Formentera brings back one of its trademarks with the Citroën E-Mehari

Have you ever been to Formentera? Of all the Balearic Islands, it is the smallest. Only 12,000 inhabitants live there, and it has always been linked to the world of hippies and alternative living. It is far from the mass tourism found in other spots of these wonderful Spanish Mediterranean islands. And here, the aim is to achieve the greatest presence of electric vehicles and zero-emission cars in the whole country.

To this end, the island’s authorities have signed an agreement with Citroën to add several Citroën E-Mehari to the official fleet. This is the brand’s new electric model, which revives a vehicle that played a big part in the lifestyle that became popular on this paradisiacal Mediterranean island.

The Mehari, a hippie car

The original Mehari, which was launched in May 1968, was the car associated with that free, attractive, lively and fun way of life. The E-Mehari is the natural successor to that small car, fully updated, but with an electric motor that enhances its image as the ideal car for outdoor living and respect for the environment.

The Consell Insular will receive the first electric E-Mehari units to be registered in Spain, assigned to the Mobility and Tourism departments. They will be used for the tasks specific to these areas, but also to provide VIP transport for distinguished people visiting the island. With these cars, the use of combustion vehicles will be avoided in order to keep the island’s air cleaner.

The E-Mehari revives the style of the classic MehariFormentera’s size makes it ideal for this type of car, since the routes are not very long and the vehicles are very practical, with all the performance needed to enjoy the island. 12 charging points have been installed there, at least for now. Considering that the average number of charging areas in Spain is 15 chargers per million inhabitants, this is a fairly considerable density serving both residents and visitors of Formentera.

The introduction of these electric cars also responds to a tourism strategy. The silence of the E-Mehari is an attraction, since the island seeks to enhance the feeling of tranquility, something that cannot be achieved with traffic noise, which, although scarce, is always present. The presence of the E-Mehari also has the added bonus of recalling the island’s hippie past and, with it, reinforcing that lifestyle on an island that is heavily focused on tourism.

Source | Citroën