The cheap electric microcar that saves me TIME and MONEY! | Citroen Ami

This tiny electric quadricycle has been a game changer for me!
The Citroen Ami has been a firm favourite of ours since it hit the EV scene a few years ago. In a world where cars are getting bigger and bigger, the Ami dares to be different and shows us that bigger does not mean better.
Join me as I attempt to fit a whole week's shopping, an electric bike, a whole market stall and many more challenges to put the Ami to the test.
#Citroen #quadricycle #electriccar
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[@djb730]

Just have to say, this girl is just wonderful, what a presenter!

[@ObiePaddles]

Best Ami review. So great, and so English! In the drive through: ‘May I please have a cheeseburger’. And EIlish reminding him to say please. Priceless.

[@kiradotee]

The only thing mot making it English is the left hand drive. 👀

[@mikeselectricstuff]

Next Ami challenge - join a supercar cruise and see who gets the most attention

[@Electroheads]

Yesss! We've had very similar ideas. Watch this space

[@davidspendlove5900]

Ami wins hands down.

[@fredfred2363]

Apparently, there is a kit to trick up an Ami. More speed. More range. Even more fun!

[@grahamcastle8189]

Well done displaying the versatility and low running costs of the Ami. Imagine how much less congestion there would be if people used these instead of humongous 4x4s. The Ami really does need to be available via some of the car share companies in our big cities.

[@Electroheads]

The world would be so much more joyous with these little Amis populating our cities!

[@rich7447]

The UK doesn't get "humongous" vehicles.

[@MrMoneyHelper]

@@Electroheads The world would be much more joyous with more motor scooters populating our cities!

[@ciphermatrix]

What a fab wee car, you can see it making people smile, and it seems genuinely useful in the city.

[@Jonny.a]

Didn’t make me smile when I stuck behind one. Max speed 28mph.

[@donaldlush2822]

I really wanted you to drive round inside the supermarket and queue up at the checkout in it. Maybe next time?

[@user-uy3bj9ue5c]

😅

[@lancenutter1067]

On a whim, after a lifetime of ICE cars (having owned about 98 of them at the time, over time) I traded two motorcycles for a 2014 Fiat 500e. Fell in love with the EV life. Drove that car for a few years and only thing I didn’t like was factory range of 87 miles on a good day. Sold it for a profit and bought my second EV, a 2017 Chevy Bolt. Best car I’ve ever owned. 250 miles range, trouble free at 85,000 miles so far. 3 cents a mile to drive is my estimate. 2 different rebates and the extra money from the Fiat have me owning the car at penny’s on the $$. Loving my cheap EV car!

[@megapangolin1093]

Cracking video Eilis, brilliant idea to test out the capabilities of the Ami so that all your subscribers can really appreciate just what an amazing concept it is. It should be the only car for city dwellers. I think that it also charges from a 13 amp house socket too. Just a thought, when pulling on the handbrake hold the buttton in and then release when after you pull it up to lock it on. Saves wear on the ratchet. Love the dog, and how you interract with it, anyone who loves animals is the best.

[@AlexOnABoat]

The problem for the Ami and all the other lightweight quadricycles is that you're still stuck in the same traffic. What we really, really need in cities like London are narrow vehicle lanes, they could be shared with powered two-wheelers. And of course a narrow vehicle lane then leaves room for a segregated cycle lane alongside.

[@Electroheads]

Absoutely. It's an interesting one because currently there's been a lot of issues in London on the cycle lanes with Rickshaws in central. The pace and size of them can create an issue for other cyclists who have to overtake either into the other cycle lane (which can be very busy risking head on collisions) or into the road where bigger, faster vehicles are moving. Retrofitting London with more lanes is a tough task in itself, but so many European countries have got it right. Would love to find an in between!

