The modern family car is usually purchased alongside an extensive checklist of roles it needs to fulfil. Are there enough ISOFIX points? Is the boot big enough for a couple of pushchairs and all the shopping? Is the loading lip too high to lift things over? Has it got a good safety rating? Is it economical or should I go electric?
This last question has come to be one of particular importance in recent years. With climate change affecting the decisions we make and rising fuel costs also becoming a major factor, families who have already decided to make the switch over to Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) may well be seeing the financial benefits.
One of the most frequent trips any family vehicle will make throughout its lifetime is the school run. No matter how simple or infuriating a journey that can be, research conducted by Citroen UK finds the average route to be a 10.4-mile roundtrip. That may not seem too much but at 20.8 miles a day, it will quickly add up.
Climate Conscious
Citroen surveyed 2000 UK parents for the study and have based their data on the all-electric Citroen e-C4 Electric, which offers a WLTP-certified range of 219 miles. With the average school run equalling 5.2 miles each way, parents driving the Citroen e-C4 Electric could be able to complete up to 20 school runs on a single charge.
With a single charge costing as little as just £3.75 (based on a 7.4kW Wallbox on an EV electricity tariff, a standard tariff equating to £14 for the same charge), the switch to an electric power train can clearly offer a fairly unique selling point. A petrol-powered alternative would cost around £30.12 for the same distance meaning the potential savings equate to around £26.37 every two weeks.
The research found that the school trip isn’t a 5-day-a-week occurrence, with 3.5 days representing the average undertaking and walking, cycling, public transport and other parents sharing the load for the remaining days. 7% of families also reported having to cover more than 30 miles for their school run although such distances are in the minority by far.
Steady Savings
The level of vehicle emissions and air pollution were also questioned by Citroen and what level of concern the parents felt around this. 19% of parents admitted to being strongly concerned whilst 41% described themselves as somewhat concerned. Earlier research conducted in London found children to be exposed to 5 times more air pollution whilst on the school run compared to when they are in school.
Eurig Druce, Citroen UKs Managing Director said: ‘Doing the school run in an electric car not only reduces local air pollution but also helps families save on day-to-day running costs. While electric range is often a key question for potential EV buyers, many will be surprised by the number of school runs families could cover on a single charge – showcasing the usability and versatility of modern electric cars like the Citroen e-C4 Electric.’
Reliable Power
Boasting an impressive 0-80% charge time of just 30 minutes through 100kW rapid charging and a 50 kWh Lithium-ion battery pack. 136hp and 260Nm of torque are also decent figures and enough to place the Citroen e-C4 Electric as a clear and capable alternative to a petrol-powered family car. The e-C4 Electric is a key part of Citroen’s vision for their future, with electric options of each model to be made available across their entire vehicle line-up by 2025.
