Electric Cars: The Basics
For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:
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The All-Electric Citroën ë-C3 SUV
Citroën is a leading French automobile manufacturer, now owned by Netherlands based Stellantis N.V., which was formed by the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (Italian/ American) and Groupe PSA (French). Stellantis owns a diverse and comprehensive portfolio of leading automotive brands, to include, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Jeep, FIAT, Alfa Romeo etc. Previously, Peugeot owned a 89.95% stake in the company. The Citroen electric vehicle (EV) portfolio includes both, battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) models:
- Citroen C5 Aircross Plug-In Hybrid
- All-electric Citroen ë-C3
- All-electric Citroen ë-C4
- All-electric Citroen ë-C4 X
- All-electric Citroen ë-Berlingo
- All-electric Citroen ë-Spacetourer
- Citroën C5 X Plug-In Hybrid
- All-electric Citroen Ami
If there is a trend that is gaining significant momentum, and for good reason, it is, the introduction of new compact SUVs, in particular, compact zero-tailpipe emission SUVs. The view that SUVs have to be ‘big and bad’ is now fast changing to ‘small and beautiful’. Automotive manufacturers (OEMs) from across the globe have been actively developing battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) for this segment. Some examples are: the all-electric BYD Atto 3 SUV, the all-electric Fiat 600e SUV, the all-electric Honda e: Ny1 SUV, the all-electric Kia EV3 SUV, the all-electric Smart #1, the all-electric Smart #3 and more!
The all-electric Citroën ë-C3 SUV (B-segment) joins a segment with both, significant potential, but also fierce competition. Having said that, the ë-C3 has much to offer for those families keen to migrate to an affordable and compact pure electric car. Prices for the ë–C3 BEV start from € 23,400. Certainly affordable and value for money, and making the ë-C3 one of the cheapest electric cars today! The new ë-C3 is the first model from parent company Stellantis to feature the new and ‘BEV-focussed’ Smart Car platform.
We encourage consumers to not look only at the retail price of a vehicle, but also the life-cycle cost of ownership of a vehicle, to include: maintenance, repair, servicing, recharging (refilling) etc. In reality, after factoring all costs related to ownership of a vehicle, EVs have far lower life-cycle costs compared to owning a conventional petrol or diesel vehicle. Switching to electric driving saves money, and also reduces the impact on the environment.
The Citroën ë-C3 electric has a 44 kWh (349V) onboard LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) EV battery, with a claimed range up to 320 km (WLTP). The Japanese automotive manufacturer Honda, was one of the first few global OEMs to challenge the notion that all electric cars had to have a large onboard EV battery. Honda argued that most day-to-day driving needs, in particular, in cities and towns, are short commutes (i.e. school runs, grocery store, local high street, gym, work etc).
Honda further argued that a smaller EV battery is far more than adequate for such consumers, providing more than adequate e-range, lowering the cost of the electric vehicle (EV) and also lowering its life-cycle emission environmental footprint. The all-electric Honda-e was developed on this approach. The Honda-e has a 35.5 kWh EV battery! For those new to electric driving, pure electric cars have far fewer moving parts compared to a petrol and diesel car. The most significant component of an all-electric car is the onboard EV battery, which could account for as much as 60% of the cost of an electric vehicle (EV). In recent years, the industry has witnessed a significant decrease in battery costs, and this trend is set to continue!
We agreed then, and even agree today, that compact zero-tailpipe emission electric vehicles should be a preferred choice for consumers. Even adjusting for real-world driving conditions, the ë-C3 pure electric should be able to deliver a real-world e-range up to 275 km on a full charge. Perfect for families living in towns and cities. For those occasional longer distance trips, the EV can be DC rapid charged up to 100 kW DC (20%-80%: 26 minutes).
For home charging, the ë-C3 electric can be fully charged at 7.4 kW (single-phase) via a smart electric car charger in 7 hours and 10 minutes. Citroën offers an upgrade to a three-phase (11 kW AC) onboard charger. If you have access to 3-phase AC EV charging, it is then worth considering. The BEV can be fully charged in 4 hours and 50 minutes via a dedicated three-phase smart EV charger.