[@AlexOnABoat]

@@Electroheads the problem in London seems to be that TfL and the boroughs don't want to lose any vehicle lanes. So they try to squeeze a segregated cycle lane alongside, and we've all seen the result, buses and trucks straddling two lanes, powered two-wheelers unable to filter which defeats the object and much moaning about cycling infrastructure. Swap a vehicle lane for a narrow vehicle lane and a cycle lane and there's instantly more space for the HGVs and buses. The powered two-wheelers and lightweight quadricycles can mix it in together, the cycles can happily cycle along segregated from everything with an engine. And the pedal-powered rickshaws? Can't we replace them with electric tuk-tuks?

[@musk-eteer9898]

but you don't pollute or waste energy due to regen braking

[@janegrassmarket1414]

#Invacar had the right idea from 1948 until the 1970s for the city.

[@karlInSanDiego]

Loved your reaction to the hot crossed bun latte. Thanks for the best Ami video ever. This is great sustainable transportation content, Eilis! Thanks Electroheads for being such a hopeful group of changemakers!

[@paulbourdin5477]

Filming and editing of this video are amazing!!! Well done!!! Very nice idea, about challenging the Citroën Ami, too!!! 😊

[@Electroheads]

Thank you so much! Means a lot ❤️

[@iana6713]

It is amazing how many videos I have seen that make a joke out of the Ami - this just proves those wrong, and illustrates how practical they are, so I definitely want one of these little machines. I would love one. (And I couldn't help but notice the model Ami on the dash!)

[@peterdnreynolds777]

Brilliant review!! Can you do a review on the silence s04 car please. Hope all is well, take care

[@mrmarkyrichards]

Great video !

[@PeteLogan101]

I don't generally like electric cars but i have to say, this one is brilliant. Real personality too!

[@jamesgrover2005]

It's got some advantages over my Twizy, space and winter comfort 🥶.. But 90km/hr and the twizys maneuverability are just too good. I got a full sized old steel race bike in my Twizy with the wheels off had to remove 1 pedal, great range extender though ;) Great review by the lovely Eilis👌

[@ziggarillo]

More expensive, and no longer available.

[@knoxieman]

Great little vehicle that, perfect for town and city centres, really nicely put together video as well, super job.

[@recumbentrocks2929]

Great real life review. You are a natural presenter and we should be seeing you on TV. Keep it up please. Just subscribed and will check out your other posts.

[@AllanDownunder]

Hi Eilis, I enjoy what you are doing here with the Citroen and appreciate the whole thing may well be (understandably) sponsored, but even here in Australia I've been able to enjoy UK based electric car companies converting older vans (and I'm sure I've even seen an electro 2CV AK electric delivery van , and old Morris JE delivery van conversion (fair dinkum, if I was living in the UK I would find a reason to buy either of these) so my challenge from down under (when the Citroen goes back) is for you to engage with and promote some good UK product (apologies if you have already done that and I've missed it). By way of an explanation I'm an older emtb believer (sadly I have 2) so I really enjoy the concepts you present and the style of your videos - always fun and engaging!! 😀😀😀

[@Alessandro---]

Hi @Electroheads team :) by now you know that you can't do anything wrong by me! The review is the most engaging I've seen on the AMI, except maybe your first discovery on the French coast; Kol (closet petrolhead extraordinaire) and Richard (undercover gardner) are great travel companions for a day, but my best compliments and awww go to the very special Nellie. My son's dog has motion sickness (even in trains) and I know that journeys with him require ... logistics. Nellie looks happy out, probably because the car is airy and the visibility in all directions is unobstructed, and the progression to 20mph is probably very smooth. On the car, a lot of things happened since that first video, including having to find a vehicle to keep my dad mobile. Unfortunately, Citroën (Belgium) had relatively long lead times, and organising a test drive wasn't easy (they do it with private customers offering to be "ambassadors"). Fiat produced their own version, which is absolutely lovely (if you like Sabrina Carpenter "Espresso" you know what I mean) but it wasn't scheduled to be available before the end of April. And in Belgium, a small country with more motorway km than France, you really need to be able to take a motorway. Thank you for this touch of Sunday sparkle!

[@ActivityPhoto]

Absolutely love this young lady her skills as a presenter and reviewer are outstanding. And who doesn't love that accent.

