As automakers invest more in electric technology, they’re finding simple ways to make big improvements in range ratings. Peugeot is the latest that managed to extract more miles out of its core EV models with some simple, clever modifications.
The French brand today announced that the all-electric 2022 e-208 hatchback will gain 22 km (13.6 miles) of range and the e-2008 crossover will get an extra 25 km (15.5 miles) of range over the 2021 models.
That amounts to an improvement of around seven percent for the e-208, whose range is now 362 km (225 miles), and of eight percent for the e-2008, which can now go 345 km (214 miles) on a charge, per the WLTP test cycle.
To achieve that improvement, Peugeot first of all has put the vehicles on even more efficient tires. Both will now be changed to “A+” class tires, which have lower rolling resistance. These will be offered on the e-208’s 16-inch wheels, and the e-2008’s 17-inch wheels.
Read Also: Driven: Peugeot e-2008 Is A Surprisingly Fun To Drive Little Electric SUV
Inside, meanwhile, a new heat pump coupled with a humidity sensor installed at the top of the windshield will optimize the energy efficiency of the air conditioning and heating systems, in order to squeeze a few extra miles out of the car.
Finally, a new gearbox ratio optimizes the range on highway journeys. Peugeot claims, though, that the improvements go beyond what the WLTP measures. It claims that these revisions lead to improvements of up to 40 km in urban traffic at temperatures of 0°C (32°F).
Both based on the eCMP platform, Peugeot’s electric models make use of a relatively small 50 kWh battery paired to an electric motor that delivers 134 hp (136 PS/100 kW) 192 lb-ft (260 Nm) of torque.
