Are All Peugeot Electric Cars Automatic? 

The majority of electric cars are automatic, but there are one or two rare exceptions. Some manufacturers have continued to produce them with a gearbox and gearstick, to resemble the functionality of petrol cars which drivers have become accustomed to before their switch to electric.  

However, this is unlikely to continue in the future. This is because there is no need for an electric car to have a gearbox, gearstick or clutch due to its electric motor. If you’re not used to automatic controls, driving one for the first time can feel a little strange – but you soon get used to it.  

Owning an automatic electric car without a gearbox has many benefits and advantages, such as being easier to maintain.  

Due to being fewer moving parts, there is a smaller chance of a mechanical malfunction or ‘wear and tear’. This also means that the ride is smoother than its petrol or diesel counterparts – meaning you can travel to your destination in maximum comfort.  

Another benefit of electric cars is the simplicity of the driving experience, allowing you to concentrate more on your speed and road position. Overall, this gives EV drivers a lot of added benefits when compared to their petrol alternatives, including reduced tax and financial incentives.  

ll PEUGEOT electric cars and vans are automatic and come complete with three driving modes: Eco, Normal or Sport. Peugeot electric cars are different from their petrol-powered alternatives in several ways.  

• There are only two pedals needed, the accelerator and brake pedal. 

• There is no need for a clutch because they are propelled by lithium-iOn batteries, rather than an internal combustion engine.  

• Peugeot electric cars don’t have a gearbox as there are no gears to change.  

Although Peugeot’s EV range is automatic, there is a mode selector, found in the centre console. Unlike petrol or diesel -powered cars, where a 6-speed gearbox may be used to control the vehicle, the mode selector is used to select the various driving modes that come included with all our electric cars. If you’ve never driven and electric, hybrid or automatic car before, why not contact your local Retailer to arrange a test drive. 

The only technical difference between a standard automatic and driving an electric car which by its very nature is automatic, is that as the car accelerates and decelerates it doesn’t automatically change gears. In a standard automatic car, although the driver doesn’t need to actively change gear, there are still gears to be changed within the car. However, the car does this for the driver – automatically.  

These gears help conventional cars keep within the speed and power output needed for whatever road situation that you find yourself in. This is because they need a gearbox as their engines are only capable of powering the car through a narrow band of engine speed. 

On an electric car, it’s slightly different – most of them have only one gear. This is because electric motors can access much more power than internal combustion engines. Not only can they access more power, but they are also more efficient in doing so – meaning there is no need for multiple gears.  

The gear that an electric car is in by default is chosen by the manufacturer to maximise efficiency and performance. The result of this is that they’re capable of easily reaching top speed in a single gear, while not compromising on acceleration and efficiency.  

No – electric cars do not have a clutch. This is another key difference between EVs and models with an internal combustion engine. There’s no need for a clutch because they have no need to change between different gears. It’s also impossible for an electric car to stall. From a standstill, you simply press the accelerator compared to the need for a clutch and accelerator on a conventional car. 

This also means that electric cars lack a gearstick in the traditional sense – it can be quite a different experience when it’s your first time driving an electric or plug-in HYBRID. Our electric cars have a mode selector in the middle on the centre console, but this performs a different function than changing gears. The lever controls and operates the various types of driving modes that our cars offer and forms part of the Peugeot i-Cockpit.