With the show car Oli, the French manufacturer wants to provide new approaches for series production.
Citroën
published
Cheap and easyThe Citroën Oli is partly made of cardboard
Cars are getting heavier and more expensive. Citroën is now presenting an alternative to the ongoing industry trend.
Citroën shows what an affordable electric car for the family could look like with the concept vehicle Oli. Stylistic elements such as the vertical windshield or the completely horizontal hood serve more as an eye-catcher – when it comes to the choice of materials, on the other hand, the angular hatchback sedan could serve as a model for the series.
Because in order to save costs and weight, the French have made the loading area, roof and hood from cardboard reinforced with honeycomb and covered with protective paint instead of steel. The seats come from the 3D printer. As a result, the compact e-mobile weighs just one ton – around half a ton less than conventional cars of this size.
Identical parts
In addition, the developers have also slimmed down in the construction. The front and rear bumpers are identical in construction, the doors on both sides are mounted differently but are completely identical. This not only simplifies production and assembly, but also saves weight thanks to the reduced number of parts.
The trunk of the Oli has been redesigned. The flap is divided into two parts: if the lower part is folded down, it enlarges the loading area into a pick-up-like flatbed. The rear window can be folded up, as can the rear seats.
The particularly light car has a two-part tailgate. If the lower part is folded down, the loading area becomes a pick-up-like flatbed.
Citroën
The doors open in opposite directions and are identical in construction – this saves parts and therefore costs.
Citroën
The cockpit has also been reduced to the essentials.
Citroën
The drive of the study is of course purely electric. A relatively small battery with a capacity of 40 kWh should be sufficient for around 400 kilometers thanks to the low vehicle weight and a speed limit of 100 km/h. Citroën states consumption of 10 kWh per 100 kilometers – a value that even small electric cars cannot achieve today.
A fast charging function should increase the suitability for long distances – according to the manufacturer, the battery level can be increased from 20 to 80 percent in 23 minutes.
With the study, Citroën underscores its role in the multi-brand Stellantis network of wanting to offer affordable mobility for everyone. At the same time, the Citroën Oli is an alternative to the usual “higher-faster-further” in the industry. There shouldn’t be a series conversion. But some of the ideas could definitely make it onto the road at some point.
What do you think of the project? What do you like, what less?