About Citroën AMI
The French manufacturer Citroen took the city-car to a different level with the introduction of the new AMI electric vehicle. The new pocket-car is even shorter than the first smart fortwo. With a total length of 2.41 meters (7.8 ft), a width of 1.39 meters (4.5 ft.) and a height of 1.52m (5 ft), it is very easy to drive around a crowded city.
The short and tall vehicle has a weird way to open the doors, with a regular opening for the driver and a suicide-style for the passenger. Inside, there are only a few details to enhance the comfort: a hanger for a bag, a small screen as an instrument cluster and a dongle to hang and plug your smartphone, which then becomes the car's infotainment system. The side windows can be opened by manually tilting upwards like on the old 2 CV.
The power comes from an electric motor fed by a 5.5 kWh lithium-ion battery installed under the floor. It can be completely charged in 3 hours from a regular 220v socket. It is conceived as a solution for urban mobility, better than an electric scooter or bicycle. Its range is 70 km (43.5 miles) and the top speed is just 45 kph (28 mph), enough for a daily commute and if the users don't turn on the heating. Yes, this little car has a heater!
Citroen made this ultra-compact vehicle to be very cheap to buy and to use. A long term rental program was already started in France, allowing customers to place a EUR 2,644 downpayment and EUR 19.99/month rate for 48 months. For a full acquisition, the price is EUR 6000 (with a EUR 900 state deduction in France).