[@kaydesign]

So fun! Awesome presentation and inspiring car 🇫🇷

[@atienooij]

Nice performance in this video

[@jameshamilton6096]

Awesome review I am trying to decide between an Ami or an electric bike. However i would love to know what its like going up hills, as i have 3 to negotiate on a regular basis, (1) Dollis Hill, (2) Bishops Avenue and (3) Highgate Hill which is a complete nightmare on a bicycle.

[@simonbean1264]

If only they made an L7e version (90kph) . They would sell like hot cakes in the UK.

[@chrisb508]

I love the Ami. I would get one if they sold them in the U.S. Thanks for doing a very entertaining experiment.

[@kensmith5694]

I am up voting your comment but for me this thing is not practical. I live in one of those places that is almost completely boxed in by freeways. The trip may only be 15 miles but 5 will be on a freeway.

[@chrisb508]

@@kensmith5694 It would be very useful for me. I live in a small city (100,000) in West Texas. One can easily get around with a slow vehicle and never use a highway. San Antonio or Dallas is another story. It would be very difficult if not impossible to use the Ami in those two cities.

[@supernova874]

Yeah just amazing , i'm from Greece and would love to have it as a second car , for everyday use would be awesome , amazing test for the Ami 💓

[@kaikuebler824]

Nice Video. I think the same like you about the Ami. Best greetings from an Opel Rocks E diverse out of Germany

[@zapfanzapfan]

What a sweet ride, sweet driver too 😉

[@MzShonuff123]

This would work so well for me as a Chicagoan ❤

[@kensmith5694]

Yes but can you get it all-season tires. Sometimes, the road is less plowed that people might like.

[@nigelworwood8530]

You didn't mention the downside ... I allow extra time when nipping to the shops as there is a lot of interest in the vehicle. However I have met some fantastic people. So maybe NOT a downside ... Great video.

[@user-sw2lv3zp6o]

I have had two 2CVs and a Dyane. I'd love an Ami as a runaround. Such a cute little car. I am in southwest Portugal, and I saw one today. Immediately looked it up when I got in.

[@Electroheads]

And seeing it led you to us! How wonderful :)

[@pablokav]

I used the Ami in Opel Rocks form a whole rainy winter and it is brilliant. One remark: it isn't recommended to use all your battery power, but to recharge on 15-20 % left.

[@chrissmith2114]

On an EV 20% charge is often 'empty' and 80% charge is 'full', this is to protect the battery and the computer does it automatically, you can probably 'override ' the empty in some way to get a bit further. Truth is lithium batteries live between 20 and 80% SOC, because outside that they get damaged.

[@cliffweinan3907]

Interesting observation, the charge cord is part of the EV instead of the charge station. This makes the unattended charge station less prone to cord theft.

[@conradknightsocksknight1590]

Richard .......coffee for one please !!

[@alpinegeordie]

Legend used to reserved for the person pulling the sword from the stone, today it was used for the Mc D's server passing the order through the hatch !

[@GeofCates8075]

The space/shelf behind the seats...can items be placed there? Do those roof rails support a roof box or bike rack?

[@mattjack3634]

Great little vehicle, If I had the space to have kept my non ulez compliant car for long trips I would have tried to get one of these for most of the same things in the video 😂. Morden lidl have a charge point but i dont know if you can plug an ami in seeing the charger at the end lol. I do usually charge my car when I'm shopping in there though.

[@nicholasbrus8628]

Nice city car, but they really need to double that range as its not great to be left stranded.

[@cornishhh]

A small petrol engine would give good fuel economy and no range anxiety.

[@MarvinWestmaas]

@@cornishhh Go home no one thinks you're funny

[@Payteer]

@@cornishhhAnd cost a fair lot more to run. Congestion charge, road tax, servicing and also, the cost of petrol.

[@cornishhh]

@@Payteer It would most likely be tax and congestion charge exempt.

[@cosmodoc]

Double the mileage for the city??

