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Peugeot's take on mid-sized EV van motoring is represented by the e-Expert. All the advantages of its shared Stellantis Group design are in evidence here - and a few of the drawbacks too. But it's a competitive package that's well worth a look if you get offered the right deal and there's a Peugeot franchise nearby.
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Background
Peugeot has a history of electric vehicles going right back to 1941 and these days, every van model it makes can come in full-EV form too. Here's the company's mid-sized LCV electric offering, the e-Expert. It doesn't have the unique dashboard display of the smaller e-Partner, but it is at least built completely by Peugeot, unlike the bigger e-Boxer model.
As you'll probably know, this is a shared design, the same basic product also available as a Vauxhall Vivaro Electric, a Citroen e-Dispatch, a Fiat E-Scudo and a Toyota Proace Electric. That's a good thing as it meant a lot of engineering resource was poured into this product for its original 2021 launch. But more recently introduced mid-sized EV van contenders are catching up. It's the e-Expert still worth a serious look from business customers looking to make the battery switch? Let's find out.
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Driving experience
This isn't one of those EV vans that impresses you with its startling acceleration. The rest to 62mph sprint takes 13.1s in the 50kWh e-Expert and 14.3 in the 75kWh model. That choice of batteries is the same as with this model's Citroen, Fiat, Vauxhall and Toyota counterparts. The smaller of the two powerpacks won't take you very far - the 50kWh model manages a best of just 148 miles combined, or up to 196 miles in the city. With the pricier 75kWh battery fitted to your e-Expert van, there's a 211 mile combined range, which rises to 267 miles in the city.
There's not too much to adjust to when driving this full-electric mid-sized van. Turn the key in the ignition, then wait for the starting beep, then flick the gear toggle into Drive. There's a drive-mode selector that allows you to switch between 'Eco', 'Normal' and 'Sport' modes. The 'Normal' setting restricts you to 109hp and will feel a bit like driving a lower capacity diesel. 'Eco' mode restricts you further to 81.5hp and reduces the power consumption of the air conditioning and other accessories. If you want the full 136hp of the electric motor, selecting 'Sport' mode unlocks it. There's also a gearshift selector 'B' option that ploughs extra regenerated energy back into the battery, offering more resistance while you're slowing down. Top speed is just 84mph.
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Design and build
The idea here is that, from the outside at least, almost nobody will know that you haven't selected a diesel-engined Expert for your company deliveries. Only the charging flap and the badge work give this electric model's environmental remit away. As with the combustion versions, there's a choice of short wheelbase 'Standard' or lengthier 'Long' wheelbase variants, but as with the other branded versions of this design, there's no high roof option with either powertrain. To differentiate the Expert from those Stellantis Group and Toyota rivals, there's a Peugeot-specific front grille, flanked by swept-back headlamps. There are low side protection strips and a solid black front bumper, this integrating air inlets across the entire width of the vehicle and aiming to emphasise what Peugeot hopes is a robust appearance.
In the cab, it's all pretty identical to the Expert diesel, though in place of the rev counter, you get an energy gauge for the battery. The gear lever meanwhile, gets replaced by a drive selector for switching between the various driving modes. The 7-inch centre infotainment screen has a Power Flow option which shows you at any given time what's being powered by what. A fuel gauge is provided but of course the purpose here is to show the remaining battery capacity. The water temperature gauge from the diesel Expert is replaced by one showing energy consumption by the climate control system.
As with other versions of this design, the interior isn't the most spacious you'll find in the segment and doesn't feel it, partly thanks to the high waistline. There's quite a low seating position (for a van), with plenty of seat and wheel adjustment. As usual in this class, a three-person bench seat is fitted and with pricier trim (or as an option), there's a Moduwork bulkhead flap so that longer items can be pushed through from the cargo area. That set-up comes together with a fold-down section for the centre seat that when flattened, doubles as a work surface. The dashboard is almost identical to that you'll find in the other versions of this design, which means that most functions are on the central touchscreen, though the climate controls are separated out below.
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Market and model
Pricing for this e-Expert LCV pricing starts at around £35,000 (exc VAT and OTR charges) after deduction of the £5,000 Government Plug-in Van Grant and this LCV is available in 'Standard' wheelbase or (for about £800 more) in 'Long' wheelbase forms. There's a choice of two trim levels - 'Profession Premium+' or plusher 'Asphalt Premium+'. Stick with base spec and there's a choice of 50kWh or 75kWh batteries, the latter requiring just under £4,500 more from you. 'Driver Edition'-spec comes only with the bigger battery. There's also a Crew Van 'Standard'-length model with extra rear seating, available only with the 75kWh battery and base 'Professional Premium+' trim and priced after grant deduction from just under £41,500.
All e-Expert van models are decently equipped especially when it comes to safety items. 'Professional Premium+' spec gives you the basics - a driver's airbag, electronic stability control, an alarm, a laminated acoustic windscreen, a 7-inch infotainment screen with 'Apple CarPlay' and 'Android Auto' connectivity, a full steel bulkhead, storage space beneath the front bench, twin sliding doors and 16-inch wheels. But you'll need plusher 'Asphalt Premium+' trim to get modern active safety aids like autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition and Lane departure warning. 'Asphalt Premium+'-spec models also get navigation, plus body-coloured bumpers, rear parking sensors, a leather multi-function steering wheel and a rear view camera, plus the 'Moduwork' fold-out seat with its seat back table and extra storage (a £300 option with base trim).
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Summary
If you already run Peugeot vans on your fleet, you want to make the EV switch and the LCV in question must be medium-sized, there aren't many reasons why you might not like this e-Expert, provided you can justify the usual substantial EV asking price. Such as they are, the only other issues are those that relate to the other four badge-engineered versions of this design; the lack of a high roof option, the small compromises necessary over the diesel version's payload and a slightly cramped feeling in the cab.
Otherwise, you'll feel properly in tune with the current environmental zeitgeist at the wheel of a e-Expert. The future, there'll be more sophisticated mid-sized electric Peugeot vans than this. But for the present, you might feel that this one suits your business needs just fine.
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