This is a BRAND NEW Citroen 2CV AK Electric Delivery van - exclusive first drive review

[@andrewjones-productions]

A 380kg payload is excellent! The famous, or infamous depending on your perception, Japanese 'kei-tora' (Kei or mini truck) have a payload of 350kg and a Hilux pickup has a payload of 500kg, which is only 120kg more than the EV 2CV. The rear space is also very, very practical.

[@MattyEngland]

380kg is a couple of fat birds and a bargain bucket.

[@davidnorton5887]

⁠@@MattyEngland With two fat birds, there won’t be much of the bargain bucket left 😂😂

[@MattyEngland]

@@davidnorton5887 Lmao, very true 😂😉

[@karlp8484]

For the intended demographic, volume is more of a requirement than weight, and this van has huge volume. I think it's very practical.

[@devlad]

Yeah. That said though, a Kei truck has double the HP and a lot more range too.

[@fishbert17]

I love how the van version looks like a 2CV has reversed into a small Anderson shelter and got stuck 😂 A charming vehicle! So much more character and design flair than a lot of modern day vehicles

[@davidpotts1189]

"a 2CV has reversed into a small Anderson shelter and got stuck" great analogy... 😄

[@bugsy742]

Bloody brilliant analogy 😅🤝

[@olik136]

the 2cv also had that boot extension you could buy which just looks like someone went to Ikea and tried to fit a cupboard into the boot, didn't fit and just left it stuck in there...

[@trevorberridge6079]

That's exactly what it looked like to me. I half expected to hear 'Hang up your washing on the Seigfried Line' coming from the back.

[@kenh3344]

​@@davidpotts1189yes a Andersen shelter on wheels? I'm with you on this one. A charming little vehicle. just been watching a brand new morris

[@Piglife101]

They’d make a mint if they reproduced the H Van.

[@BanjoLuke1]

This is a widely held view.... But the H (or whatever we choose to call it) was a strange beast. It drove like a pig. It had the running gear of the old 11B. Stationary, it was/is a wonderful catering shed. But for anything involving movement, it was... not the very best. Full of charm, but little else.

[@Luckyjo21]

too expensive

[@benholroyd5221]

@@BanjoLuke1 most would get turned into pop up hipster eateries anyway, so moving it's very important.

[@lilypower]

I've seen modern van with an "old van" body kit on! Had to get real close to see that it's converted!

[@ru54623]

impossible with modern safety regs

[@grantandre79]

This is an excellent example of exactly what the EV market is lacking. Love it! 65 miles on 10kWh is 6.5m/kWh... super effecient (almost double a Tesla Model 3)! The simplicity and utility of this setup are completely consistent with the orginal 2CV and demonstrate that not all new EVs must have burdensome electronics and over-featured, touch-screen everything. So satisfying to watch you drive a manual, mechanically-simple AK electric van.

[@alderankorym]

> This is an excellent example of exactly what the EV market is lacking At the price point they are offering it, the market is still lacking what they are proposing. I'm finding vehicles with the same specs (eg: Kilow Bagnole) that cost not even a quarter of that one. And this is using series proven parts! This is basically theft of hispters that think minimalism is cool looking. People like farmer me, that actually need simple, tough and CHEAP EV can still dream. I'll run my falling apart 20 year old diesel until a real folk car is offered for less than 6k.

[@markalton2809]

Exactly so, simplicate and add more (technological) lightness.

[@morosis82]

​@@alderankorymin general I agree, but I suspect that while the cost to buy this is relatively high, the TCO is going to be very good relative to its peers.

[@InXLsisDeo]

There are several videos about the cheap chinese minitruck that could. In particular from that guy who imported one in Florida for the ranch of his father. That chinese minitruck has the same kind of simplicity of the original 2CV, the same sort of power, but an incredible capacity to withstand bad treatment, and their price is unbeatable. These unassuming utility vehicles are sorely missing in the western world, where carmakers are only building bigger and bigger, more expensive vehicles.