[@POVDrivingTour]

Love this challenge, please do more! I'm about to collect a 73 reg Ami for £5k from Autotrader this weekend. I'm planning to drive from my home in West London to my office in Dorking, Surrey (low speed routes only) 🤣

[@andrewgage6942]

I drive a Smart ForTwo, I like the practicality of small town vehicles, I really love the quirkiness of the Ami, I also like how basic it is, no computer screens, electric windows, or anything to go wrong, it's no good for me personally as I have a daily commute of 60 miles of which most of it is motorway driving and I don't have access to off road parking or I'd probably have something like this just because of it's quirkiness

[@MichaelRada-INDUSTRY50]

One of the best reviews I have seen. Unfortunately not available in the Czech republic

[@Electroheads]

Thank you so much! Fingers crossed the Ami makes its way over to you 🤞🏼

[@vysakhak191]

I thought Fiat Topolino looked better. Now I can't decide, this looks cool! Please make a video on Topolino too.

[@justin_time]

I hope the engineers designed it so that it can easily accept upgraded battery packs in the future. Similar to how old Nissan Leafs are being upgraded now with ranges far exceeding their original factory range, it kind of makes me giggle to think that in the future, as battery technology continues to improve, that a little car like this could be given a range of 150 miles or more. Haha! Now that would be fun!

[@Electroheads]

This is a great thought! Battery technology is on the way up so upgrades should be available when the time comes

[@chrissmith2114]

A 'massive breakthrough in battery technology' has been 10 years way for the last century - good luck, battery chemistry hardly ever survives leaving the lab and meeting the real world... All the things you can make batteries out of are on the periodic table and have been there for a very long time.....

[@justin_time]

@@chrissmith2114 Nickel-metal hydride came along in the 80's, and then lithium-ion battery technology in the 90's, both of which were massive breakthroughs in battery technology. What are you even on about? New battery technology is being developed all of the time and because more money than ever is flowing into the sector, refinements and advancements will happen even more rapidly now than in the past. Even if a newer battery technology that was better than lithium-ion was never developed, so long as lithium-ion manufacturing continues to be refined and expanded, the price of the batteries will fall which would make larger battery packs with longer ranges more affordable in the future.

[@chrissmith2114]

@@justin_time Storing large amounts of energy in chemical form, with the alkaline metals used in batteries ( which are unstable anyway ) is a recipe for disaster. Renewable energy sources are in a mess, solar in UK is useless ( hint the grass does not grow from October to March ), wind comes and goes as it pleases and when a high pressure system sits over UK which it often does in winter, and less often in summer we get no wind. Every renewable needs 100% backup from fossil fuels or nuclear, and here we are planning to get rid of the only fuels that make sense..

[@scstudios8]

This would be great in the city if you had a reliable private charge spot. Having to find public charging and waiting 4 hours is probably the only real issue.

[@stevenflanagan2995]

Ami challenge: Find the smallest van in which the Ami will fit. Basically, live the life of Knight Rider (80s TV series).

[@artempriadko6974]

The price for this quadracycle must be about £4000 maximum, not £8000

[@ziggarillo]

I'm guessing you live on a planet that hasn't experienced inflation?

[@keithhooper6123]

Yes,should be.Quality ,and design,has been shown as pretty poor,on some videos.Unfinished welds,wiring exposed to water,etc.

[@noseboop4354]

Normally a manufacturer could sell this for £2000 and still make a profit. But not in the UK, thanks to all the dumb government regulations against anything that isn't a full-sized car, as well as the lobbying/corruption by petrol giants.

[@badabing8884]

Perfect for a town car, where journeys are 5 miles or less.

[@QAYWSXEDCCXYDSAEWQ]

Jeez, its a good job I wasn't born 30 years later cause I keep falling in love with these presenters, Eilis the stuff the dreams are made of.

[@tedwalker1370]

I noticed when you had the dog in the car the pull straps for the door release were orange and the rest of the time they were yellow. Why?

[@user-jchjkitv77896]

Love that ❤, is anyone know if you can drive it with CBT and L plate?

[@andrewclark8513]

Has the build quality improved? Or is it still variable?

[@KiranMachiraju]

8:06 - Is the trolley going to fight you or what? 😂 8:28 - Why is this woman shocked?

