Instead, there are drive modes that sharpen or soften the throttle response, with the Peugeot offering Eco, Normal and Sport modes. 

We wonder how often you’ll be switching between the settings, though, because the only obvious change is the snappiness of the throttle response, while the predicted range goes up or down by 10 miles, depending on which setting you choose.

The sound of science

Fake engine noises are designed to give back some involvement, although the results won’t be to all tastes. To compensate for the lack of gearchange, Peugeot has created a soundtrack that adds layers of tone as you accelerate with a mix of a bassy rumble and an electronic element, although how enjoyable this will be is down to personal opinion. 

Indeed, we’re so used to EVs delivering rapid acceleration in near silence that we’re not convinced it really adds anything. Having said that, both cars weren’t completely silent with their sound generators deactivated, producing an electrical whine reminiscent of the noise made by Ford fuel-injection systems in the eighties.

While B-road performance isn’t quite as lithe and assured as in an older hot hatch, the E-208 GTi and A290 deliver a greater breadth of ability that’s a benefit of their respective EV powertrains. With maximum torque available from a standstill, both offer a flexible response at all speeds as well as the kind of effortless and capable cruising that’s usually only available in far larger machines.