A Car for 14 year-olds --> the Citroën Ami --> European Two-Seater Electric City Car

Feb 29th, 2020 2:00 am

#1

goodking [OP]: Member; Jan 12, 2020; 493 posts; 767 upvotes

Feb 29th, 2020 2:00 am

A Car for 14 year-olds --> the Citroën Ami --> European Two-Seater Electric City Car

The new Ami is launching in Europe this Spring, and you can't say Citroën isn't trying some new approaches to a city car:

The Ami can be driven by 14 year olds in France - - due to its size (it's classified as a quadricycle) it doesn't require a driver's license
Plugs into a standard European household outlet and recharges in 3 hours
€6000 (CAD$8865) to buy or €20/month (CAD$29.55) on a 2 year term rental with €2,644 (CAD$3900) initial payment
Buy it online and Citroën delivers it to your door
€0.26/minute (CAD$0.38) to rent on car-sharing service
70 km range / top speed 45 kph
8 HP motor / 5.5 kWh lithium ion battery under floor / 485 kilograms / 240 cm length

The first thing I do the next time I'm in Paris is rent a Citroën Ami on the car-sharing app Free2Move!

Feb 29th, 2020 3:30 pm

#2

imoo2u: Deal Addict; Dec 20, 2006; 2176 posts; 2094 upvotes

Feb 29th, 2020 3:30 pm

for US$6,500

Available in France coming March 2020.

Size 8ft long and 4.5ft wide
Seat 2
Top speed 26mph
Range 47 miles
Two doors open in opposite directions allowing access to the cabin
Citroen claim the car can be charged in three hours from an ordinary plug

Source: Daily News

More convenient for grocery, mall shopping.
Hopefully, it comes to North America.

Life is full of twists.
Stay flexible.

+2

Feb 29th, 2020 3:37 pm

#3

adams7: Deal Addict; May 8, 2007; 1228 posts; 427 upvotes; BC

Feb 29th, 2020 3:37 pm

This would actually cover about 99% of the types of car trips I have made for the last few years.

Want 911S for the other 1%.

+3

Feb 29th, 2020 4:01 pm

#4

engineered: Deal Expert; Feb 11, 2007; 19656 posts; 23022 upvotes; GTA

Feb 29th, 2020 4:01 pm

adams7 wrote: ↑ This would actually cover about 99% of the types of car trips I have made for the last few years.

Want 911S for the other 1%.

It's just an enclosed golf cart. Do you not go over 40kph?

If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

+1

Feb 29th, 2020 4:28 pm

#5

thriftshopper: Deal Fanatic; Jul 7, 2017; 8737 posts; 4356 upvotes; SW corner of the cou…

Feb 29th, 2020 4:28 pm

Used to see mostly older women in rural France riding bicycles to get their groceries. Seemed to have largely disappeared even 7-8 years ago but that may have been due to being there in the cold season (November to March). I imagine this is a suitable alternative to a more-expensive(?) oil-powered car given most don't travel very far. It'd probably work for me as I go about 30-35 Km to get groceries but large pickup trucks on the road, slower than maximum legal speed (even 50 Km/h), and the final (steep) hill makes it a bit dodgy.

FWIW, no DL required and you only need be 14 years or over in age. Looks like it is available on a rental/share plan by the minute, hour, day, month and year too.

I smile when I see container ships sailing past my house laden with stuff made in China

+1

Feb 29th, 2020 7:57 pm

#6

goodking [OP]: Member; Jan 12, 2020; 493 posts; 767 upvotes

Feb 29th, 2020 7:57 pm

Here's the launch commercial for the Ami:

(No, that is not a standard size USB charging port on its door.

)

Feb 29th, 2020 9:20 pm

#7

Xtrema: Deal Fanatic; Sep 1, 2004; 9591 posts; 9089 upvotes

Feb 29th, 2020 9:20 pm

Its too fast, central London just enacted 36kph (20mph) speed limit in city core.

+1

Feb 29th, 2020 9:53 pm

#8

moulamou: Deal Addict; Oct 30, 2008; 2788 posts; 2229 upvotes; GTA

Feb 29th, 2020 9:53 pm

I love it! Next time I’m in France, ill rent one just for kicks.

