The Citroen Ami is an intriguing new two-seat electric car that will be one of the most affordable of its kind when it goes on sale later this year. It's based on the 2019 Ami One Concept and has remained quite true to that, featuring a mirrored design that sees the same panels used for the front and rear as well as identical doors, with the driver's side opening carriage-style while the passenger side opens conventionally.
Measuring just 2.41 metres in length, the Citroen Ami is about as compact as they come. At 1.39m wide and 1.52m tall, its boxy proportions would make even Japan's kei car community do a double take. It rides on tiny 14-inch wheels and will be classified as a quadricycle. That means that in France it can be legally driven from the age of 14 without a license, and from 16 in other European countries. Its two-seat design boosts interior space by setting the passenger seat further back to optimise shoulder room. There's also a glass section to the roof and neat flip up-and-out windows reminiscent of those from the original 2CV. Tres bon!
The open cabin allows for lots of leg room and feels quite large due to the windscreen being set so far forward and being upright, although this comes at the sacrifice of an actual boot to store things in. The basic setup helps to keep costs down, but the lack of any climate control inside won't be ideal for those in colder or much hotter regions. A small digital instrument display shows speeds and amount of charge remaining and although you won't find any infotainment screens here, there is a prominently placed smartphone holder with a USB connection that can be used for navigation and music streaming.
Up to 70 kilometres from a single charge
Powering the Citroen Ami is a 5.5kWh lithium-ion battery that is located in the floor of the car and an 8hp electric motor that gives it a top speed of 45km/h. With a full battery it is capable of covering up to 70 kilometres on a single charge and an added boon to owners is that it doesn't require any special home charging equipment. A cable, neatly housed within the passenger door frame, can extend and plug into any normal domestic 220V plug socket. Due to the battery's small size, the Ami takes only three hours to fully charge. It will be available with a suitable connecting cable for public charge points.
A variety of different ownership models
With a retail price of €6,900 in France, excluding the local €900 ecological grant, the Citroen Ami is one of the most affordable electric vehicles on sale. In an unusual move, Citroen has said that it will sell it online through a dedicated website and that will include home delivery with a visit from a product expert to show you how everything works.
Furthermore, the Ami will also be sold in Fnac stores throughout France. If you don't fancy handing over €6,000 for one, Citroen will also offer competitive leasing for €19.99 per month following a €2,644 initial payment.
The car sharing division of Groupe PSA, Free2Move, will also offer this car on its fleet, with rental costs from €0.26 per minute, which is currently the same cost as renting an electric scooter in Paris. Initially, the Citroen Ami will be sold in France and Italy, followed by Spain, Portugal and Germany. Currently there are no plans for the car to be sold in Ireland or in righthand drive form.