All-electric Peugeot e-308 revealed

THE Peugeot 308 small hatch and wagon range has grown with the addition of all-electric variants that will launch in Europe from mid-2023 and are under evaluation for Australia.

Complementing existing petrol and plug-in hybrid 308 models that will respectively launch in Australia this year and next, Peugeot says the longroof e-308 will be the first all-electric station wagon from a European manufacturer.

While it has not been confirmed whether Australia is set to receive the new electric models, Peugeot Australia managing director Kate Gillis told GoAuto the e-308 is under evaluation. 

“The global reveal of a full battery electric 308 is exciting and we can confirm the e-308 is under evaluation for the Australian market as part of our electrification journey, which will offer Australian customers the choice of electrified variants across our passenger, SUV and LCV ranges,” she said.

While local showrooms will not have all-electric 308 models quite as soon, Peugeot Australia has confirmed the local rollout of its 308 range later this year, with a plug-in hybrid model to follow.

“We are looking forward to launching the Peugeot 308 in the Australian market next quarter with naturally-aspirated hatch and wagon variants, further expanding the range with the addition of a plug-in hybrid electric hatch in Q1, 2023.”

The e-308 models will feature a new electric motor producing 115kW and 260Nm, down slightly on the hybrid (162kW) and petrol (132kW) models.

A new-generation battery debuts in the e-308, with revised chemistry composed of 80 per cent nickel, 10 per cent manganese, and 10 per cent cobalt.

The 54kWh 400V battery is claimed to offer a driving range of more than 400km due to the low 12.7kWh/100km average energy consumption Peugeot says it has achieved.

Peugeot focused on gaining efficiency using a combination of motor, battery, aerodynamics, weight optimisation and friction reduction measures to achieve the low average energy consumption. 

An on-board three-phase charger with a power rating of 11kW comes as standard and Peugeot says a 100kW public charger will get the e-308 from 20 per cent to 80 per cent charge in “less than 25 minutes”.

While no 0-100km/h performance figure has been disclosed, owners will have the choice of Eco, Normal, Sport, or Brake driving modes.

Visually the e-308 differs slightly from its stablemates with a longer bonnet and unique 18-inch wheels.

Fang-shaped matrix LED headlights and three-claw LED tail-lights give the electric models a similar aesthetic to the rest of the 308 range.

The Peugeot i-Cockpit is carried across to the electric models, too, featuring a three-dimensional head-up digital display, central 10.0-inch screen, and the brand’s i-Connect infotainment system. 

Peugeot has released the MyPeugeot app to schedule remote charging or launch thermal preconditioning remotely, as well as use of the Free2Move e-solutions software, another smartphone app that allows owners to plan their journey and charging stops.