Frequently Asked Questions
ALL YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT ELECTRIC AND HYBRID VEHICLES
What is an electric vehicle?
An electric vehicle (EV) is a vehicle whose engine runs on a battery powered by electricity. Do you want to go electric? Discover the DS electric vehicle range now
How does an electric vehicle work?
The motor of an electric vehicle is powered by the energy stored in the battery, which it then converts into mechanical energy to enable the vehicle to move. To find out more about our 100% electric vehicles, discover the DS 3 E-TENSE SUV.
What is a plug-in hybrid vehicle?
A Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) is a vehicle with a combustion engine (petrol or diesel) and an electric motor powered by a rechargeable battery. Want to switch to a plug-in hybrid? Discover the DS range of plug-in hybrids now.
How does a plug-in hybrid vehicle work?
A plug-in hybrid vehicle uses the electric motor to start up and for low speeds (under 50 km/h); when accelerating, the combustion engine comes into play to achieve the desired speed. To find out more about our plug-in hybrids, discover DS 4 E-TENSE, DS 7 E-TENSE and DS 9 E-TENSE.
How does a hybrid vehicle work?
A hybrid vehicle charges cleaverly while you drive, slow down and brake. During the braking phase, the kinetic energy emitted by braking is stored to recharge the battery. It uses the electric motor to start up and for low speeds (under 30 km/h); when accelerating, the combustion engine comes into play to achieve the desired speed.
What is the difference between a hybrid vehicle and a plug-in hybrid vehicle?
A plug-in hybrid is a car that can be recharged by plugging it into a household socket or a public charging point, whereas a hybrid is recharged only during regenerative braking.
What is the difference between an electric vehicle and a plug-in hybrid?
An electric vehicle has only a motor powered by electrical energy, while a plug-in hybrid vehicle combines both an electric motor and a combustion engine. Not sure whether to go for a plug-in hybrid or an electric car? Compare the advantages of plug-in hybrids and 100% electric vehicles here.
What does PHEV mean?
PHEV stands for "Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle" and is the acronym used to designate all plug-in hybrid vehicles. Switch to plug-in hybrid with the DS range of hybrid vehicles.
How long does a battery last?
The average battery life of an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle is 8 years, or about 160,000 km. In case of failure, the manufacturer carries out a battery renovation process under warranty to ensure maximum life. Find out more about battery recycling and warranty for DS vehicles.
What are the different charging options?
You can charge your electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle at a public charging point or a private charging point, also known as a home charging point.
How are batteries for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles recycled?
More than 70% of the Li-Ion batteries of DS Automobiles vehicles are recycled (recycling rate higher than the regulatory 50%) and another part of these batteries are reused in stationary energy storage systems for individual houses, collective buildings and electrical networks. Find more information on the recycling of DS electric vehicle batteries here.
What are the contractual guarantees for a DS electric vehicle?
DS electric vehicles benefit from an 8-year warranty or 160,000 km for the traction battery. Find out more about our commitments on the DS electric vehicle warranty.
When should you recharge your electric vehicle?
It is advisable to recharge your electric vehicle during off-peak hours if you have a home charging point in order to benefit from lower electricity rates. Generally speaking, and depending on the use of the vehicle, we recommend recharging your electric vehicle battery when the battery level approaches 20% in order to preserve its long-term performance.
How to preserve the battery life of the electric vehicle?
If you do not use your electric vehicle for a certain period of time, we still recommend charging the battery once a month to preserve its performance. Under normal circumstances, the lithium-ion battery of your DS electric vehicle can be recharged every day even if it is not completely discharged, without any risk of deteriorating its performance.
What are the different charging cables?
There are 4 types of cable for charging your electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid:
- Mode 3 three-phase and Mode 3 single-phase cables allow you to charge your vehicle via a DS Wall Box or a public charging station.
- The Mode 2 cable allows you to charge your car via a domestic socket.
- The reinforced Mode 2 cable allows you to connect to a reinforced domestic socket.
How long does it take to charge a DS electric vehicle?
30 minutes of recharging time are necessary to recover 80% of the range of DS 3 E-TENSE via a 100 KW recharging station.
The recharging time of your electric vehicle depends on several factors:
- The battery capacity: batteries with a high kWh capacity require a long charging time.
- The charging station: the higher the power of the station, the faster the charging time.
- The charging cable: the kWh capacity of the cable used must be similar to that of the charging point.
What is the range of a DS electric vehicle?
DS 3 E-TENSE offers a range of up to 404 km (WLTP cycle). To make the most of 100% electric driving, find out about the factors that can affect range and our advice on how to optimise your vehicle's range.
How to optimise the range of my DS electric vehicle?
The range of your electric vehicle can be affected by speed, driving style and weather conditions. Here are our tips for optimising your range:
- Adopt a smooth and fluid driving style.
- Use Eco mode and regenerative braking.
- Pre-heat or pre-air-condition your vehicle in hot or cold weather.
What are the differences between a DS Wall Box and a reinforced domestic socket?
The main difference between a Wall Box or wall charging station and a reinforced domestic socket is the power delivered. Indeed, a reinforced domestic socket can support a power of 3.2 kW (reinforced mode 2 cable) whereas a DS Wall Box can support a power of 22 kW thus making the recharging time of the electric vehicle faster.
Legal notices: the range and electricity consumption values indicated comply with the WLTP test procedure on the basis of which new vehicles have been approved since September 1, 2018. They may vary depending on actual operating conditions. use and various factors such as: speed, thermal comfort on board the vehicle, driving style and outside temperature. Charging time depends in particular on the power of the on-board charger in the vehicle, the charging cable, as well as the type and power of the charging station used. Be sure to contact your point of sale for more information. More information here. Hybrid: the fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions and range values indicated comply with the WLTP test procedure on the basis of which new vehicles have been approved since September 1, 2018. This WLTP procedure replaces the cycle European Driving School (NEDC), which was the test procedure used previously. As the test conditions are more realistic, fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions measured according to the WLTP procedure are, in many cases, higher than those measured according to the NEDC procedure. The values of fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions and range may vary depending on actual conditions of use and various factors such as: frequency of recharging, driving style, speed, specific equipment, options, types of tires, exterior temperature and thermal comfort on board the vehicle. Be sure to contact your point of sale for more information. More information here.