Families owning Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), like the Citroën ë-C4 Electric can complete up to two full weeks of school runs on a single charge – saving more than £26 in the process – according to new research by Citroën UK.
Ahead of schools returning in September, the French automobile company surveyed 2,000 UK parents between March and April and found that the average school run is 10.4 miles (5.2 miles each way).
With the Citroën ë-C4 Electric models’ WLTP-certified range of 219 miles, parents driving one can complete up to 20 school runs on a single charge.
When charged overnight using a 7.4kW Wallbox on an EV electricity tariff, a single charge for an ë-C4 Electric can cost as little as £3.75, while on a standard tariff the same charge will cost £14 (according to prices based on charging the vehicle from 0-100% overnight using an Octopus GO EV tariff rate of 7.5p per kWh, compared to a standard tariff rate of 28p per kWh as stated by Ofgem).
Using a comparable petrol-powered C4 would cost £30.12 to cover the same distance, meaning that parents could save up to £26.37 every two weeks, notes Citroën.
The research also found that parents drive their children to school on average 3.5 times per week, with public transport, lifts from other parents, walking, and cycling making up the rest of the trips. Although the average school run was found to be a 10.4-mile round trip, 7% of the respondents reported having to cover more than 30 miles during the school run.
“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 useability and versatility of modern electric cars like the Citroën ë-C4 Electric,” said Eurig Druce, Citroën UK’s managing director.
The automaker also asked whether vehicle emissions outside schools were a concern for parents. Unsurprisingly, 19% of parents said they were strongly concerned and 41% were somewhat concerned. Research carried out in London in 2019 found children are exposed to five times more air pollution on the school run than when they are in school.
Present in 101 countries, Citroën’s ë-C4 Electric features a 50kWh lithium-ion battery pack, paired with an electric motor producing 136hp and 260Nm of torque. Capable of up to 100kW rapid charging, the ë-C4 Electric can be re-charged from 0-80% in just 30 minutes.
Owners of Citroën ë-C4 Electric models also benefit from the use of the MyCitroën app, which allows easy access to key information about their car, such as charging status and range, as well as the ability to pre-configure the climate control or set the timer for a delayed re-charge using a wallbox – to take advantage of lower energy tariffs.