Citroen has unveiled the Oli concept, what it calls a 'laboratory on wheels', designed to buck the current trend for heavier, more complex and expensive electric cars. Citroen wants to make a strong stance to say 'enough', to the trend for excess and expense.
For starters, the seats in the oli use 80% less parts than a traditional seat. They are made of recycled materials and a 'mesh' backrest design, which help enhance the natural light inside the vehicle. They can also be easily upgraded or personalised to suit the taste of individual owners.
The Oli can help its owners make money by selling excess energy from home solar panels back to energy suppliers
The oli is also a lightweight, at around 1,000kg, making it significantly lighter than most comparable compact SUVs. As a result, its fully electric powertrain only needs a 40kWh battery to deliver a target range of up to 400km.
The oli is probably the first car which also helps its owners make money. By supporting smart 'Vehicle to Grid' (V2G) capability, the Oli can store excess energy from home solar panels, and sell this back to energy suppliers, as well as help manage power issues when there is peak demand or a power outage in the grid.
Citroen also designed the oli to be an easy to use lifestyle enabler. Drivers who visit a furniture store to bring home flat packed furniture, or loading paddleboards and pop-up roof tent for a weekend at the coast, all can be accommodated in the spacious pick-up bed and trunk.
The oli's interior is green to the core, with seats made wholly from recycled materials
This is done by independent rear seat headrests which pop up into the roof. The rear screen glass opens upwards, and the flat 994mm wide removable load bed expands in length from 679mm to 1,050mm instantly.
Citroen states that a key element of the Oli story is how it has been conceived with longevity to create its own circular economy. It shows how a vehicle can be easily and affordably reinvented for several subsequent lives with new owners using refurbished parts, new decors, colours, and even upgraded parts over time.
The brand foresees cost of ownership of the Oli to be low. If there is a need to replace a door, headlamp or bumper, recycled parts could be sourced responsibly via Citroen, from other Oli vehicles that are no longer serviceable.
For starters, the seats in the oli use 80% less parts than a traditional seat. They are made of recycled materials and a 'mesh' backrest design, which help enhance the natural light inside the vehicle. They can also be easily upgraded or personalised to suit the taste of individual owners.
The oli is also a lightweight, at around 1,000kg, making it significantly lighter than most comparable compact SUVs. As a result, its fully electric powertrain only needs a 40kWh battery to deliver a target range of up to 400km.
The oli is probably the first car which also helps its owners make money. By supporting smart 'Vehicle to Grid' (V2G) capability, the Oli can store excess energy from home solar panels, and sell this back to energy suppliers, as well as help manage power issues when there is peak demand or a power outage in the grid.
Citroen also designed the oli to be an easy to use lifestyle enabler. Drivers who visit a furniture store to bring home flat packed furniture, or loading paddleboards and pop-up roof tent for a weekend at the coast, all can be accommodated in the spacious pick-up bed and trunk.
This is done by independent rear seat headrests which pop up into the roof. The rear screen glass opens upwards, and the flat 994mm wide removable load bed expands in length from 679mm to 1,050mm instantly.
Citroen states that a key element of the Oli story is how it has been conceived with longevity to create its own circular economy. It shows how a vehicle can be easily and affordably reinvented for several subsequent lives with new owners using refurbished parts, new decors, colours, and even upgraded parts over time.
The brand foresees cost of ownership of the Oli to be low. If there is a need to replace a door, headlamp or bumper, recycled parts could be sourced responsibly via Citroen, from other Oli vehicles that are no longer serviceable.