If you are new to electric driving, EVs are predominantly charged at home, usually overnight, when the electricity tariff rates are the lowest. However, charging an electric car at home can become even cheaper by installing home solar panels and battery storage. At e-zoomed we offer very attractive home solar & home battery storage bundle offers of varying sizes and budgets.
The five-door electric SUV offers as standard: 10.25″ touchscreen, head-up display, wireless smartphone mirroring (Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto), hill start assist, cruise control/ speed limiter, safety pack (video-based active safety brake, active lane departure warning system, speed limit recognition), driver attention alert and more! The Citroën ë-C3 has yet to be awarded the EURO NCAP Safety Rating. In any case, given the price tag, the BEV offers a decent level of equipment and interior quality (does not feel cheap!). Sadly, it does not offer a sunroof! Interior space is adequate given the compact dimensions of the EV, though a little tight for taller passengers seated in the rear.
In terms of size, the five-seat ë-C3 is even more compact than the #3 and 600e. The ë-C3 is 4m in length and 1.57m in height. In comparison, the 600e is 4.1m in length and 1.52m in height, while the #3 is 4.4m in length and 1.55m in height. The taller height for the ë-C3 helps improve headroom for taller passengers! The ë-C3 BEV offers a 310 L boot. By way of comparison the Smart #3 SUV offers a 370 L boot and the Fiat 600e offers up to 360 L. The ë-C3 is a reinvention of the conventional five-door Citroën C3 hatchback, first introduced in 2002. The fourth-generation variant is the new Citroën design language, first unveiled in 2022 on the Citroën Oli concept car.
The front-wheel drive (FWD) 83 kW (electric motor) ë-C3 can achieve 0-100 km/h in 10.4 seconds (maximum power: 113 HP/ torque: 124.5 Nm). The top speed of the EV is 132 km/h. The BEV also incorporates regenerative braking. Given the primary focus of this BEV are urban drivers, the performance on offer is more than adequate. The EV does not offer a heat pump.
Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet!
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| An affordable electric car (one of the cheapest BEVs in the market) | No heat pump |
| Decent real-world electric range/ DC charging up to 100 kW DC | Smaller boot compared to other compact electric SUVs |
| Comfortable interiors with decent level of equipment | No frunk |
Gallery
The All-Electric Citroen ë-C3 SUV (credit: Citroen)
| At A Glance | |
|---|---|
| EV Type: | Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV) |
| Body Type: | SUV |
| Engine: | Electric |
| Available In Ireland: | Yes |
| Variants (1 Option) |
|---|
| Citroen ë-C3 (from € 23,400) |
| EV Battery & Emissions | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion |
| EV Battery Capacity: | Available in one battery size: 44 kWh |
| Charging: | 100 kW DC charging (20%-80%: 26 mins). Onboard AC charger: 7.4 kW AC Standard (0%-100%: 7 hrs 10 mins)/ 11 kW AC (0%-100%: 4 hrs 50 mins) |
| Charge Port: | Type 2 |
| EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
| Tailpipe Emissions: | 0g (CO2/km) |
| EV Battery Warranty: | 8 years or 160,000 km (70% capacity) |
| Average Cost Of Residential Charging | |
|---|---|
| Battery net capacity: 16.7 kWh | € 4.00 |
| Battery net capacity: 30.0 kWh | € 7.19 |
| Battery net capacity: 39.2 kWh | € 9.39 |
| Battery net capacity: 45.0 kWh | € 10.78 |
| Battery net capacity: 50.0 kWh | € 11.98 |
| Battery net capacity: 64.0 kWh | € 15.34 |
| Battery net capacity: 71.0 kWh | € 17.01 |
| Battery net capacity: 77.0 kWh | € 18.45 |
| Battery net capacity: 90.0 kWh | € 21.57 |
| Battery net capacity: 100.0 kWh | € 23.97 |
- Note 1: The average cost of residential electricity in Ireland varies depending on the region, supplier and type of energy used. An average for Ireland is 23.97 cents/kWh.