Please don’t confuse my kindness for weakness.

+1

Feb 29th, 2020 10:02 pm

#9

Xtrema: Deal Fanatic; Sep 1, 2004; 9591 posts; 9089 upvotes

Feb 29th, 2020 10:02 pm

BTW, for whoever think ride share is a good idea.

https://www.motor1.com/news/400759/bed- ... -vehicles/

Feb 29th, 2020 10:09 pm

#10

Akizuki: Deal Addict; Jul 14, 2009; 2521 posts; 1792 upvotes; GTA

Feb 29th, 2020 10:09 pm

What happens when this hits a car? No license if under 14, no insurance since its a "quadicycle".. Is the driver of the Ami if at fault SOL?

Feb 29th, 2020 10:50 pm

#11

Xtrema: Deal Fanatic; Sep 1, 2004; 9591 posts; 9089 upvotes

Feb 29th, 2020 10:50 pm

Akizuki wrote: ↑ What happens when this hits a car? No license if under 14, no insurance since its a "quadicycle".. Is the driver of the Ami if at fault SOL?

Both pricing structure can easily accommodate PLPD insurance.

The monthly "rental" require you to pay for 1/2 the car's cost up front.

The per minute rental is very similar to Car2Go but the cost of car is almost 1/2 of Smarts.

Mar 1st, 2020 3:23 am

#12

goodking [OP]: Member; Jan 12, 2020; 493 posts; 767 upvotes

Mar 1st, 2020 3:23 am

Akizuki wrote: ↑ What happens when this hits a car? No license if under 14, no insurance since its a "quadicycle".. Is the driver of the Ami if at fault SOL?

Licence-free cars, as terrestrial motor vehicles, are subject to the mandatory motor vehicle liability insurance (Articles L. 211-1 and L. 211-2 of the Code des assurances (French Insurance Regulations))

Mar 1st, 2020 10:08 am

#13

Bevatron: Deal Fanatic; Jan 8, 2009; 5251 posts; 3684 upvotes; Ontario

Mar 1st, 2020 10:08 am

Two threads started for a vehicle not available in North America?

+2

Mar 1st, 2020 3:25 pm

#14

RaidZero: Deal Addict; May 23, 2008; 1423 posts; 1293 upvotes; ON

Mar 1st, 2020 3:25 pm

imoo2u wrote: ↑ Top speed 26mph
Hopefully, it comes to North America.

Hopefully it does not. 40 km/h max? Please gov't do not make our commutes even longer. Stop this car from being sold here.

Mar 1st, 2020 3:31 pm

#15

mucat: Deal Fanatic; Dec 3, 2007; 5935 posts; 1048 upvotes; Calgary

Mar 1st, 2020 3:31 pm

Nice, the whole vehicle is the crumple zone.

+2

Mar 3rd, 2020 4:20 am

#16

goodking [OP]: Member; Jan 12, 2020; 493 posts; 767 upvotes

Mar 3rd, 2020 4:20 am

mucat wrote: ↑ Nice, the whole vehicle is the crumple zone.

As an electric city car - - the Ami is competing more against the scooter market, than for people looking to buy SUVs.

When driving in European inner cities, bigger isn't better.

Mar 3rd, 2020 7:17 am

#17

lamboman: Deal Addict; Dec 20, 2015; 4267 posts; 2588 upvotes; Toronto, ON

Mar 3rd, 2020 7:17 am

Aren't their already E-bikes? Why bother making this?

I have a "for fun" e-bike that goes 60Kph and up to 60Km range. Use it for short commutes but I don't need license or insurance.

This would only be good in summer, in winter the battery would die quickly on these little things.

If you like the post or the comment, then don't forget to SMASH that LIKE BUTTON!

Mar 3rd, 2020 1:22 pm

#18

Xtrema: Deal Fanatic; Sep 1, 2004; 9591 posts; 9089 upvotes

Mar 3rd, 2020 1:22 pm

goodking wrote: ↑ As an electric city car - - the Ami is competing more against the scooter market, than for people looking to buy SUVs.

When driving in European inner cities, bigger isn't better.

I rented an Renault mini SUV (name escaped me but size of GLA or HRV) and it was too huge if you hit any of the old portion of the cities.