[@jonathancunningham8739]

The problem is those chines mini trucks lack safety features. @@InXLsisDeo

[@grayfool]

Lone it. The quirk level is off the scale. We need more stuff like this in our ever more sanitised world.

[@-Hari-03]

couldnt agree more. im only 20 but i hate the direction just about everything in the world is going. its all big corporations with no imagination pumping out the same things but with different logos and for exorbitant prices when it costs them next to nothing. small businesses like Darren's keep my hope alive for my future.

[@vanessabryan786]

Use Basalt and hemp fibre in place of glass finer you save wt it’s stronger and fossil fuel free it’s also ballistically tougher and resistant to gouging it involves very little water to produce it and it’s acid alkali and electrically neutral it’s also great as an acoustic deadbeat and fire resistant using the right resin . As it’s natural Basalt rock it’s also nicer and as easy to work with than glass or carbon. It doesn’t shatter like carbon but it’s stronger than growth. What we need is to revisit the late William Towns hustler and Micro dot designs or better the Citroen inspired 1984 African Car designs. But with electric AWD. All modern vehicles have grown too heavy and complicated . It’s why the best conversions are light Wt older types like the Moggie traveler the 2cv or even a classic like the E type half the wt is the engine and box even be for you account for a tank or two of fuel. Blade cells and Na Sulpher Al chemistries are safer and will be lighter and cheaper. The other big saving is the use of electric motors that need rare Earth permanent magnets such as produced by AEM of the UK and what Elons suddenly discovered several years later.😂

[@InXLsisDeo]

Search "chinese minitruck".

[@ChlorophilG]

A Citroen Dyane was my first car, and they were genuinely comical to drive...It was also utterly simple to work on, one of the most accessible cars to DIY...I remember I bought a brand new exhaust for twenty quid (that was 20 years back, probably a bit more now). I didn't even have to jack the car up to fit it, just a couple of bolts. They were cheap cars, cheaply made and inexpensive to fix, and for me, that's what makes that 33 grand + price tag so difficult to swallow.

[@funkymonk5145]

Yep your right a 33 grand + price tag so difficult to swallow,when you can get a Citroen E-dispatch 75kw for £25,000 with a range of 211miles.

[@grahammonk8013]

I had a Visa for a while. I found out the brakes had seized. I bought new pistons and seals, hammered out the old pistons with a chisel, cleaned everything up then reassembled everything with new parts.

[@Team33Team33]

Unfortunately everyone who makes/converts an electric vehicle sell for far far too much

[@sjtutty]

Mine too, bought with a failed clutch. HWT 781N replaced the clutch in an afternoon - the engine needs 6 nuts undoing and is easily liftable by a 17 year old 9 stone weakling and the engineering is so straightforward you hardly need an HBOL!

[@InternetListener]

C-15 were sold per milions, Berlingo's can be also had cheaper than any new vehicle... if you buy an old Citroën and do a full rebuild I doubt you can do it for less than 15.000 if you started with a good vehicle (LHD from south Europe), as a classic car it's not cheap, but no mega expensive... go buy a 1000 pound minivan from 10 years ago and try rebuilding it to factory new condition...without going to the junkyard and rebuilding everything by expert hands or yourself we're talking about thousands on parts and hundreds in hours, may be cheaper doing it yoursef or managing to find and pay experts and spending months waiting to finally puting all together... good look with electronics and eelctric-system...

[@ChristianLieb]

30k for petrol. 40k for electric. I was hooked until I heard the prices. However, for small businesses in a city/town, this kind of vehicle might just be perfect. And it makes all potential customers smile, I am sure.

[@joopmeijer3551]

I love the fact it has the authentic 2CV whine and is air cooled too!

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Yup, true!

