Citroën breaks the mold again with the launch of its new concept car, the Citroën Oli. This time it is a car under the same premises of savings, simplicity, and cost reduction as the Ami. Your reason for being? Democratize electric mobility. The Citroen Oli is pronounced [all-ë] which, in English, reminds us of the word all (everyone).
It is still in the prototype phase (and it tells us that it will not go on the market), but the daring and impudence of the chevron signature makes us imagine a near future for this electric car. Starting with the reinterpretation of the ‘Deux chevrons’ logo, which will be included in the next models together with the Citroën corporate identity.
This model challenges the conventional with symmetrical shapes and affordable solutions, key when it comes to reducing the weight of the vehicle and the complexity of its manufacture. In short: cheaper to make and cheaper to buy. All this without forgetting sustainability, with the presence of recyclable and recycled materials, in addition to its zero-emission propellant.
Seeing the Citroën Oli it is impossible not to think of the Ami, a concept that has managed to capture our attention and has even sold out in minutes. We are talking about the launch of the Citroën My Ami Buggy variant, priced at 9,790 euros, with specific details for driving on difficult terrain.
Since then there have been crises, delays in the delivery of cars, the lack of semiconductors, and, now, a war on the border with Russia. The situation has drastically increased the prices of cars, already very high previously if we talk about electrified models. This is where the concept of the Citroën Oli comes into play, which, as Citroën CEO Vincent Cobée puts it: “it can offer 100% electric mobility, without complications, to ALL kinds of people, in a surprising, responsible and rewarding way. ».
What is the Citroën Oli?
The Oli is a concept car inspired by the cars of the 70s, with a clear focus on weight and size. Since the signing of the chevron, it is considered a testing laboratory, with which to experiment with solutions that can be used for the production models of the future. That is to say, his figure with square lines, which reminds us of the Lego of our childhood, will not reach the brand’s factories (for now).
being lighter than an electric SUV of any brand, there is no need to install a large battery to move it. With a 40 kWh capacity battery, it would reach 400 kilometers of range which, limiting the maximum speed to 110 km/h and with a consumption of 10 kWh/100 km, would give us enough to complete the typical daily family journeys. We could even travel with it thanks to a charging time from 20% to 80% in 23 minutes.
Irreverent and Functional
The design of the Citroën Oli is its greatest quality or weakness. The firm has opted for unconventional and overly symmetrical lines. Its size, 4.20 meters long by 1.65 meters high and 1.90 meters high, places it in segment C, but without direct competition on the horizon. Simplicity is its spearhead, with a notable reduction in the use of parts and components, in addition to the use of light and environmentally responsible materials.
Far from being just aesthetic, the elements of the Oli have a reason for being. The flat shape of the hood, roof, and rear box panels can support a lot of weight and are resistant to tasks such as trimming trees or handling sharp materials. This durability is achieved with the Elastoflex polyurethane resin coating, covered with a layer of Elastocoat and painted with an innovative water-based technique, called BASF’s RM Agilis.
Nor can we overlook the presence of a completely vertical windshield, a poorly aerodynamic but wise decision for urban mobility with high visibility. The doors open suicide-style, revealing a spacious, uncluttered interior of astonishing simplicity, with a single crossbar with mobile phone holders serving as a dashboard. In addition, it has a very interesting load capacity and can even become a kind of pick-up with a distance of up to 1,050 mm for long objects.
The seats, for example, require 80% fewer parts and the mesh backrests improve the light in the cabin, thus generating a greater sense of space. The 20-inch wheels are also 15 % lighter than steel equivalents and Goodyear has been commissioned to develop a test tire, called the Eagle Go. As a curiosity, aesthetic changes can be made later, considering that cars can have more than one owner throughout their useful life.
An Electrical Device
The signature of the double chevron has us accustomed to its renaming of vehicles as if they were something more than cars. The idea is to understand the Citroën Oli as just another electrical device and, as such, its use must be friendly and recognizable for all types of users.
Not only that, it must become an ally of our mobility and functionality with solutions such as the Vehicle to Grid (V2G). The Oli offers the possibility of storing excess energy from the home’s solar panels to later sell it to suppliers or take advantage of it in the event of a peak in demand or a power outage. It can even become your charging socket, with the V2L function that the Kia EV6 or Hyundai Ioniq 5 debuted, which allows you to charge other devices at a current of 3.6 kW.
