What’s wrong with the new electric Peugeot e-3008?

Launched last September and now available in stores, the new Peugeot e-3008 disappoints in a few aspects, such as its heavy weight. And we know what the reason is that explains this extra weight compared to its rivals.

If the Tesla Model Y was the best-selling car in the world last year, all engines included, it has more and more competitors on the market. Among them, the Peugeot e-3008, which is just starting its work, while deliveries have just started.

Especially heavy weight

It was in September that the electric SUV was revealed, as we were able to discover it with a preview, before testing it for the first time a few weeks ago. Although we were generally satisfied with this new 100% electric generation, everything is not pleasant. In addition to its lower freedom than expected for its high-end version, we are also disappointed by its high weight.

Indeed, e-3008 has a minimum weight of 2,183 kg to the standard, or 330 kg more than the Renault Scénic E-Tech, which we also tested. Additionally, it weighs an extra 274 kilograms compared to the Tesla Model Y, although it is slightly larger. And of course, this is seen in behavior, but especially in use, and therefore in freedom. Especially since this overweight is not due to the battery, which exhibits capacity of 73 kWhcompared to 87 kWh for the Scenic.

Last September, we explained that this higher weight was due to the higher position, and to more and heavier equipment. But a few months later, the journalists from Challenge have other details. And the latter is provided directly by the brand’s engineers who worked on the design of the car. And especially on his platform, known as STLAhere in its Central version.

The latter will host many examples of the brand, and even of the Stellantis group, and is prepared to be as many as possible. This is what Christophe Patois points out, chief engineer at Peugeot e-3008 charge. According to him, “ if we had to develop the e-3008, without thinking about the several cars that will share its platform, we could push further the mass improvement of each of its components.«.

Versatility above all

The expert then explains that this new platform was ” adapted to the characteristics of the longest and heaviest car that is called endurance”, namely the Peugeot e-5008 which will arrive in a few months.“. The end was officially announced and the manufacturer, who has revealed the first image of the driving position. The latter takes the form of a large SUV located above the 3008.

It will carry up to seven passengers and needs suspension as well bigger and more powerful brakes. And obviously, it weighs more. The engineer regrets that ” if Stellantis had allowed its engineers to size the e-3008’s components to a proper measure of its performance, they would have saved. about 80 kg on the brake and rear axle alone“. Mistakes in corporate targeting strategy make big savings ? Of course, as these statements suggest.

On X (formerly Twitter), expert Bertrand Moreau he recalls that Carlos Tavares, the president of the Franco-Italian group, declared that designing a platform exclusively dedicated to electric vehicles is of no value to the customer. Different, for example, the platform CMF-EV (AmpR Medium) which is equipped with electric equipment Mégane E-Tech and Scenic E-Tech.

It should be noted that STLA Medium will also host hybrid versions of the Peugeot e-3008. Although buyers will definitely not see anything in it, some testers have noticed low efficiency characteristics of SUVs.

And it is the weight that is mainly to blame. It’s also the last one that does freedom is down than it could be if the car were lighter. This should be especially true in the city, since at high speeds, it is mainly the Cx (drag coefficient) that plays an important role.