motorway driving. For those new to electric driving, a number of factors impact the claimed range. These include: driving profile, weather conditions, road surface, wheel size, onboard services used, passenger load and more.

The electric car also incorporates regenerative braking to increase the efficiency and electric range. The EV offers two regenerative braking modes: moderate and emphasised. We recommend using the ’emphasised’ mode as often as possible to increase the efficiency of the electric car.

The Peugeot EV offers DC charging up to 100 kW, which is more than sufficient given the size of the onboard EV battery. At 100 kW DC, the EV can be charged up to 80% in 30 minutes. Just enough time for a coffee and short motorway break.

The e-208 incorporates a 7.4 kW AC (1-phase) onboard charger. This again is appropriate, given that most homes in India are powered by single-phase power supply. The EV battery can be fully charged in 7 hours and 30 minutes. We at e-zoomed recommend charging overnight when the electricity tariff prices are cheaper and we also encourage the use of a dedicated home EV charging station like zappi, which is compatible with solar energy. We discourage the use of a domestic 3-PIN plug for charging an electric car. The EV will take up to 24 hours to fully charge via a standard domestic socket!

In terms of performance, the front-wheel drive Peugeot e-208 delivers 0-62 mph in 8.1 seconds, with a 93 mph top speed (maximum power: 136 hp/ torque: 260 Nm). The electric car also benefits from instant torque. The pure electric e-208 comes with 3 driving modes: Sport, Normal and Eco. The Eco gives priority to electric range, while the Sport gives priority to performance. The Normal mode is for everyday use.

In terms of technology and safety features, the e-208 includes the following (depending on the variant): active safety brake, acoustic vehicle alerting system, blind spot monitoring, Peugeot i-cockpit, 3D head-up digital instrument panel, 8 colour ambient lighting, 7″ high definition touchscreen, climate control and more. In terms of practicality, the EV offers 311 L boot space.

The Peugeot pure electric car is not available in India.

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PROS	CONS
A good option for city driving	Only available in one EV battery size
Decent pure electric range	A more traditional exterior design than futuristic
100 kW DC charging as standard	Limited boot space

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The All-Electric Peugeot e-208 Hatchback (credit:Peugeot)

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Driving an electric vehicle (EV) is cheaper than driving a petrol or diesel vehicle. As an example, in India, filling a full tank of fuel for the internal combustion engine (ICE) Tata Nexon SUV will cost up to Rs 5,000 (assuming an average cost per litre of Rs 100. The Tata Nexon has a fuel tank capacity of 44 L).

In comparison, the Tata Nexon Pure Electric SUV will cost less than Rs 300 for a full EV battery charge (EV Battery size: 30.2 kWh). In India, the average cost for residential electricity is between Rs 5 to Rs 10 per kWh(unit). Therefore the cost to drive per km (or mile) in a pure electric vehicle is substantially lower than a petrol or diesel vehicle.

At an average one can expect a cost per km of Rs 1 for a zero-emission EV, while for an equivalent petrol or diesel vehicle, the cost per km could be up to Rs 7 per km. The annual cost savings achieved by switching to electric driving is significant!

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At A Glance
EV Type:	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)
Vehicle Type:	Hatchback
Engine:	Electric
Available In India:	No

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EV Battery & Emissions
EV Battery Type:	Lithium-ion
EV Battery Capacity:	Available in one battery size: 50 kWh
Charging:	100 kW rapid charging standard (10%-80%: 30 mins). Onboard charger 7.4 kW AC (0%-100%: 7 hrs 30 mins)
Charge Port:	Type 2
EV Cable Type:	Type 2
Tailpipe Emissions:	0g (CO2/km)
Warranty:	8 years or 100,000 miles

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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

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Dimensions
Height (mm):	1430
Width (mm):	1745
Length (mm):	4055
Wheelbase (mm):	2540
Turning Circle (m):	10.4
Boot Space (L):	311