- Note 2: Not all EV manufactures make available the data on net EV battery capacity, and in a number of instances the EV battery capacity advertised, does not state if it is gross or net capacity. In general, usable EV battery capacity is between 85% to 95% of the gross available capacity.
| Charging Times (Overview) | |
|---|---|
| Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW): | 6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC) |
| Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW): | 3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Rapid charging AC (43 kW): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Rapid charging DC (50 kW+): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW+): | 0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Tesla Supercharger (120 kW – 250 kW): | 0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
- Note 1: SoC: state of charge
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Height (mm): | 1577 |
| Width (mm): | 1813 |
| Length (mm): | 4015 |
| Wheelbase (mm): | 2540 |
| Turning Circle (m): | 10.6 |
| Boot Space (L): | 310 (seats folded: 1,188 L) |
| Frunk (L): | N/A |
| ë-C3 | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 44 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 320 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km): | 17.1 |
| Charging: | 100 kW DC charging (20%-80%: 26 mins). Onboard AC charger: 7.4 kW AC Standard (0%-100%: 7 hrs 10 mins)/ 11 kW AC (0%-100%: 4 hrs 50 mins) |
| Top Speed: | 132 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h: | 10.4 seconds |
| Drive: | Front-wheel drive (FWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | 83 |
| Horsepower (hp): | 113 |
| Torque (Nm): | 124.5 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Kerb Weight (kg): | 1,416 |
| Towing Capacity (Braked/Unbraked)/ (kg): | 550/550 |
| Colours: | 10 |
| EURO NCAP Safety Rating: | N/A |
Buying EV Cables: Top 3 Tips
When it comes to electric car charging cables, an astute electric car owner will focus on quality and performance over cheapest price. We at e-zoomed have an excellent range of high quality and high performance electric car charging cables, all priced very competitively! At e-zoomed we offer charging cables from 2m to 50m for single-phase and three-phase EV charging cables as standard.
| EV Cables: Top 3 Tips | |
|---|---|
| Never buy cheap: | Not all EV charging cables are the same. It is simply false economy to try and save a few Euro’s on buying a cheaper cable, when in all probability the EV you own is worth over € 30,000! Nor are we suggesting you buy the most expensive. There is always a balance between price and quality, and electric car charging cables are no different. The last thing you need is to have the EV charging cable stop working when you most need it. EV cables on the e-zoomed Electric Living Shop are made from TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane), a higher quality material that is extremely flexible, durable and smooth to touch. |
| The shortest length is never the best choice: | A number of customers seek the shortest length (2m EV charging cable) because it is the cheapest. However a 2m EV cable is limited in practicality and usually not a good long-term investment. Most charging destinations (home or public) require an EV charging cable that is longer than 2m. In our experience, most customers buy EV charging cables between 5m and 25m. We recommend at least a 5m charging cable. It is long enough to meet most charging needs, but compact enough to be carried and put away easily! Of course, a number of customers need even longer EV cables. |
| A lower technical specification EV charging cable Is never the best choice: | As above, a number of electric car owners seek to buy a 16 amp (single-phase) EV charging cable, instead of a 32 amp (single-phase) EV charging cable. The reason is simple. The 16 amp is marginally cheaper! However, a 16 amp charging cable charges at 3.6kW, a much slower rate to a 32 amp EV charging cable that charges at 7.2 kW. An ampere is the unit for measuring electricity. The accepted standard unit used for measuring how fast an electric current flows is an example of an ampere. The reason why customers in Ireland buy a single-phase EV cable, is because most homes in Ireland are powered by single-phase power supply. Also important to asses is the IP Rating for the EV cable. Not all EV cables have the same IP Rating. Of course, warranty is also important. Most EV cables are sold with a warranty of at least 2 years! |
While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.
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