In the seeming race to make EVs fast, sexy, and upscale, with Tesla and Porsche at the forefront, other automakers are looking at other paths to electrification, including non-conventional vehicles like autonomous shuttle pods. Citroën is taking advantage of a special classification of low-speed vehicles known as “Quadricycles” in certain European countries to introduce its Ami urban car. Depending on the country, Quadricycles can be operated by drivers as young as 14 without a driver’s license.
The tradeoff is that Quadricycles are limited to 992 pounds (450 kg), 50cc engines (for ICE-powered models), no more than 15 kW (20 hp), and a top speed of 45 km/h (28 mph). Unsurprisingly, the Ami (French for “friend”) meets each of these requirements to a T. In the Ami’s case, power output is a modest 6 Kw (8 hp).
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To some, these specs sound like the makings of a dystopian future portrayed by movies such as Idiocracy. Indeed, if it is the only transportation option in the future, it definitely doesn’t sound like much fun. As much of an EV fan as I am, I definitely want to go faster than 28 mph. However, in many urban centers around the world, the de facto (or mandated) inner-city top speed is effectively 30 mph.
Another issue that has dogged EVs is affordability. The Ami tackles this head-on with a low, low purchase price of €6,000 ($6,617) at the time of this publication. Don’t want the full-fledged ownership commitment? You can also use the Ami on a monthly subscription basis, or even a per-minute rental. Monthly subscriptions will cost €19.99 ($22.00), plus a €2,644 ($2,916) initiation fee, with per-minute rentals starting at €0.26 with a €9.99 monthly account maintenance fee through the Free2Move car sharing service. There’s something for everyone!
For context, conventional car “subscription” services have typically been reserved for premium brands, and have ranged from $1,600 to over $3,000 per month. Unsurprisingly, most have been failures with their “one-percent” pricing models. One of the most successful so far has been Care by Volvo, which the company offers in partnership with Liberty Mutual Insurance. For $700 a month for the XC40, the service includes maintenance, insurance, and the ability to switch vehicles every 12 months.
Although the Ami might not be your or my particular café au lait, it offers a refreshingly affordable, accessible transportation option to urban dwellers. Some have suggested it’s a modern-day 2CV, the ubiquitous two-cylinder rolling mini Quonset-hut that helped get the French Republic back on the roads after World War II. Although it should be noted that in its final iterations, the 2CV cranked out a comparably muscular 29 hp and could get up to 71 mph.
While the Ami’s role might not be quite as historic and monumental as that of the 2CV, it could be a significant and useful part of the future urban transportation landscape. Orders for the Ami will open on March 30, 2020, in France.
(Images courtesy Citroën)
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