Tipper: Citroen E-Relay vs Peugeot e-Boxer

In this review we see the battle of two French motor giants: Peugeot and Citroen, fighting for the top spot with their ‘fourgon electrique’, or electric van, offerings. Peugeot is a brand with some serious French heritage, it dates back to 1810 and has received many international awards for its vehicles, including six European Car of the Year awards. The younger French contender, Citroen, goes back as far as 1919 and is known for innovation: in 1954, they produced the world’s first hydropneumatic self-levelling suspension system and then, in 1955, produced the first mass-produced car with modern disc brakes.

This blog will compare the Citroen E-Relay Tipper and Peugeot e-Boxer to help you decide which French tipper is for you. A tipper van is a light commercial vehicle capable of carrying a variety of loads and equipment in its open body. Tippers are equipped with an under-floor tipping system that allows you to tip the vehicle body to unload heavy loads at the rear of the vehicle. They tend to be popular with light construction and landscaping businesses because they make transporting building material, heavy garden waste and other items easy.

The tipping action itself will depend on the model you choose and should be a key consideration when selecting a tipper van. The lowest-cost tipper options are likely to only tip backwards, but that’s just one type – there are also three-way tippers, which allow tipping to either side as well to the rear. Read on to learn more about these two excellent vans, both available at Van Sales UK.

Engines and Spec

Let’s begin with payload, which is a serious consideration when you look to buy a tipper.. The Citroen E-Relay’s maximum payload of 1,150kg is very similar to the Peugeot e-Boxer’s 1,117kg of payload in its largest variant. While these mid-weight loads may be plenty for some, tradespeople with heavy equipment, construction workers or removal companies may need something that has greater capacity. It should be noted that both of these payloads are on the lower end compared to other electric tipper vans available, so if you are looking to carry a larger load, check out some of our other reviews here.

Powered by an electric motor that produces 121 horsepower and 260 Nm of torque, the E-Relay has responsive acceleration and feels rather nippy. There are multiple options available in battery size and range, with either a 37 kWh or 70 kWh battery. This means a battery range of up to 73 or 139 miles on a single charge. Charging times for the battery are fairly average:  around 5.5 hours for the smaller battery, and up to 11 hours for the larger one.

Comparatively, the e-Boxer is fitted with a 75kWh battery with a longer driving range of up to 154 miles. If you can cope with the smaller payload, then this makes the e-Boxer a great van for longer journeys or motorway travel. Charging to full battery can take up to 12 hours, but this is more than acceptable if you’re planning on charging overnight. Interested in learning more about the spec of the Peugeot e-Boxer? Read our full review here.

Interior

The e-Boxer boasts oodles of storage space, ideal for keeping everything you need for a day out on the job to hand. The instrument cluster has been conveniently placed on display in the rearview mirror – indicating the remaining range, battery percentage and current driving mode. The touchscreen display features an integrated navigation system, and the gearbox has been replaced by three buttons for easy switching between Drive, Neutral and Reverse.

The interior of the E-Relay is chock full of tech and safety features. It includes a 5-inch colour touchscreen display, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, and electrically adjustable heated mirrors. The safety features include lane departure warning, a speed limiter, and hill-start assist.  The tipper mechanism is operated by a control panel mounted in the cab, which allows the driver to raise and lower the bed of the vehicle with ease. If you’re interested in learning more about some of these features, read our detailed full review of the Citroen E-Relay here.

The Verdict

The Citroen E-Relay Tipper and Peugeot e-Boxer both offer lots of potential for commercial use, particularly in terms of battery options available and long-lasting battery range. There is not much difference in payload capacity but for some neither will deliver enough, for others they’ll be spot on. When it comes to choosing, it’s really down to personal preference.

You can purchase the Citroen E-Relay Tipper from Van Sales UK for the starting price of £399 + VAT and the Peugeot e-Boxer begins at £489 + VAT, both with warranty and breakdown cover as well as flexible financing options.

Visit our website to see the many vans available from Van Sales UK, or if you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with us by emailing sales@vansalesuk.co.uk or calling 0117 205 2625.