If You Have Hybrid and Electrical Mechanic Training, You’ll Be Amazed that the Tiny Citroën Ami Is Even Driveable
Big surprises come in small packages—and the Citroën Ami is no exception to the rule. The iconic French auto manufacturer unveiled this super-compact electric vehicle last February. Its precursor, the Ami One concept car, was unveiled a year prior at the Geneva Motor Show. Although it’s not going to help drivers travel at high speeds, and seats only two, this fully-electric car is an easy choice for those making shorter everyday drives—in Europe, at least, where it’s currently available.
At a price of around $9,300 CAD, this diminutive car is as cheap as it gets—yet against all odds, it still manages to be driveable. Here’s what those enrolled in a hybrid and electrical mechanic training course will be interested to know about the Citroën Ami.
You Can Take It for a Spin—But Don’t Expect to Drive at High Speeds
With a top speed of only 45 km/h, the Citroën Ami is certainly not designed to travel great distances in short amounts of time. Moreover, the electric motor powering is only capable of knocking out 8 horsepower, or six kilowatts. The Ami has clearly been designed more for use in a city rather than on country roads, with a battery range lasting a maximum of 70 km per charge. As a plus, it only takes about three hours to fully recharge the vehicle when plugged into a 220V outlet. A hybrid and electric vehicle mechanic may also notice how the car itself is very lightweight, clocking in at only 1,069 lbs, battery included.
Learn more about the Citroën Ami here:
Technically Speaking, It’s Not Really Even Considered to Be a Car
As far as European countries like France are concerned, the Citroën Ami doesn’t even qualify as a traditional vehicle. In fact, over there it’s considered a quadricycle, or a “voiture sans permis” (unlicensed car). Of additional interest to students in hybrid and electrical mechanic training, the Ami was previously a family car that Citroën made in the 1960s and 1970s, prior to being reborn as a light electric quadricycle. If anything, the Ami is a scooter-car hybrid of sorts, with its height (1.52 m), length (2.41 m), and width (1.39 without mirrors) each on the tiny side for a car. While it gives drivers the luxury of fully-electric mobility, it isn’t designed to do what your average mid-sized vehicles are capable of.
Click the video below to learn more about its design:
What Hybrid and Electrical Mechanic Training Students Should Know About Its Design
Drivers are likely to find the Ami’s interior as distinct from the typical automobile as its exterior. As examples, the cupholder is located behind the steering wheel rather than to the driver’s right, and the central display screen has to be seen through an app on the driver’s phone. The interior materials are made of plastic, and the side windows have to be manually opened. It’s all rather basic as an interior package—but for that tiny price for convenient zips around the city, it seems doubtful that buyers of this electrical design will mind all that much.
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