Electric Peugeot e-Traveller MPV revealed

• Available in two lengths
• Rapid charging allows 80% charge in 30 mins
• On sale later in the year

The diesel Peugeot Traveller MPV is to be joined by an electric e-Traveller model. Peugeot’s largest passenger vehicle will be capable of up to 143 miles on a charge in fully electric form, while carrying up to eight people and their luggage. It’ll go on sale in the next few months, with prices to be confirmed nearer the time.

Powering the Peugeot e-Traveller is a 50kWh battery. Because it’s such a large vehicle, it’s a little slower than many electric cars; 0-62mph takes a leisurely 13.1 seconds and the top speed is 80mph. Charging from a regular plug socket takes 31 hours but the standard-fit 7.4kW charger reduces this to 7.5 hours, so the e-Traveller could be charged overnight. Speccing the 11kW charger reduces the time by 2.5 hours, and rapid-charging will top the battery up to 80% in just half an hour.

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There are three driving modes: Eco, Normal and Power, and you can choose from ‘Moderate’ or ‘Emphasised’ settings for the brake regeneration. The latter is achieved by choosing the ‘B’ selection on the gear change.

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Like the company’s other electric cars, the Peugeot e-208 and Peugeot e-2008, the e-Traveller is marked out by blue-tinted logos, an exclusive grille and a new badge. The charging port is located on the front left wing.

The e-Traveller’s van origins are clear inside but it has equipment such as dual-zone climate control, connected sat nav, an electric parking brake and a colour head-up display. This shows information about power consumption, how much energy the heating and air con are using, and a battery level gauge. The sat nav, meanwhile, allows you to locate charging points, and you can also preheat the cabin from the touchscreen.

Two lengths are available to UK buyers: Standard (4.95m long) and Long (5.3m). Both can be specified with anything from two to eight seats, and the Long variant is said to offer a huge 1,500 litres of boot space even with all eight seats in place. Remove either one or both rear seat rows and the capacity grows to 3,000 or 4,900 litres respectively. Many electric cars aren’t suitable for towing but the e-Traveller manages up to 1,000kg.

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Electric vans are becoming more and more common, and several passenger-carrying MPVs could be produced as a result. Vauxhall has announced an electric Vivaro-e van, which is mechanically similar to the Toyota Proace van on which the Traveller is based. The Vauxhall Vivaro Life MPV may get an electric version, then, while the Mercedes EQV will be another rival to the e-Traveller when it goes on sale. The e-Traveller will almost certainly be more expensive than the diesel version, which starts at £36,000.

Read our Peugeot Traveller review, or see where it places on our list of the best cars with sliding doors.