WHAT VAN? AWARDS - WINNER'S PROFILE: Growing through group therapy

Date: Friday, March 13, 2020 | Author: James Dallas

Peugeot will launch an e-Expert medium van In the second half of 2020

(Continued from page 1) The Partner benefits from innovations such as an onboard weighing system and surround-vision camera, and Weston says these, as well as other new features, have proven to be attractive to customers.

“Many of the 19 advanced driver aids have attracted new customers as users appreciate the benefits and total cost of ownership reductions that innovations can offer,” he explains.

“We’ve also found a significant number of existing customers have chosen many of these innovations to ensure they are offering the ultimate in driver comfort and safety.”

Peugeot has committed to providing an EV of all of its cars and vans by 2023 and in the second half of 2020 will launch an e-Expert medium van to join its Partner Electric and e-Boxer large van, which it revealed at last year’s CV Show.

Weston believes plug-in vans are now becoming a more realistic proposition for operators.

“As alternative-fuel technology improves and range capacity increases, these versions become increasingly viable for many operators,” he argues.

“Incentives, whether national or local, such as free parking, congestion zone exemption, and free charging are making operators seriously consider the benefits and reduced total cost of ownership that plug-in vehicles can offer.”

Peugeot works in partnership with Pod Point to help meet its customers’ charging requirements.

The e-Expert will come with a choice of two battery options, with a capacity of 50kWh or 75kWh, offering a driving range on the WLTP test cycle of 124 miles or 186 miles respectively.

Peugeot says the loadspace volume of the e-Expert will be identical to that of diesel-powered Experts.

Already available is the flagship Expert Sport Edition, which went on sale in January. Offered as a panel van and crew van, prices range from £29,460 to £35,880, excluding VAT.

The Sport Edition, which is based on the standard-wheelbase Expert, comes with 17in alloy wheels, sports decals on the sides and rear of the van, and dual-zone automatic air-conditioning.

The first models to reach showrooms were the panel van Sport Edition BlueHDi 120 S&S six-speed manual 1400 and the crew van Sport Edition BlueHDi 150 S&S six-speed manual 1400.

Two additional models will join the line-up later: the panel van Sport Edition BlueHDi 180 S&S EAT8 Auto 1200 and the crew van Sport Edition BlueHDi 180 S&S EAT8 Auto 1200.

Both models get the most powerful version of the 2.0-litre Euro6.2 BlueHDi turbodiesel engine, producing 174hp at 3,750rpm and 400Nm of torque at 2,000rpm.

The Expert and Citroen’s equivalent model, the Dispatch, are now being built alongside the Vauxhall Vivaro at Vauxhall’s plant in Luton, as well as in Sevelnord, France.

Conversions play a vital part in van manufacturers’ operations and Peugeot has moved to ensure each of its 50-plus Business Centres features examples from its Built for Business range. Coupled with a strong product line-up and a renewed focus on SMEs through its LCV Genius initiative, Weston is convinced the brand is moving in the right direction.

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