[@xGRASHOPAx]

Now the States just need to get them

[@ianworley8169]

Everyone says Amis are 'city cars'. I live in rural Portugal. My nearest shops are 13km and nearest towns 25kms away. 95% of my daily driving is less than 80kms. An Ami with my old Toyota ICE for the very occasional longer journey would be ideal.

[@michaeldibb]

The car is reminiscent of the 70s blue Invalid's car, the 'Invacar'.

[@AliWade1971]

I almost want to live in a city, just to have an Ami 😀

[@Electroheads]

I don't blame you! 😍

[@fluketennis]

hope we can get one in Canada

[@billfranks6805]

What time you film this Candom lock with no Trafic must been 4am?

[@UrbanExplorer614]

There's more ads here than a shopping channel!

[@fredfred2363]

A single person's, city living, flat dwelling form of transport. Not for families or anyone who has a life going anywhere. But a very cute machine.

[@ianmangham4570]

Awesome ❤

[@charleswheatcroft]

That's a great review. I wonder how much it would add to the costs if Citroen had added a faster charger? 4 hours for around 50 miles of range is mediocre at best. Perhaps the client base is most likely to recharge overnight rather than charge and go?

[@nigelworwood8530]

I just look at the range at the end each day and charge when it gets to12 -16 miles left. If I have a "long" journey then I charge for that occasion. It is a second vehicle for all those local journeys.

[@kensmith5694]

I can think of a few things that would make it better. Put a solar panel on the roof. The roof is about a square meter. That will get you lets say 100W for about 8 hours in a day. For a lot of folks that would cover their trips. Add a "cargo net" that can go over the stuff you are carrying to secure it in case of a panic stop. You made no mention of the "info-tainment" system. I think a place for a cell phone holder would be a good idea. You can run a navigation app on a cell phone and a cell phone can play music. Here in the US, there are emergency alerts that can come on your cell phone even when it is in the "off' conditin that isn't really powered off. I assume the UK has the same. It can be a good thing to have your cell phone out when the alert happens because it may be a warning of an extreme storm or something.

[@Electroheads]

Love these! A solar panel and a cargo net would be a great addition. There is a phone holder already in the Ami and even a space designed to put a bluetooth speaker in so you can still jam as you drive to your destination 😎

[@clanger422]

Look at the Squad Solar City Car

[@paullaurent9771]

NO RHD version ? is it a problem to drive with the whell at the wrong side ?

[@nigelworwood8530]

No. They are not very wide.

[@AngryBoozer]

Why don't these come with a roof box for storage?

[@thomaskerr2477]

thanks for video its nice , shame that in uk still need licance as in likse of france doint , also could go out city if go country and back roads ,.....mindo yo i would chalange you to take to scotland and un down hills see if can be good for that ahahh

[@davecox7084]

I’d be interested to know how they’ll market the safety performance. Imagine getting rear ended by a Cybertruck!!

[@philallen7626]

As it's a quadricycle, not a car, I guess the safety isn't great. It doesn't have to meet the same safety regs as a car. But since it's unlikely to often leave a city, where accidents tend to be low speed, it's probably fine.

[@KnockKnockShows]

I wonder what the max weight load is on those roof bars.

[@simonabbott725]

480lb

[@mousah.2426]

May you please make a video for the best step through E-bikes 2024, thank you

[@davidhunternyc1]

but how fast does it go? Does it have AC and heat?

[@Electroheads]

It goes up to 28mph and has a fan that can pump out heat in the winter 😊

[@nebulous962]

skyteam e-mini video when?

[@user-uy3bj9ue5c]

If Eilis says it a car its a car right. Eilis is god.

[@esk8jaimes]

Can you adapt it to fit a roof boox?

[@st200ol]

Take the wheels off and use a large enough roof box and it should fit no problem.

[@jezbrown5446]

So what's our wish list for the next generation? Better suspension? A faster charging speed? (7kw min?) A, dare I say it, even slightly lower price? The car is also speed limited through the inverter, so *could go faster.. what about releasing some of that extra oomph when you go up hills? So still limit the top speed to 28mph, but be able to do it regardless of conditions? How about a version that can go 40mph in order to handle the dual carriageways? (too scary?) I'd love to see a 'five things' to improve about the AMI video.

