Peugeot E-308 and E-Expert orders open

PEUGEOT Australia has opened the order books on its E-308 and E-Expert electric models ahead of the duo’s showroom debut in the second half of 2024.

Inviting registrations of interest, Peugeot Australia says it has now confirmed both models for the local market, expanding its existing electric range which currently includes the E-2008 SUV and small segment E-Partner van.

The E-308 – which has been available in Europe since 2022 – complements ICE and PHEV models with an electric motor producing 115kW and 260Nm, down slightly on the petrol model’s 132kW and the PHEV’s 162kW.

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.

Meanwhile, the E-Expert will rival entrants from Ford, LDV, and Mercedes-Benz, to name a few, and is characterised by an updated look inside and out, and technology inclusions such as a larger infotainment touchscreen and revised steering wheel.

The model’s underfloor battery pack is reputedly upgraded for increased range and faster charging.

Like the e-Partner, the e-Expert is based on Peugeot’s EMP2 platform, featuring a front-wheel drive configuration and a battery pack under the load space floor.

The model uses the same 100kW/260Nm single electric traction motor as the smaller e-Partner and is currently available overseas with a choice of 50- and 75kWh batteries, the latter capable of a claimed 330km WLTP range.

A segment up from the e-Partner, the e-Expert is sold in Europe in three sizes, Compact, Standard and Long wheelbase all offering the same payload weights and dimensions as the equivalent ICE models.

The larger van also boasts significantly greater towing and payloads at 1000kg and 1275kg respectively as opposed to the smaller van’s 750kg.