We have been in Paris to see first-hand the Citroën oli, with which the French brand greets the future. How? With an electric, urban vehicle based on the Ami that aims to be very respectful of the environment. An interesting rolling ‘laboratory of ideas’ that will mark the design and values of many future models of the French brand.
The new Citroën prototype also aims to be affordable, fun, responsible for the environment and more versatile than the Ami, the ‘no car’ that is not bought, as defined by the manufacturer at the time and with which AUTO BILD was very much in contact during the world presentation, the test and until the last stretch of the ‘Camino De Santiago’ that we completed with him.
This concept car seems to say ‘holi’, living up to its name, but without an ax, with the healthy and pretentious intention of seasoning zero-emission mobility with the braves, with more hot sauce, then, than ‘ali-oli’. And it no longer wants to be satisfied with satisfying individual needs, but also addresses all members of the family, in addition to the driver.
“It’s a vicious circle: offering more electric range requires a bigger battery. Adding more technology requires more power, which also means a bigger battery. All this adds weight, complexity and cost, and the more a vehicle weighs, the less efficient it is”, adds Laurence Hansen. “The oli shows what can happen by taking a completely different approach.”
“The age of plenty may be over, and increased regulations and costs may limit your ability to move freely. The growing awareness of the need to accelerate efforts to prevent climate change makes us more aware and demanding from the point of view of the environment”, says Vincent Cobée, CEO of Citroën.
“Three social conflicts are taking place simultaneously: first, the value and dependence of mobility; second, economic constraints and uncertainty about resources; and thirdly, our growing desire for a responsible and optimistic future”, continues Cobée. And this is what the brand wants to give answers to with this prototype.
Exterior design
On the outside, it draws attention to it, from the new Citroën logo that has just been presented, with a neo-retro ‘double chevron’ that the rest of the products will soon incorporate, as well as the dealers and any other place where the corporate identity, even its shapes and colors.
The new oli measures 4.20 m long, 1.65 m high and 1.90 m wide. Everything, to achieve “electric but friendly mobility”, they tell us from the brand, that goes beyond transport on wheels (which, by the way, here have mixed steel and aluminum wheels with sustainable and intelligent Goodyear Eagle GO tires ).
“We are not afraid to show how the vehicle is built, to show the frames, the screws and the hinges, for example. Betting on purity allows us to design differently and challenge everything. It’s like taking an analog approach to many things that today have become digital,” adds Leclercq.
“This is why we have taken a less automotive approach with the oli, as this purity and ingenuity will be what inspires elements of our design language for years to come,” explains Pierre Leclercq, Head of Citroën Design. The hood, roof and cargo area have panels made of cardboard with a honeycomb structure.
They can be refurbished, upgraded and repaired with recycled parts and sold to various customers. Also striking is an unusual polygonal windshield which, in turn, does not have any type of inclination to favor aerodynamics, as in classic cars until the mid-20th century, because ‘the Citroën oli is not designed to go 200 km /h”, they explain to us.
However, the oli features an experimental ‘Aero Duct’ system of aerodynamic channels between the front section of the bonnet and the flat top panel that diverts air towards the windscreen, to create a curtain effect that softens the flow of air over the the ceiling. They also consider that this type of flat windshield has other advantages:
“The distance between the top and bottom is shorter and requires less glass. In addition to reducing weight and complexity, the smaller footprint makes it less expensive to produce or replace and reduces occupants’ exposure to the effects of the sun. It also helps reduce the energy demand that the oli’s simple air conditioning system requires from its batteries by up to 17%”, they detail.
Created together with BASF, the frame panels are made from recycled corrugated cardboard with a honeycomb sandwich structure between fiberglass reinforcement panels. They are coated with Elastoflex polyurethane resin covered with a tough, textured protective layer of Elastocoat®, with BASF’s RM Agilis water-based paint.
Inside
Inside, the surprises continue inspired by the Ami experience, but evolved: simplified panels maximize storage, with gaps, an open storage net, and an orange armrest pad covered in 100% recycled and recyclable polyester fabric that attaches directly to the horizontal line of the panel.
