Citroën unveiled its Ami One Concept today, a “disruptive all-electric object” that the company will present at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show.
A tiny two-person NEV, Ami One Concept is designed for urban mobility and can be driven by anyone 16 or older without a license. The concept vehicle can reach a top speed of 45 km/h (28 mph) and has a range of 100 km (62 miles).
Citroën Ami is unique
Citroën says it designed the vehicle “as an alternative to public transport (bus, tramway, metro) and other individual, two-wheeler means of transport such as bikes, scooters and kick scooters.” It’s 2.5m long and 1.5m high and wide, and weighs 425 kg (937 lb).
Citroën notes that a smartphone is central to the Ami One Concept’s interface:
“Motorists access Ami One Concept using their smartphones. The doors lock and unlock via a QR code on the aluminium base of the door handles. Once inside, drivers place their phone in front of them in a dedicated area. With their telephone stored in this wireless induction charging area, the conversation between Ami One Concept and the driver may begin.
Depending on the app used, the screen display is in bubble form, projected on the reflection panel in the driver’s field of vision as with a head-up display system. Advanced functions such as infotainment and navigation may be used in addition to regulation-required driving instruments to further enhance the driving experience.
The man-machine interface on Ami One Concept was designed as a personal assistant for optimised interaction with the driver. The interface is controlled using two buttons mounted on the steering wheel: a voice command to call the assistant and a drop-down menu for browsing apps.”
The company also envisions “new consumption modes” for the concept, involving carsharing, rental, or purchase agreements. The press release uses a lot of “fives” in this regard:
“Customers can access Ami One Concept for a minimum 5 minutes and adjust their usage at any time to several hours, with no commitment and all inclusive. The options can be customised to each person’s mobility requirements and address the need for 5 minutes, 5 hours or 5 days of use, as well as use over longer periods of time with rental offers for 5 months or long-term leasing arrangements for 5 years.”
