With environmental awareness becoming a key focus of the UK government, local authorities and the general public, combined with the development of new battery technology, electric vehicles are the perfect fit for urban mobility for today and tomorrow.

The Peugeot iOn combines remarkable packaging with a spacious interior, ease of driving, high levels of safety, big car comfort levels and a high standard specification. It also benefits from all the inherent advantages provided by electric technology, namely unprecedented silence, the absence of tailpipe emissions and superb driveability.

Peugeot UK will market the new iOn based on an “all-inclusive” mobility offer consisting of a four year contract. On a four year, 40,000 mile contract the monthly payment will be £415 excluding VAT, which includes:

• The lease of the vehicle (battery pack considered part of the vehicle)
• Full warranty cover for the vehicle, battery and electric power train for the period of the lease
• Full servicing and full maintenance for four years and 40,000 miles**
• Peugeot Connect Services (available April 2011)

And, as an industry leading offer, Peugeot will make available exactly the same benefits to the second user on a second four year contract at a reduced monthly amount giving a further four years of worry free motoring.

Old technology electric vehicles have previously been limited due to their potential range, however, now with the new battery technologies available, this range has increased considerably. Thanks to the Peugeot iOn’s energy management of its Lithium-ion battery pack and the optimised energy recovery during deceleration and braking, it has a potential range of 93 miles. In practical terms this is sufficient to cover the majority of a motorist’s daily trips, 90 per cent of which are less than 35 miles.

It takes six hours to fully recharge the battery using a traditional household socket. A quick charge using a special charging unit provides a 50 per cent charge in only fifteen minutes, or 80 per cent in thirty minutes.  Bearing in mind that a conventional car is at a standstill for up to 90 per cent of the time when used in an urban or semi-urban context, the time needed to recharge the iOn is entirely compatible with what motorists are used to.

With average running costs estimated at £2.50 per 120 miles, the energy bill of the iOn is unbeatable regardless of which recharging mode is used.  Carried out overnight or during “off-peak hours” recharging costs can be reduced further and help optimise the use of available power produced by the electricity supply companies.

An electric vehicle also benefits from a range of cost savings over a conventional internal combustion engined vehicle.

• No petrol or diesel costs – potential saving of £1515 per year
• No Congestion Charge (where applicable) – saving of £1696 annual charge for London
• No Parking charges (where applicable, eg City of Westminster)
  – potential saving of £1939 per year – £10 x 230 days of parking, less admin fee

Total potential annual saving – £5150 by operating an electric vehicle over a conventional internal combustion powered car.

The iOn has the same level of safety equipment as a conventional modern car. Its standard equipment – six air bags, ESP, electronic brake force distribution (EBFD), emergency brake assist (EBA) – and the design of the body structure – will allow it to achieve a four star rating in the 2010-2011 EuroNcap.

The success of the European electric vehicle market will be very dependent on tax incentives at the time of purchase or during ownership, the introduction of infrastructures, possible ecological constraints in terms of urban traffic and the fluctuating price of fossil fuels. The market is expected to grow gradually, representing 4 per cent to 5 per cent of the total European Market by the year 2020. For this reason iOn production will build gradually, rising to a projected total of 50,000 by the year 2015.)

The iOn is targeted mainly at local government, local authorities and public services and companies active in the transport and energy sectors, leasing companies, car sharing companies and the fleets of large corporations. To a lesser extent, private individuals are also target customers. Convinced of the strengths of the brand, they will be the forerunners of this new relationship with the motor car.

Peugeot already has a long history in the production of electric vehicles as it launched it first vehicle in 1941, the three wheeled VLV. In 1995 it launched what is still the best selling electric vehicle, the Peugeot 106 electric. Now with the introduction of the Peugeot iOn, Peugeot will further strengthen its position as the leading producer of electric vehicles.

The first delivery of the Peugeot iOn will take place in the UK at the end of 2010.