In a world where diversity and inclusion is falling left, right, and centre, we’re doubling down and making sure commercial vehicles also get a look-in. In this case, that’s the 2024 Peugeot E-Expert, a cargo mover with the added shift to pure electric power.
Nothing about the exterior suggests a difference between a conventional petrol/diesel van, and this electric version. It even has a standard bonnet, some nice curvature at the front, and a solid bumper.
Missing LEDs, the headlights are halogen, with matching daytime running lights. The large windscreen provides a clear, uninterrupted view. The view from the side is standard van, with sliding doors on each side providing wide and easy access to the cargo bay.
Standard 16-inch grey steel wheels are as work duty as it gets, confirming the E-Expert not only looks the part, but was built for the task. Roll around to the rear and the 2024 Peugeot E-Expert is load ready.
Featuring, barn doors that open with a 180-degree span, and a clearance of 1.28m wide, and 1.22m high, there’s plenty of room to get things in and out. Inside you’ll find a 1-tonne payload, and up to 6.1m3 of space.
During our test, we had the opportunity to load that very cargo bay with approximately 200kg of goods and were pleasantly surprised by the E-Expert’s capacity. The battery drain was quite evident though, leaving us with a little bit of range anxiety.
A key point to factor in when considering an electric vehicle for commercial purposes lies in the fact that the cruise efficiency experienced in combustion engines is not the same one you’ll get with an EV.
Electric motors do not idle at a low rpm on a highway, where you get most of your efficiency in combustion engines. Instead they’re chewing their way through energy to maintain a chosen speed. It’s a factor that’s certainly worth considering.
Up front, the cabin is modern and practical, with room for a driver and up two passengers. Firm and supportive seats, wrapped in grey fabric are standard fare. The centre console houses a 10.0-inch high definition touchscreen.
An impressive unit, it supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There are two USB-C ports in the dash, as well as traditional knobs and controls for climate. The E-Expert features a power saving function that sees it get a little warm when at traffic lights.
Essentially, it shuts of the air conditioning when it’s not in motion, but as soon as your moving again, things return to your chosen temperature. It features surprisingly decent audio too (you never know with a commercial vehicle).
There are speakers in the doors and pillars. You can control the sound through those via the multi-function leather steering wheel. You won’t find a gearstick either, just a toggle switch for parking, reverse and drive.
There’s plenty of storage options in the cabin, with dash and passenger storage, two cup holders and deep pockets in the driver/passenger doors. Although the 2024 Peugeot E-Expert isn’t ANCAP safety rated, it features a plethora of tech.
It features autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, active lane keep assist, ESC and ABS, among a host of others. It’s also fitted with front, side and curtain airbags for driver and passengers.
To top it off, it also can inform you when your tyres are under inflated; a meaningful feature for anyone who moves cargo about. It’s the kind of van that can move your baby’s entire room (we tested it), but not the baby itself, which is fair enough really.
The 2024 Peugeot E-Expert is equipped with a single electric motor, powered through a single speed automatic transmission. A key perk of electrification is that it’s simple, and the simpler a vehicle is, the less that can go wrong with it.
The motor can generate up to 100kW of power and 260Nm of torque. Charging of the 75kWh battery takes 45 minutes to 80 per cent on a 100kW DC fast charger, our around 7.5 hours to fully charge on a 16-amp 3-phase wall box. It has a range of 330km.
On the road, once you wrap your head around the lack of noise, the ride is both quiet and quick, when required. You’ll feel all the bumps when it’s empty but once there’s a load in the rear, it’s smooth sailing. The suspension is stiff, but great when it’s full.
It steers like a knife through butter, being ultra smooth and effortless. Peugeot have done a brilliant job in keeping all the benefits of a traditional van intact, and so the transition to electric should not hinder your word day processes.
All-in-all, the 2024 Peugeot E-Expert is a great example of moving with the times from a fuel and technology perspective, while maintaining a classic experience most cargo movers are familiar with. Its only major downsides is are its range, and the charge time.
There are four colours to choose from, including Ice White, Titanium Grey, Nera Black and Artense Grey. It’s covered by Peugeot’s 5-year or 200,000km warranty, with an 8-year traction warranty for the battery.
You can grab yourself an E-Expert in Titanium Grey for $87,111 drive away and can find out more on the Peugeot website, or by talking to your local dealership. To get a low rate finance quote, talk to Australia’s best reviewed car finance broker; Credit One.
To see a great range of vehicles for sale, check out OnlyCars.com.au.
Our test vehicle was supplied by Peugeot Australia for independent review purposes.
