Peter Lyon
December 13, 2023
This is one of the oddest, most unique electric cars to arrive on the market ever. Or at least it’s on a par with the Tesla Cybertruck for weirdness. And it’s just been spotted on Malaysian roads raising all sorts of questions.
The Citroen Ami is a small, no, tiny EV with nearly symmetrical styling and mirrored features at the front and the back. It appears to have two front ends plastered together, which raises the question, “Which is the back?” To work that out just look out the red brake lights.
One reader spotted the Ami on a road near Jalan Duta, cruising along in slow traffic. Packing a compact 8 horsepower electric motor, the Citroen is capable of reaching a top speed of 45 km/h. Yes, this “car” isn’t even able to achieve 50 mph! Power comes from a 5.5-kWh lithium-ion battery, which delivers modest inner-city range of just 70 km and it takes roughly three hours to fully charge using a 220V home outlet. It can also be charged using a home wallbox.
For the record, the Ami—which measures just 2,400 mm in length and 1,390 mm in width is smaller than the smart fortwo, which measured. And it tips the scales at just 485 kg.
In Europe, where the vehicles has received a lot of press coverage, and one or two awards, it’s categorised as a ‘quadricycle’ not a car. So since it’s not actually a ‘car,’ anyone 16 years of age or older—or 14 in France—can pilot one without a driver’s license. The Ami can be purchased in Europe for around 6,000 euros, or RM30,460, and is also available for renting or car-sharing.
Those Citroen 2CV-style flip-up windows you see have been fitted because the Ami does not have air-conditioning, so needs easily accessible ventilation, unlike the Renault Twizy, of course, which was officially sold in Malaysia. That lack of air-con, low top speed and meagre range, would make it unviable for many potential buyers, especially in warmer climates like that of Malaysia.
That being said, why is this range-challenged Ami on KL roads? Fitted with that VVIP number plate, it could be an experimental vehicle being tested by an embassy or dare we say the Johor royal family. The mystery continues.
OUR THOUGHTS
The Ami may seem a little out of place in many countries, especially those with hot climates like Malaysia. But the premise of this vehicle with its tiny size and short range makes it really only suitable for local shopping trips or school runs. However, even though this Citroen may seem impractical to many, prepare to be surprised when multiple other carmakers start offering small one and two-seater ‘personal mobility’ electric vehicles to cater for people in downtown areas or even rural environments who only require the most basic form of transportation to get their daily chores done.
