While an electric car’s list price can be more expensive than the equivalent petrol or diesel, this doesn’t paint the whole picture, as the total cost you pay over its lifetime could be less.
Electric vehicle (EV) batteries are the most expensive component, but when you consider the fuel savings they equate to, the initial premium can be offset across ownership.
When considering potential savings in taxes and servicing costs, a Citroën electric car could be more suitable than you think.
Although EV manufacture can require more energy than a petrol or diesel model, through the materials and processes involved, this is offset by the reduced emissions across the car’s lifespan. In the case of all-electric models, the exhaust emissions are removed completely.
According to Greenpeace, an electric car has around “half the climate impact over its lifetime” compared with the average car.
Some EV battery materials, particularly lithium and cobalt, draw criticism because they can come from countries and mines with poor environmental and human rights records. Citroën and parent company Stellantis, however, works with suppliers to ensure responsible procurement practices throughout the supply chain.
As batteries are expensive and contain precious metals, it’s far more likely they’ll be recycled or reused.
Some houses already make use of ‘second life’ EV cells, which capture solar and wind energy and feed it into the home. This form of recycling means battery packs could have an additional decade of use after they’re used in a car or van. After this point, or in the case of damaged batteries, the precious metals can be retrieved and used to make new batteries.
Electric cars tend to be automatic, without clutch pedals and gear sticks, making them easier to drive. The initial acceleration is also surprising to many drivers, as the electric motors can deliver 100% of the torque (a car’s pulling force) instantly.
Because of their lower number of parts compared to conventional cars, EVs can be surprisingly reliable. Without exhausts, fuel delivery systems, oil filters or clutches, they can actually be easier to repair and maintain.
Modern car batteries themselves are largely free of maintenance as they’re designed to last the lifetime of the car, or even longer. For added peace of mind, Citroën electric cars come with a warranty 140,000 or seven years battery warranty for utmost peace of mind
While a degree of battery performance loss is expected over the course of ownership, an electric car’s batteries are more robust than the kind you’ll find in household electronics like mobile phones or laptops.
They’re designed to last the lifetime of an EV, and even after that can be used in other forms of power storage. Our sales and maintenance teams are also on hand to offer tips for maintaining your batteries’ performance.
Citroën’s battery packs are maintenance free for the driver, so you don’t need to add fuel, oil or water to keep it in check. All you’ll do is charge it. During a service, a Citroën technician will perform a battery health check and advise on practices to ensure it has the longest life.
These tips include only charging to 100% when it’s needed. If you don’t need a full charge for a particular journey, it’s best to top it up to only 80% or less if possible.
You can plug your car in every day or leave it unplugged for a long time without affecting the battery, but it is recommended that you charge it at least once a month. The battery management system is electronically controlled and uses very little power. If you generally do lots of short charges, it's a good idea to perform a full standard charge every two weeks.
EV batteries are designed to be maintenance free for drivers and shouldn’t need any repairs in their lifetime. They’re also protected by steel casing to prevent damage from water, road debris or accidents.
In the event of external damage or malfunction, the car’s systems will also ensure the battery remains safe. The packs can then be removed by Citroën technicians and assessed for faults. If necessary, individual cells can be replaced to restore the battery back to working order.
EV batteries still require servicing, but as they’re designed to last the lifetime of the car without oil or parts changes, the costs could be substantially lower than the equivalent petrol or diesel vehicle on average.
That doesn’t mean your battery won’t be regularly checked and assessed, though. During servicing, a Citroën technician will check the status of the battery packs and ensure it’s performing as it should be.
Citroën ë-C3 vehicle warranty cover for material and manufacturing defects for three years or 125,000 from the first registration.
The lithium-ion battery packs themselves are covered for seven years & 140,000 kms for extra peace of mind.
Like in an internal combustion-engine vehicle, the consumption information for an electric vehicle is located next to the speedometer. Range is calculated in real time, and takes into account your driving style, in addition to other factors.
The range of your electric vehicle depends on your driving, the load you are carrying, the gradient of the road and your use of air conditioning or heating.
You can plug into different rated power sockets and the vehicle will charge at the maximum rate of power available, capped by the capacity of the vehicle on board charger.
Home: You can use any 15A Domestic plug to charge your car
Work: many workplaces already have electric vehicle charging points installed.
Public: there is a vast network of publically available chargepoints across the country and many of them are completely free to use.
The charging time depends on the type of charging point you use. There are several types of terminals, both domestic and public, with several power levels. Find all the information you need on the dedicated vehicle pages.
Citroën vehicle socket: Type CCS 2 connector
Citroen Home Charger (3.3KW AC Current/Slow) : 10hrs 30 min
Rapid Fast Charger (=>30KW DC Fast Charger) : 57 min
Citroën supply an home charging cable as standard, to connect to a 'type 2' charging point, as it’s the recommended method for daily charging any electrified vehicle. Rapid charging for full electric vehicles does not need a separate cable, as these are always tethered to the charging point.
If you’re charging an electric car regularly, there’s no escaping the rise in your energy bill. But remember that trips to the petrol station are removed or reduced, depending on your EV type, and electricity is generally around a quarter of the price of conventional fuel.
There are two types of charging available: AC, which is typically the sort that powers a home wallbox, and DC, which provides rapid charging and is often found at public charge points like service stations or outside supermarkets.
An all-electric car owner will need to be a bit more forward thinking. However, you’ll get plenty of warning before the battery is completely drained.
It’s best to always keep the car charged up for impromptu trips out, to avoid unexpected breakdowns.
You can use 180 min Citroën Service Promise to call for RSA and get charging for emergency situations
Citroën vehicles are fitted with the latest safety tech to present accidents happening in the first place, but in that event, our cars’ strong shells and passive safety systems ensure the safety of occupants and electric systems.
Citroën's engineers go to great lengths to ensure our EVs can be used in all the conditions a conventional car can. Long before our models enter production, they’re tested in heavy rain, standing water and, of course, car washes!
They’re even tested in a lightning strike situation and found to be just as safe. There’s no need to modify your driving behaviour in an electric car.