[@infam0usP]

a 4 door version of this for a taxi driver is a very low maintenance vehicle they can make a living with

[@kieronimo1]

Wish they would make these cars faster and motorway safe. Living in London is cool, but if you live in a smaller town or city, you rely on motorways and dual carriageways. I've owned two smart cars in the past, and they weren't much bigger than this, and would happily travel at motorway speeds. My flat is next to a football stadium and parking is a nightmare on match days. The technology exists to put these things on the motorway, but it still hasn't happened, which is very frustrating.

[@rouju]

I prefer Wuling Air EV. Also a small city car but more...a car than city mobility he he

[@sspoonless]

Poor bike. Oil the chain, soap the brakes, probably not too difficult to end the musical squeaks. 😂

[@Electroheads]

It's had some much needed TLC 😅

[@janegrassmarket1414]

No driving licence required in France and min age 14. It's a no brainer.

[@kymhero]

pls try a microlino lite!!

[@burnzy3210]

No ULEZ charge I understand ...but why is an EV congestion charge exempt???

[@rp9674]

I like it

[@jonasfermefors]

Sadly I have a little bit of motorway I can't avoid.. otherwise this would be the perfect vehicle for me.

[@MonkeyboyBurke]

didnt fit the gazebo in did you ?

[@sxswutah-ww6dr]

Lovely

[@keithadler965]

28 mph? If it comes to the US most city streets are 45mph around my town.

[@peterjol]

In my normal day to day life, going to work, going to the shops, visiting friends and family, I have almost never actually done more than 40 miles a day so there is no doubt I could get by with an AMI.

[@flitsies]

It's a Gwiz on steroids. But this vehicle so the KZbin videos claim turns over way too easy, rolls down the road if you happen to go around a corner a little too quick, they demonstrate.

[@speakatron5634]

I've been under the impression, for ages, that the Ami was £5k 😬 Oh well 😅

[@rexyoda]

Traffic is a car thing, just dont drive for no traffic

[@chriscuthbertson]

I'm very tempted by a Fiat Topolino

[@pleaseinsertacoin]

Can anyone tell me what bike the guy is riding between 4:15 and 5:15 ?

[@Electroheads]

Ta da! shorturl.at/7B2Kc

[@pleaseinsertacoin]

@@Electroheads thanks!

[@3DJapan]

Funny that it shows a fuel pump when the battery is dead.

[@norwegianzound]

Just don't crash.😊

[@RebelCowboysRVs]

Looks like I nice city car. 45 miles range will not get me to the grocery store an back.

[@Electroheads]

Wow. Are you on a ranch or something?!

[@RebelCowboysRVs]

@@Electroheads Mountain.

[@SomeDudeUK]

I fully feel like a group of youths are just going to come along and start kicking it or abusing it.. aside from that, it looks great

[@Electroheads]

It's such a game changer!!

[@ziploc2000]

28mph top speed is a killer. I can't drive far from my house before I'm going to need to go faster than that, or hold up all the traffic.

[@Electroheads]

That's okay it's not designed for every use case! It's been perfect for the city as the max speed limit in most places are now 20mph. And when I do hit the 30mph roads a couple of mph less hasn't been an issue. 40mph roads plus aren't the place for the Ami.

[@thorbjrnhellehaven5766]

❤ Ami Sad that its not for me Not for sale in Norway, wouldnt mind gray import, but thers more. Believe it would struggle too much with defogging through Norwegian winter. Without battery heater, charging us a problem when its cold. I don't fancy the tethered cgarging cable. I want tyoe-2 socket. If there were third party product to make a "winter-package" I would probably try a gray import ❤

[@thorbjrnhellehaven5766]

I kind of want to get an Ami, and hack it with the features I want. -Auxiliary battery for cabin heating/defogging -insulated and heated main battery - 230v cabin heater for preconditioning - type-2 charge port, with some hack to get max current signal from charging station to the charge controller, in case it is less than 10A.