The opening of the front doors is done with a recyclable handle, which is presented through the panel and is directly connected to the mechanism. The screws and fixings used on the doors and seats are interchangeable. The seats use 80% fewer parts than a traditional seat.
They are made from recycled materials and the mesh backs enhance natural light inside the vehicle. In addition, they can be improved or customized to suit the taste of each owner. They are bright orange in color and are made up of tubular structures on which a 100% recycled and recyclable polyester cushion is mounted.
The 3D printed mesh backs feature an integrated headrest and are inspired by office furniture. On the rear seats, the backrest frame can be used to mount accessories; there are USBs, cup holders, a magazine net like on airplanes or a small tray to grab a drink.
The front seats are anchored to the ground by flexible, recyclable TPU isolation rings that absorb road imperfections and vibrations, and are mirrored by the brand’s acclaimed Progressive Hydraulic Cushions®.
“The interpretation of the front seats is totally understandable,” explains Sabas. “They are easy to disassemble, remove and recycle when you want to change the color, for example. There is nothing covered up, no hidden structures – they are as simple as they come and a perfect example of how functionality and purity drove every element of the design.”
Equally comfortable, the rear bucket seats are made from similar materials, and the seatbacks fold down to widen the floor of the rear load compartment. Roof-mounted circular TPU headrests float over the seatbacks and fold into the roof when needed.
“On each side of the vehicle, under the rear seats and accessible when the rear doors are open, there is a discreet compartment to store a first aid kit. It is a spacious and innovative interior; with a crossbar as a dashboard, HMI projector ‘Smartband ‘ and infotainment ‘bring your own device'”, details Citroën.
“In the space between the individual rear seats sits a storage console. Like the ‘sofa’, this is a soft, recyclable, orange 3D-printed TPU component with flexible ‘mushrooms’ to keep objects in place. Notably, all of BASF’s TPU interior components can be recycled together, which is a further step towards sustainable mono-materiality as an element of life cycle assessment.”
Engine and performance
Its weight is deliberately around 1,000 kg, as a result, they say, its 100% electric mechanics only need a 40 kWh battery to offer a target range of up to 400 km. By limiting the maximum speed to 110 km/h, it promises a consumption of 10 kWh/100 km and charging from 20% to 80% is completed in 23 minutes. In addition, it declares 400 km, a speed limited to 110 km/h.
“It’s a vicious circle: offering more electric range requires a bigger battery. Adding more technology requires more power, which also means a bigger battery. All this adds weight, complexity and cost, and the more a vehicle weighs, the less efficient it is”, adds Laurence Hansen. “The oli shows what can happen by taking a completely different approach.”
Citroën says that, with the ‘Vehicle to Grid’ (V2G), the oli offers the possibility for its owner to earn money by storing excess energy from the home’s solar panels and selling it to energy providers, as well as helping to manage power problems when there is a peak in demand or a power outage on the network.
For example with the ‘Vehicle to Load’ (V2L) function. Using its 40kWh battery, with a 3.6kW outlet (the equivalent of a 230V 16Ah household plug), the oli can, in theory, supply power to a 3,000W electrical device for approximately one hour. duration of 12 hours.
Long duration
We are still far from knowing prices, but Citroën already warns that if the “Ami is extravagant and uncomplicated, and its electrified and 100% electric models, such as the ë-C4 and new ë-C4-X, and light commercial vehicles, like the ë-Berlingo and ë-SpaceTourer, already allow access to the benefits of electrification with comfort”, this is going to be the trend.
Just like his commitment to the family mobility of the future, “reinventing every detail to reduce resources and materials in order to make pleasant vehicles, easier to use, understand and pay for, with adequate autonomy and greater versatility”. And that allows it to last among the members of a family, to be shared by numerous owners…
“The oli is a working platform to explore ingenious ideas that are realistic for the production of the future”, explains Laurence Hansen. “Not all of them will come out, not even in the physical form that they are seen here, but the high level of innovation that is being presented is inspiring future Citroëns.”
In addition, oli has led Citroën to reassess all the services and expertise it offers electric vehicle owners throughout its association with the brand, especially in the face of rising costs and mobility challenges. For this reason, the brand has designed a new program of services and experiences ‘CITIZEN by Citroën’ inspired by olive oil.
