I tested a brand-new EV – here’s what’s holding it back from being ready for UK roads
AN EV tester has revealed why his latest trial car is not ready for UK roads.
Matt Saunders took the new Citroen e-C4 for a spin but found a few issues that left him doubtful.
Writing for Autocar, he cited a trio of problems which could harm demand for the nippy mid-sized hatchback.
First of all, he addressed the cost of the e-C4 relative to the rest of its market class.
At £37,195 it is almost £1,000 more expensive that its nearest competitor, the VW ID3, while the similarly-size Kia e-Niro can be had for nearly £4,000 cheaper.
You can even bag a high-end Range Rover Evoque for under £40,000 while still staying on electric power.
Away from EVs, you can buy a BMW 3-series for £39,055 and a Mercedes GLB SUV for £39,765, both of which offer significantly more space and luxury features.
Matt said: “In top-level guise, it certainly goes farther and drives with more assurance and authority out of town than it used to, but only for a price that some will consider uncharacteristically high.”
He put the price down to a larger battery installed in the model in a bid to increase range and power.
However, that brings up the next issue as, according to Matt, the range isn’t all he had hoped for.
He wrote: “It lacks electric range next to some, and upmarket desirability and cabin quality next to others.”
The motors whizz claimed that testing revealed an expected range of around 230 miles for the top-spec version, falling under 200 lower down the lineup.
That’s compared to the ID3 getting about 280 miles in its top-line models, while a £30,000 Mini Electric SE will still get you 190 miles for £7,000 less, according to EV Database.
Finally, he addressed the issue of charging infrastructure.
Most EVs are to some extent hit by this problem, with the UK’s charging system in chaos but Matt described Citroen’s 100kW rapid charging as “a little way off key rivals”.
He added that Autocar’s data found the e-C4 to be “off the pace” compared to other major brands when it came to charging.
It comes after an EV owner explained why he feared his car was easier to steal and put drivers at risk.
Meanwhile, Ford discontinued a popular model, with its push towards an all-electric lineup blamed.
Citroen declined to comment.