New electric vans launched by PSA in continued model offensive

1 May 2019

PSA Group has previewed its electrified Peugeot Boxer and Citroen Jumper vans as the commercial vehicle industry prepares to take advantage of new electric technologies.

The French company plans to offer an electrified version across its entire range of commercial vehicles and passenger cars, and believes the unveiling at the Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham, UK, is a significant stepping stone to that realisation.

The Boxer and Jumper are produced at the Sevel Sud factory in Atessa, southern Italy, as part of a long-running joint venture with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

After production, the vans will be converted to electrical power and homologated by a Turkey-based company, BD Auto. BD Auto also offers conversions of Fiat Ducato medium vans built on the same lines at the Sevel Sud factory.

′In line with our ′Push to Pass’ strategic plan, we are continuing to electrify our entire range,’ said Philippe Narbeburu, senior vice president, Light Commercial Vehicles at PSA Group. ′This new offer is a major competitive advantage for our brands in a very competitive LCV segment. This is an opportunity to strengthen our leadership in Europe by meeting the new needs of zero-emission driving without giving up the useful services related to the demanding uses of our professional customers.’

Defined range

The Peugeot Boxer Electric and Citroën Jumper Electric large vans will be offered with two levels of range depending on the vehicle length: 141 miles on the NEDC cycle for lengths L1 and L2, and 169 miles on the NEDC cycle for lengths L3 and L4. In the medium van segment, the Peugeot Expert and Traveller, Citroën Dispatch and SpaceTourer, Vauxhall Vivaro and Vivaro Life, will all offer an electrified version in 2020, the company said in a release.

In the C-van segment, the Partner Electric and Berlingo Electric have existed since 1998. The new generation of these Peugeot, Citroën and Vauxhall vans will be available with an electrified version by 2021.

WLTP ready

Starting September 1, all LCVs sold in Europe will need to be homologated under the new Worldwide harmonised Light vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP), which seeks to better replicate real-world driving conditions.

PSA Group is also confident it will be ready for this important deadline. The company was one of the few to have all on passenger cars prepared for the introduction of WLTP in 2018.

New vans introduced by the company now feature Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) and petrol particulate filters (PPFs), which the French group states will allow them to meet the criteria required for the stricter emissions tests.