Citroën Ami: the electric car you don't need a driving licence for

The Citroën Ami is a two-seater electric car designed solely and exclusively for the city. 70 km of range, no driving licence required and under €7,000 are its calling card.

The French firm presented its new 100% electric, city-focused model yesterday in Paris. Following the presentation of the Citroën Ami One Concept at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, the brand of the double chevron now reveals the definitive image of the production model of its most cosmopolitan bet.

Two-seater under 2.5 metres and 485 kg

The new Ami has almost unheard-of dimensions. At 2.4 metres long, 1.39 metres wide and 1.52 metres high, it is clearly positioned in the 100% urban segment. The turning circle of this car is 7.2 metres, designed to make manoeuvres, especially parking, easier.

We keep referring to this new model as an electric car, but the brand itself has classified it as a light quadricycle, since a type B driving licence is not required. It is a mobility alternative that will be available to anyone over 16, much like the bicycles, motorbikes or electric scooters we already see in big cities.

Its weight is just 485 kg, which makes it extremely agile and easy to manoeuvre around the city. It cannot travel on motorways or other roads, as its top speed is 45 km/h. Its battery is a 5.5 kWh lithium-ion unit, and its 70-kilometre range can be fully recharged in three hours using a standard domestic socket. The 220V kind.

Curious and, above all, eye-catching design

One curious feature of the new Citroën Ami’s design is that the driver’s door opens in reverse to make getting in and out easier. All of its windows, front and rear, are very large and offer excellent visibility.

Inside, it comes standard with a panoramic roof and offers 7 different trim options. Outside, it offers decorative sticker packs so you can personalise the style you prefer, and inside it has 4 interior ambience packs. This two-seater has two symmetrical seats, each with space to store a suitcase under the driver’s and passenger’s seat.

Price and launch

Orders will be available in France from 30 March, and a few months later they will open in Spain, Italy, Portugal and Belgium. It will take a little longer to reach Germany. For now, the price Citroën has set for the Ami in France is €6,900.

As well as buying, Citroën has made available to customers the option of renting by the minute. The Paris rate for this car-sharing service is €0.26 per minute. And the final option is leasing. The Grupo PSA firm offers a monthly fee of €19.99 over 48 months, with an initial deposit of just over €2,600.