French automaker Citroën has unveiled a tiny electric vehicle (EV) that comes with a pretty small price tag too.
The Ami, affectionately referred to by Citroën as a “non-conformist mobility object”, won’t be able to haul much, and you won’t be able to go very far. But for a city-dweller, or someone who has a short commute, it may be the perfect solution.
Powered by a 6kW (8 horsepower) electric motor, the Ami can reach a top speed of only 45km/h (28mph). At that speed, it will take a while to deplete the battery, which has a range of about 70km (43 miles). On the other hand, the benefit of that small battery is it can get a full charge in just 3 hours using a standard household outlet.
Due to its size and (lack of) speed, a number of European countries classify the Ami the same as a scooter, which doesn’t require a license. It can also be driven by children as young as 14 in France.
To keep manufacturing costs down, the front is designed to use the same body parts as the back. The left door is the same as the right door. If you thought the Tesla Model 3 interior was minimalist, the Ami gives it a good run for its money with a very minimalist gauge cluster.
One interesting feature of the EV is the integration of the companion smart phone app as part of the in-car display. There is a holder placed in the middle of the dash, where the driver can place their phone to display information like remaining range, as well as navigation. The all-important cupholder is behind the steering wheel.
Customers can begin ordering the Ami on March 30 in France, with plans to release it in other European countries a few months later.
Images copyright maison-vignaux @ Continental Productions
h/t [CNN]
