FREE TO CHARGE: EV DRIVERS CAN CIRCUMNAVIGATE BRITAIN WITHOUT PAYING TO TOP UP ACCORDING TO PEUGEOT RESEARCH

Electric vehicle drivers can circumnavigate mainland Britain without spending a penny on recharging, according to new research by PEUGEOT UK – all thanks to a network of 4,400^† free-to-use public chargers.

More than a tenth of the UK’s 35,000 public chargers are free* to use, and PEUGEOT UK has plotted a 2,688-mile journey around the coastline of mainland Britain to highlight the extent of the cost-saving infrastructure. Starting at Land’s End, the route runs along England’s southern and eastern coasts, up through Scotland via John O’Groats before returning to Land’s End through Wales using only free public chargers.** 

The furthest distance between two free charge points on the route between Chelmsford and Sandringham, is 168 miles, within the 225-mile (WLTP) range of the PEUGEOT e-208. To make life on the road easier, the PEUGEOT e-208 supports up to 100kW rapid charging, with an 0-80% charge taking just 30 minutes.

Many of the approximately 4,400^† free charge points in Britain are located in retail parks, hotels and public car parks and are funded by retailers, landowners and some Local Authorities, allowing drivers to charge overnight or run errands while their vehicles charge. The ChargePlace Scotland network features more than 2,000 chargers, with the majority available for free to users who have the ChargePlace Scotland app or who pay a one-off £10 fee for a charging card.

Driving the same route in a petrol or diesel version of the same car can cost drivers up to £421^††.

An 80% charge using a 50kW rapid charger costs an estimated £26, while using home charging,

and taking advantage of lower energy tariffs can bring the same charge down to just £6.80^†††. 

According to Zap-Map, 84% of free public chargers are “fast” meaning they will charge a car at between 7.5kW and 22kW, allowing owners to fully charge their car in seven hours and 33 minutes from a 7kWh charger, or as little as five hours when fitted with optional 11kW On-board charger (from an 11kWh chargepoint).

Drivers can also keep an eye on their vehicle’s charging status remotely using the MyPEUGEOT app which provides real-time updates on range and charging information.

Julie David, Managing Director, PEUGEOT UK, said: “Road trips are a great way to experience what the UK has to offer and our research shows the significant cost savings available for electric vehicle drivers thanks to its network of free-to-use public chargers. While few motorists are likely to complete the full 2,688-mile loop, our research highlights the potentially under-used free charging network in the UK.”

PEUGEOT will offer an electrified version of every model in its range by 2023. Alongside the award-winning e-208, PEUGEOT’s compact SUV, the e-2008 has a zero-emissions range of 214 miles (WLTP), also powered by a 136hp electric motor producing 260Nm with a 50kWh battery.

For more information on PEUGEOT’s electric range, please visit the following link.

Ends

*Research conducted in June 2022

**Study considers chargers that are freely accessible to the public and active at the point of research – Excluded were those on the premises of private businesses or residences via community or sharing schemes.  

*** Links to the route can be found here; leg 1, leg 2, leg 3

† Information from Zap-Map

†† A petrol 1.2l 100 Automatic PEUGEOT 208 will do 48 MPG and would therefore use 254 litres of fuel at an average price of 166p per litre. Average petrol price from RAC Fuelwatch. Accurate as of date of issue (October 2022)

†††At a cost of £0.65 per kWh for 50kW rapid charger and £0.17 per kWh at home. Accurate as of date of issue (October 2022)

CONTACT

Kerry Livesey

Head of Communications – Public Relations

Phone: 079 40078 848

Kerry.livesey@stellantis.com

Emma Gaffney

PR Manager

Phone: 077 47898 130

emma.gaffney@stellantis.com

Michael Arnold

Press Fleet Manager

Phone: 078 3182 9410 

pressfleet@stellantis.com

Jeremy Townsend

Director of Communications

Phone: 078 2789 6480

jeremy.townsend@stellantis.com

LINKS

PEUGEOT Press website

https://uk-media.peugeot.com/en

PEUGEOT UK

www.peugeot.co.uk

ABOUT PEUGEOT

PEUGEOT is a global, innovative and high-end generalist brand. Its values are Excellence, Allure and Emotion. Present in more than 160 countries with 10,000 retailers, PEUGEOT sold nearly 1,200,000 vehicles worldwide in 2020. Not long after celebrating its 210th anniversary, PEUGEOT is now ushering in its new identity with a coat of arms that emphasises its personality and timelessness. In addition to a full range of electrified passenger and commercial vehicles, PEUGEOT has developed a new concept of Neo Performance. The 508 PEUGEOT Sport Engineered is the first in this new line of efficient and high-performance vehicles.