In recent years we have been moving towards the concept of electric cars. Although they are still not crowding the street, they are certainly starting to become more common. For many of us that don’t drive long distances to work and back, the question of do I really need a large sedan for the commute. In France the Citroen Ami EV is a new idea of what might be an alternative.
What is a Citroen Ami?
The Citroen Ami is a small two seat car with a total length of 95”. It is powered by an electric motor producing 8 hp with a 5.5 KW hour Lithium ion battery that can be charged in 3 hours on a 220v power supply. Driving range is limited to 43 miles between charges so short trips are the main use for this vehicle. Top speed is 28mph so the Ami would be mainly used for urban transportation.
Not only is the Citroen Ami a small car but it also comes with a small price tag. Sources list a sale price of $7,000. The alternative is that it can be leased for $22 a month with a $3,000 down payment or rented on a car sharing basis for less that a dollar a minute. Since the Ami is listed as a Light Quadricycle in France, it can be driven by anyone over the age of 14 with a Road Safety Certificate.
Although the Citroen Ami is not the ideal vehicle for all driving needs, it could still be a second car alternative. For driving to work and back, short shopping trips or picking a daughter or son up from school the Ami might just fit the bill. Its small size would fit in any garage and require a small parking space anywhere you go. Getting used to such a small car in traffic would take some time although other small cars like the Mercedes Smart Car have already been on the street for some time. Right now it is available in Europe only, don’t know if they will try to bring it to North America.
Below is a short promo video for the Ami.