Peugeot electrifies the traveler. Even as a passenger transporter with leather armchairs, it does not completely shed its overalls, which is not a disadvantage. However, especially with the smaller battery, the e-Traveler is only suitable for long journeys to a limited extent and is more of an option for shuttle services.
From the outside, the Peugeot e-Traveler looks like a normal family van. If it weren’t for the flap at the front left, the lion emblem, shimmering blue or green, depending on the angle of view, and the type designation on the rear left at the rear. Why do we mention this separately? Well, the electric version of Peugeot’s versatile van has no restrictions compared to the internal combustion engine versions, although a battery is strapped under the floor. The customer can choose between batteries with a capacity of 50 kilowatt hours or 75 kilowatt hours. This means that you can travel up to 225 kilometers or up to 322 kilometers (both in WLTP mode) with full memory cells.
The Peugeot e-Traveler will not be a long-distance traveler with either of the two energy stores. We were on the road with the small battery and couldn’t achieve a range of 200 kilometers. However, that was at temperaturesjust above freezing point and highway trips that were also carried out at 120 km / h, the case. With a weight of the L2 version of 2,211 kilograms, the battery quickly drains excessively. Peugeot states an average consumption of 26.2 kWh per 100 kilometers, we came to 30.5 kWh / 100 km. Anyone who is mainly traveling in the city with the van and can fill the batteries daily is well advised with this large-capacity van. This applies to shuttle services from hotels, for example. With an 11 kW wallbox, it takes 4 hours and 40 minutes until the battery is full due to the three-phase onboard charger. If the Frenchman is hooked up to a 100 kW fast charger, it takes half an hour for the charge status to show 80 percent.
Driving with the Peugeot e-Traveler is unspectacular. In this case, that is definitely a positive thing, because the French do not make the mistake of contriving themselves, but also use the PSA group-wide EMP2 platform for commercial vehicles, on which the Opel brother Vivaro-e is also based. So the electric Traveler offers the choice between the well-known three drive programs: Eco (60 kW / 82 PS, 190 Nm torque), Normal (80 kW / 109 PS, 210 Nm) and Power (100 kW / 136 PS, 260 Nm). We were traveling in an empty electric van and in the city the eco mode was completely sufficient to move along. Nothing more, since the electric VW Bulli competitor in the minimal PS program is quite weak. When the chapel is full and outside the urban area, the two stronger settings are available, which of course comes at the expense of the range. This can be increased by pressing the “B” button, which activates the increased recuperation. However, in order to shovel as much energy as possible into the batteries, it is better to use the brake pedal in the classic way.
The cockpit is overwhelmed by a flood of information for the driver. Two round instruments with a small information display in the middle, a small head-up display with an extendable plastic disc and two other displays, that must be enough. It does too. With all its comfort and driving service attitude, the e-Traveler basically remains a commercial vehicle and that’s why you shouldn’t necessarily get behind the wheel with a haptic premium claim. You can also see this on the seven inch touchscreen, which looks like a mouse cinema in the current “Nothing under ten inches” display team, but fulfills its purpose. This focus on the essentials is also evident in the graphics, which at least offer TomTom real-time traffic data for navigation. On the other hand, the Traveler offers many shelves with a capacity of up to 74 liters. If you fold down the passenger seat on the L2 version, even bulky items with a length of 3.16 meters fit into the e-Traveler.
Inside the Peugeot e-Traveler it is definitely bearable. Eight seats are distributed over a vehicle length of 4.96 meters. If you need more storage space, simply fold down the armrests of the chairs or remove the seats completely. Accordingly, the trunk volume increases to a maximum of 5,800 liters. The sliding tours allow passengers to get to their seats without any major problems. Although the battery-powered version of the Traveler is heavier than the one with a combustion engine and therefore the chassis has to be tuned tighter, there is still enough comfort that you don’t have to look at the asphalt with every sip from the water bottle.
Longer distances can also be mastered well with the Peugeot . Especially if you take advantage of the business VIP equipment, which is not a bargain with a base price of 58,877.31 euros. In return, the seats are made of leather, heated at the front including a massage function, the sliding doors are electric, the rear passengers enjoy their own air conditioning and the interior is carpeted. To ensure that the valuable cargo arrives safely, there is a 180-degree reversing camera with a view of the surroundings and a blind spot assistant.