2023-05-09 22:00:00
With the Oli study, Citroën shows how electric cars might become more sustainable. The one-off is a fascinating alternative to the automotive growth trend.
At the Paris Motor Show last September, the Citroën Oli was the secret superstar. Completely contrary to the current trend towards ever larger, more expensive and, above all, heavier cars, the study by the traditional French manufacturer presents a bold alternative. The one-off is currently on a European tour, a few days ago the Oli made a stop in Vienna. The “Salzburger Nachrichten” used the opportunity to take a close look at the slightly different electric car.
Citroën Oli meets the need for attractive but cost-effective and resource-saving mobility
The fact that Citroën is not afraid of unconventional ideas was proven most recently with the electric micro-car Ami, which has not yet made it onto the Austrian market despite the consistently positive reactions. The significantly larger Oli now sees himself in the tradition of the tiny one. Quasi as an alternative to a usual 2,500-kilogram “palace on wheels” filled with screens and gadgets, the vehicle, which the engineers call a “laboratory on wheels,” is intended to meet society’s need for affordable yet attractive mobility that uses as few resources as possible.
The basic idea behind it is easy to understand: in the mid-1970s, a typical family car weighed around 800 kilograms, was 3.7 meters long and 1.6 meters wide. Today’s models weigh more than 1,200 kilograms, are at least 4.2 meters long and 1.8 meters wide. With the Oli, the French are bucking the industry trend towards ever heavier, more complex and more expensive family vehicles, at least as part of the study. Instead, you question the status quo and say “enough”.
Through the use of new, particularly light materials and above all through the consistent omission of the Citroën Oli weighs just 1000 kilograms – and thus significantly less than most comparable compact SUVs. “
Unconventional materials and methods make the Citroën Oli lighter
It’s a vicious circle: to achieve more electric range, you need a larger battery. More technology requires more power, which in turn means a bigger battery. All of this adds weight, complexity and cost. And the more a vehicle weighs, the less efficient it is,” explains Laurence Hansen, director of product and strategy at Citroën.
Conversely, thanks to its low weight, the Oli only needs a comparatively small battery to achieve a fully electric range of 400 kilometers. The weight reduction was made possible through the use of unconventional materials and methods. The flat bonnet, roof and rear cargo area are made from recycled corrugated cardboard, formed into a honeycomb structure between fiberglass reinforcement panels and coated with polyurethane resin. Compared to conventional steel constructions, the plates are 50 percent lighter, but are still extremely stiff, light and stable.
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