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Peugeot e-208
EV Battery Capacity:	50 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	218 – 224 miles
Electric Energy Consumption (Wh/km):	159 – 176
Charging:	100 kW rapid charging standard (10%-80%: 30 mins). Onboard charger 7.4 kW AC (0%-100%: 7 hrs 30 mins)
Top Speed:	93 mph
0-62 mph:	8.1 seconds
Drive:	Front-wheel drive
Electric Motor (kW):	100
Max Power (HP):	136
Torque (Nm):	260
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	5
Kerb Weight (kg):	1,455
Colours:	8
NCAP Safety Rating:	Four-Star

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Types Of Electric Vehicles (EVs)

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“Electric vehicle” is an umbrella term, and a broad one at that. There are a number of different types of electric vehicles (EVs), each with its distinct characteristics and advantages. These include:

• BEVs: Battery-electric vehicles (pure electric)
• PHEVs: Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (electric and internal combustion engine (ICE) combined)
• MHEVs: Mild hybrid electric vehicles (internal combustion engine (gasoline or diesel) along with regenerative braking)
• FCEVs: Fuel cell electric vehicle (electric with hydrogen as fuel)

The above “types” are powered either entirely or partially by electric energy and have different environmental impacts.

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Battery-Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

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Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), also known as pure electric vehicles, are powered entirely by electricity (i.e. the vehicle does not have a conventional internal combustion engine). BEVs have zero-tailpipe emissions and help improve local air quality.

BEVs are also very economical to drive. A BEV can cost as little as Rs 50 per 100 kilometres to drive. Examples of best-selling EVs include, the all-electric Tesla Model 3 and the all-electric Renault Zoe. A BEV is charged by plugging in the electric vehicle to a dedicated electric car charging station (home or public charging stations). BEVs are well suited for those living in towns, cities and urban centres. Of course, battery-electric vehicles are also suitable for those living in rural settings.

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Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)

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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) differ from battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), in that, PHEVs use both a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric engine for propulsion. Plug-in hybrid vehicles combine the advantages of electric driving and internal combustion engine driving.

On shorter distances, the PHEV uses the electric mode to drive emission-free, using the on-board EV battery and regenerative braking. For longer distances, the plug-in hybrid electric vehicles switches to using the internal combustion engine. With a PHEV, the vehicle can cost as little Rs 50 per 100 kilometres to drive on e-mode, without any tailpipe pollution, and also be driven long-distances, without the fear of range anxiety! Most PHEVs have an EV battery of up to 15 kWh and can achieve a zero-emission electric range of up to 50 kilometres. No wonder PHEVs are fast becoming popular globally, with much potential or India. Like a BEV, the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is charged by using an external power source (EV charging point) for charging.

PHEVs are suitable for those that drive long-distances on a regular basis but want to lower the negative environmental impact from tailpipe pollution. PHEVs are also suitable for those individuals and families that are seeking to save money by taking advantage of electric driving. The Volvo XC40 PHEV and the Volkswagen Golf 8 are good examples of PHEVs.

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Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicles (MHEVs)

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Mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEVs) are a limited form of electric driving. These vehicles also use hybrid technologies (electric driving and internal combustion engine), but the EV battery is much smaller than a BEV or PHEV. Moreover, in a mild hybrid, the EV battery cannot be charged via an external source (i.e. EV charging station). In a MHEV, the battery is charged by capturing the energy released during braking, a process known as regenerative braking. MHEVs have lower tailpipe emissions, and are more economical to own, run and maintain than petrol and diesel cars. MHEVs are a better option than a petrol or diesel car, but not as good an option as a BEV or PHEV. Mild hybrids are well suited for those living in regions with limited charging infrastructure. Again, MHEVs have great potential in India, given the limited public EV charging infrastructure.

The Toyota Prius is a good example of a mild hybrid electric vehicle.

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Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs)

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Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) also called hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, have a fuel cell stack that uses hydrogen to generate the electricity needed to power the electric vehicle. The fuel cell generates electricity and pure water vapour that can escape via the tailpipe. It is capable of generating electricity as long as there is a steady supply of hydrogen. Fuel cell electric vehicles can be refuelled with hydrogen at purpose built filling stations. Filling an FEC takes no more than five minutes.

FCEVs have a range of about 500 kilometers or more between refueling. Today, the only and major limitation is the very limited hydrogen refuelling station network globally. The Toyota Mirai FCEV is a good example of this type of EV.

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