The 2023 Peugeot e-Partner is an electric light commercial vehicle that was named the best international van of the year which means that it is really competitive and really usable. It slots between the larger e-Boxer and the smaller e-Rifter and it differs from the e-Traveller because the e-Traveller is designed for carrying passengers while the e-Partner is designed for hauling cargo and is a touch bit smaller.
The platform on which it resides is shared among many other Stellantis-owned brands and models. It does not come with the larger 75kWh battery which is a bummer as the 50kWh unit with the e-Partner isn’t too good when it comes to range. However, Peugeot still managed to sell many of these because most are being used for around-town driving.
The design of the e-Partner is not too different from its normal ICE counterpart and you will have a hard time spotting the differences between the electric model and the ICE model. The interior looks really nice as is the case with most modern Peugeot vans. It is modern, futuristic, and well laid out.
The driving experience is nothing special as this is a van after all. Reliability and practicality are both decent because EVs tend to be more reliable than ICE cars and because the Partner offers a large storage space in the back. The values are also relatively competitive, but only as far as electric vans are concerned as normal vans are much cheaper.
2023 Peugeot e-Partner – The Powertrain
As previously mentioned, the e-Partner uses a 50kWh battery that is mated to a single electric motor driving the front wheels. This is enough to give the e-Partner 136hp and 192lb-ft of torque which is a decent number for a van. The range is rated at 171 miles, but the real-world range is closer to 110 miles which certainly is not the best result.
Many hope to see Peugeot offer the e-Partner with its 75kWh battery setup which should push the range to a more acceptable level. However, the charging department is where the e-Partner makes up for this as it offers an 11kW slow charger that can recharge the battery in around 5 hours, perfect for those who charge their cars overnight.
Moreover, if you take full advantage of the 100kW fast charging capability, you will be able to recharge the e-Partner in around 30 minutes which is indeed a really good thing. Peugeot is hopefully going to upgrade battery management and energy systems for the upcoming e-Partner which should give it a slight increase in range.
2023 Peugeot e-Partner – Design and Driving
The exterior design of the e-Partner isn’t the most modern out there yet it also isn’t going to offend anyone as it still looks nice and has all the necessary features to look good. Sure, the way the e-Partner looks from the outside is heavily influenced by the trim level you go for as low-trim models can look a bit cheap on the outside.
The interior is still really good-looking and hard to fault as it comes with Peugeot’s micro steering wheel and a digital gauge cluster. The driving experience is also really nice, but it isn’t going to wow anyone as this is just a van after all.
2023 Peugeot e-Partner – Reliability and Common Issues
As far as reliability is concerned, the e-Partner’s Stellantis platform does manage to stay relatively trouble-free. There were some issues with the battery, and the charging while some have also reported issues with high-voltage wires. Be that as it may, EVs tend to be inherently more reliable than their ICE counterparts which is also the case with the e-Partner which offers better reliability results than its ICE variants.
2023 Peugeot e-Partner – Value and Practicality
Prices start from £34,082 while higher-trim models can be a lot more expensive than that. They do maintain their value relatively well which is indeed a really good thing. All in all, buying a used example can be a bit tricky, especially one whose battery health isn’t all that particularly high.
Practicality is excellent as the e-Partner offers five plenty spacious seats and a really large cargo area which should be more than enough for everyone. The visibility is also really nice while interior storage and cubby spaces are more than just generous.
FAQ Section
Should I buy the 2023 Peugeot e-Partner?
If you are in the market for a light commercial van, but you also want to save the environment, the e-Partner is a really good choice. The fact that it won the best international van of the year award only shows how well accepter the e-Partner is in the world.
However, if you don’t need a van for commercial purposes, or one that carries cargo all that often, going for a more docile and family-oriented car is a much better idea. As such, be sure to check out Peugeot’s new e-306 SW or some of their electric SUVs if you want a decent family electric Peugeot model.
Which cars rival the Peugeot e-Partner?
The e-Partner competes mostly with other Stellantis-owned brands such as Citroen which offers the e-Berlingo, Vauxhall with its Combo-e, and the Toyota Proace City Electric. All four of these rely on the same platform with the same range, same engine, same power, and same charging speeds.
Your purchasing decision is likely going to be based on which one of these you think looks the best. However, we should also mention the Nissan e-NV2000 and the Renault Kangoo ZE as these are also really similar to the e-Partner in most regards.
Does it make sense to buy an electric van?
At first glance, buying an electric commercial vehicle seems a bit redundant as commercial vehicles tend to deliver goods from one place to the other quite often. A car with around 110-140 miles of range is going to have to be recharged really often which is going to add a lot of precious time into the mix.
However, if you buy these as fleet vehicles and you understand how to manage range and when to charge them, you can save a bunch of money on tax cuts, lease premiums, and other associated expenses.
