The Peugeot iOn has the same level of safety equipment as a conventional modern car. To dispel any myths about electric cars being dangerous, the iOn has achieved a four star rating in the Euro NCAP crash tests. The battery pack components are all contained in a reinforced, hermetically-sealed casing. This is positioned under the passenger compartment floor, in the area most resistant to deformation, ensuring maximum protection in the event of an impact.

Mounting the battery pack in this position also improves the vehicle’s weight distribution by lowering the centre of gravity. Safe recharging of the battery, either by a special quick charge unit or by means of the special connecting cable and a standard electrical socket, is controlled automatically according to the monitored parameters of the individual battery cells.

Standard safety kit includes driver and front passenger airbags, side airbags, front and rear curtain airbags, ABS (anti-locking braking system), EBFD (electronic brakeforce distribution), TCL (traction control), EBA (emergency brake assist), ASC (active stability control), immobiliser, seat belt warning (front and rear passenger), two front three-point seatbelts with force limiters and pre-tensioners, two rear three-point seatbelts and two ISOFIX child safety seat mountings.

All Peugeot iOn models have access to Peugeot Connect SOS which means that if any safety equipment is activated or the SOS button is pressed, the car’s occupants are automatically put in touch with an emergency call centre.

On the inside there’s ample space for four adults but its major rival, the Nissan LEAF can seat five people and is larger than the iOn. With seats in place the iOn has a loadspace of 170 litres, which is 40 litres more than that offered in a Peugeot 107. If you are a city dweller then the iOn makes a lot of sense. It’s simple to park, easy to manouevre and will cost you zilch in the London Congestion Charging zone thanks to its zero exhaust emissions.

The iOn will not be practical if you use your car for long journeys because of its limited range: it will only cover 93 miles from a full charge but with 93% of daily trips in the UK less than 35 miles it still looks like a good proposition. To charge the battery pack fully it will take seven hours using a traditional 13-amp 240v household socket but if you live close to, or work nearby a special charging point, then you could top up the battery with a quick charge.

Fifteen minutes with this kit will give you 50% charge while a 30-minute charge will get your battery back to 80%. For normal charging, you connect the cable to the household socket or to a standard roadside charging point, while the other end is connected to the socket on the right-hand side of the vehicle (the socket on the left-hand side is reserved for quick recharging).

A symbol on the instrument panel and a LED on the cable’s protective housing signals tells you when the battery is charging. It stops automatically when the battery is fully charged. When you go to buy/lease the car you will be asked about your living quarters to verify that the iOn is the right car for you so if you live on the 25th floor of a high rise you are probably not going to be able to use an iOn because you will need to be able to either charge the car at work or at home.