The Citroen Oli is the company’s newest electric car, and is as unique and whimsical as the Ami that was launched in 2020. The Oli is an urban pickup designed for simplicity, sustainability and affordability while showcasing the features of future Citroen vehicles.
The French automaker deliberately designed the Oli (pronounced all-e) in an exaggerated fashion, with function following form. The company uses an upright windshield because it reduces the amount of glass needed and reduces occupants’ exposure to sunlight. Citroen estimates that windshields can reduce AC system demand on batteries by up to 17 percent, and that’s just one example of how the company focuses on simplicity in design.
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Many of Citroen’s features are designed to reduce complexity while making use of recycled and recycled materials. The seat only has 8 sections compared to 37 in a traditional SUV seat, using a tubular frame and 3D printed mesh backrest. That’s an 80 percent reduction. That ethos also affects the rest of the interior, with the Oli dash and center console using 34 sections compared to the family hatch using around 75.
Citroen reduces the weight of the doors, designed to maximize storage, by removing the speakers, silencer, and power cord, saving approximately 7 kilograms (15 pounds) of weight per door. Removing the traditional sound system and replacing it with a detachable Bluetooth speaker and smartphone dock saved 250 kg (551 lbs). The hood, roof and bed sides of the truck are made of recycled corrugated cardboard sandwiched between fiberglass panels, weighing just 6 kg (13 lbs) and capable of supporting the weight of an adult.
The company designed the Oil with a target weight of 1,000 kg (2,204 pounds). With a 40-kilowatt-hour battery, the EV is estimated to have a range of 400 km (249 mi). The battery can be charged from 20 to 80 percent in 23 minutes while supporting both vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-load capabilities. Citroen limits its top speed to 110 kilometers per hour (68 miles per hour), with a focus on urban mobility rather than high performance. The car even features the company’s new logo.
“Oli is a working platform for exploring realistic ingenious ideas for future production,” said Laurence Hansen, the company’s head of product development. “They won’t all come together, or in the physical form you see here, but the high-level innovation on display inspires the Citroens of the future.”
Electric vehicles have the opportunity to change the way we get around. Citroen Ami and Oli reveal how the new powertrain can increase vehicle design and build variety. Upgraded charging stations will also transform EVs, with more chargers reducing the need for vehicles with a 400-mile range. Larger batteries are heavier, require more power to move, and take longer to charge.
