13.9.2012 Peugeot introduce all-electric Partner van

The popular Peugeot Partner vehicle range is to expand to include a new 100% all-electric version, as well as other combustion engine models with CO2 reduced to just 118 g/km.

With the new versions, the Partner range now offers business users power units suitable for all kinds of use, reducing the environmental footprint and the dependence on fossil fuels whilst maintaining driving pleasure.

The new Partner, restyled in spring 2012, is highly fuel efficient with low CO2 emissions on its internal combustion versions. There will be a notable new model offered at 118 g/km CO2 from November 2012, which will mean a Benefit in Kind (BIK) rate of just 17% for company car drivers.

The new Partner Electric has been designed without making any compromises in the strengths that constitute the success of the Partner range. The load volume remains amongst the best in the segment, and modularity and practicality remain high.

The Prologue, presented for the first time at the Hanover Motor Show this month, heralds the launch of the new Partner Electric during the 2nd quarter of 2013.

The new 100% electric version makes it possible to go further and offers business users a solution for every use – for example, allowing access to low emissions restricted zones. Based on the normal Partner, the new Partner Electric brings together the latest technological innovations related to this energy source.

The Partner Electric operates on two high-energy lithium-ion battery packs with a capacity of 22.5 kW/h, which are fitted to the under body of the vehicle and so preserve Partner's road handling behaviour as well as the useable dimensions of the load space. It uses a high performance permanent magnet synchronous electric motor, offering 49 kW (67 bhp) of power and torque of 200 Nm, available instantly.

To make it suitable for all types of daily use, Partner Electric benefits from two charging modes for its battery: a normal charge (up to 16A) in 6 to 9 hours and a fast charge (up to 125A) allowing recovery of 80% of the capacity of the batteries in only 30 minutes. With a 105 mile range on the NEDC cycle and fast charge capability, the achievable daily mileage is comparable to a conventional combustion engine van.

The presence of an in-dash energy consumption or recovery indicator is a constant aid for the driver in adopting an economic driving style. An auxiliary consumption gauge (heating and air conditioning) completes the provision of information for the driver, and the trip computer displays the remaining range and the average energy consumption in kWh.

Available in two lengths, the Partner Electric offers the largest load volumes in the small van segment, with volume of up to 3.3m3 and load length of 1.80m for the smaller one and 3.7m3 volume and 2.05m load length for the larger version. The payload is up to 685kg.

The new Partner Electric is the realisation of the cooperative agreement for the development of an electric vehicle drive train suitable for LCVs reached with Mitsubishi Motors Corporation in 2010. As with the other Partner models, the new Partner Electric will be produced at PSA Peugeot-Citroen's Vigo plant in Spain.

Newspress