CITROËN ELECTRIC & HYBRID RANGE OPTIMISATION

Taking a look back at the range of some of the earlier electric vehicles really underlines just how far electric car range has come over the years. 

In 2010, the world’s first 100% electric car for the mass market, when fully charged, could achieve a range of 200 kilometres or approximately 124 miles. Consider that electric vehicles today now offer a range of over 200 miles and it’s clear to see that technology has moved on in leaps and bounds

Take the Citroën ë-C4 for example; our 100% electric compact hatch has a 217-mile range from a single charge. What’s more, a full charge will take just 1 hour 13 minutes thanks to  ≥ 100 kW rapid charging. 

Like in an internal combustion-engine vehicle, the consumption information for an electric vehicle is located next to the speedometer. Range is calculated in real time, and takes into account your driving style, in addition to other factors. However, there are a few things to note: for a plug-in hybrid vehicle, a blue light on the rear-view mirror informs you when you are in 100% electric mode. In addition, your gauge displays the electric range on one side, and your fuel range on the other. You can use the MyCitroën application to remotely check your vehicle's charge status.

The range of your electric vehicle depends on your driving, the load you are carrying, the gradient of the road and your use of air conditioning or heating. C5 Aircross SUV Hybrid has a 100% electric range of 34 miles under the WLTP standard. For vehicles in the 100% electric range, with the ë-C4 and ë-Dispatch the range goes up to 217 miles and 205 miles in WLTP mode.

Hybrid vehicles offer the best of both worlds, combining a petrol or diesel engine with an electric motor. Unlike electric vehicles, you don’t have to plug in the vehicle to charge the battery. Rather, it is charged through regenerative braking and the internal combustion engine.  

As a result, the traditional petrol or diesel engine acts as a safety blanket for drivers who experience range anxiety. In fact, in many instances, hybrid cars can deliver higher mpg figures than traditional engines alone. For example, our Citroën C5 Aircross SUV Hybrid offers a combined fuel consumption of 166mpg! 

While many drivers will be familiar with such a sensation, range anxiety has played a large part in driving EV technology forward. As a common concern amongst customers, vehicle manufacturers have invested heavily in research and development. This has helped to extend the range of new electric cars and alleviate the hesitation some customers experience.