Charging around town

The all-electric Peugeot i0n makes city driving a fun, tranquil and emission-free experience

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The first thing you notice when you start the motor is how silent the car is – just a bleep lets you know it’s on with none of the engine noise or vibration. The second thing you notice when pulling away is just how smooth it is – it almost glides off.

The electric power train gives the i0n many qualities that make it ideal for driving for urban driving. There are no gear changes and just one pedal to go and one to stop. Maximum torque is available as soon as you step on the pedal, making accelerating smooth and instant. And the steering is very light which makes parking and nipping in and out of traffic effortless. The lack of engine noise and vibration also make for a more tranquil experience.

Going the distance
The manufacturer says the car can do a range of 93 miles on a fully-charged battery. However, I achieved closer to 70 miles on a full charge on a London commute. It is worth noting however that I tested the car in cold weather, which affects the battery performance, and used the heating and lights, which uses additional power.

Research suggests that the majority of motorists’ daily trips are less than 35 miles, therefore the i0n’s range is more than adequate for many people.

The car cleverly makes use of regenerative braking, which recycles the braking energy back into the battery. What’s more, when you take your foot off the accelerator, the power recovery system slows the car down purposefully and uses this deceleration power to charge the battery.

The dash has a single dial to show what mode the car is in – when in the green area, you are driving in the most efficient way, when in the blue area, the regenerative function is charging the battery, and when in the white, the car is not being driven efficiently and will be using more battery.

‘Re-fuelling’
Charging the car is simple. The lead is plugged into the car and the three-pin plug is connected to a standard 13 amp domestic socket. Charging in this way takes seven to eight hours for a full battery. Using a dedicated quick charger, you can recharge the battery 80 per cent in 30 minutes.

If you’re out and about, you can charge the car at a public charging bay. Many cities up and down the country are investing in a recharging infrastructure. In London for example, at present there are over 250 charging points but work has already begun to install another 1,300. When this is achieved by 2013, there will more charging points than petrol stations in London.

Low running costs
Being an electric vehicle, the tailpipe emissions are zero, and the only carbon value comes from energy used to generate the electricity it runs on.

Aside from the green advantage, the major benefit to an electric car driver is the low refuelling cost. A full charge costs around £1.72, which can theoretically do 93 miles. Therefore the i0n potentially costs £184.95 to do 10,000 miles. With a conventionally-fuelled car costing around £1,950 for the same mileage, this equates to a potential saving of £1,765 per year for i0n drivers.

There are other financial benefits too. The i0n is free from London’s congestion charge, which could mean a potential saving of over £2,000 a year. What’s more, some towns, such as London and Milton Keynes, offer free parking for electric vehicles.

The i0n is also exempt from road tax, and businesses benefit from first year capital allowances and zero benefit in kind tax. So the cost savings soon add up.

The Peugeot i0n has the same level of safety equipment as conventionally-fuelled cars, such as air bags, electronic brake force distribution and emergency brake assist. And it has achieved a four star EuroNcap rating.

The Peugeot i0n is available in the UK via an ‘all-inclusive’ mobility offer consisting of a four-year 40,000 mile contract, with a monthly payment of £415 excluding VAT, which includes the lease of the vehicle, full warranty cover for the period of the lease, full servicing and full maintenance for four years and 40,000 miles.