[@julianevans9548]

@@TheLateBrakeShow At least it's mostly new. Otherwise, this sort of thing is ruining classics, needlessly. There is no positive effect for the environment of putting electric motors in old cars because there will be more damage caused by creating the batteries than would have been caused by the car presumably doing very few miles using petrol. You'd have to do tens of thousands of miles before this would add up in terms of air pollution. And you would still have the problem of the environmental damage caused by digging the stuff out of the ground. Putting EVs in classic cars is simply a money-making scheme. And nothing else.

[@cogboy302]

​@@julianevans9548, but this isn't on old car. As was said repeatedly it's 99% new.

[@julianevans9548]

@@cogboy302 Hence my first sentence: 'At least it's mostly new.'

[@Phuc_Yhou]

So the millions of gallons of oil that have, are and will in the future be spilled into the oceans is? its not just the combustion part of fossil fuels that pollute, its every single process that goes with it from drilling to disposing of waste engine oil, all causing pollution on a massive scale.

[@hattyfarbuckle]

Seems perfect for all the local chemist delivery vans I see in small towns or cities with non-electric driving charges/restrictions

[@AdamMacleod83]

As you know JS.... I am a 2cv owner, and to see your good self showing the love for these, makes my life complete ❤

[@alfnoakes392]

Had a 2CV 30 plus years ago. Taking a mate and his 5 year old lass out in it one day and opened the air vents (9:20 in the vid), and pointed out to Evie that she could see out through them. She was quiet and looked thoughtful, then turned to me and asked "Is this a toy car?". The 'roll' was great for scaring hitch-hikers 😀 Best car I've ever owned.

[@Sandmonmsn]

I think that on the fibreglass van box, they should wrap the smooth top with a thin film CIGS PV panel. It probably would extend to range quite a bit. Maybe taking the small battery to 100 odd miles in a city.

[@josephdaly3327]

Don't know if you popped your 2CV cherry the same time as me Jonny, but I'm the bloke who collected the one that you used on 5th Gear to compare with the newly launched Citroen C Crosser 16 years ago. I collected it from Fareham at 7.30pm from a young lad who'd been waiting all day for me, and when i called in at Winchester Services for fuel, i couldn't get it started again. I'd been told to pump the accelerator a couple times before i started it but must've pumped it too much. There was a Police Crew bus parked nearby and i asked them for a push to bump start it, so all 6 of them helped (although just one would've sufficed) but it still wouldn't start. So i had to call the AA and he had to use some easy start which did the trick. The fuel gauge didn't work and i ran out of fuel at Loughborough, luckily i ran out just as i was heading up the slip road of the M1 at junction 23. I then had to scoot the car half a mile up to the BP garage whereupon it wouldn't start again! By now it's 6am and i had to wait till 7.30 am for my office to open. Eventually It had to be recovered back to Nottingham where i live, and transported the next day to North One TV in Birmingham. So i had all the pain and none of the glory! IDK if you you knew all that , can't imagine why you should, but the second AA man said he'd be glad to see th back of these cars, though probably not as much as me!!

[@mannekin]

I would LOVE one of these in Canada, but sadly I think our extreme climate where is does go down to -40 in winter would not be too kind on it. I love that you will also be able to convert old 2CV's to electric. Thinking forward to the future!

[@paulv5233]

Hi Jonny, Love this as a retired Master Motor Mechanic petrol head and have worked on most makes of cars in 70s 80s 90s I just love this and the simplicity, so congratulations to Darren and his outfit to endeavouring to do something like this. I had a smile on my face all through this Vlog great story. Keep up the great work Cheers Irish Paul

[@scottysscandinavia5793]

"Look! Look! It's Noddy the social worker in his upside-down skip." Lentil fondue bubbling away on the hotplate. "Oh yes, I knit my own yoghurt and grow my own denim."

[@Toubabou]

Lovely idea, great execution. Its a delivery van, there is zero need for Tesla acceleration, range is perfect for a city business. Good luck to the builder

[@kqschwarz]

I love the car and I love Jonny Smith. He is not only one of the best car reviewers, but his cinematography and storytelling are always extraordinary. On top of that, his storytelling always includes the human element that makes you want whatever he is telling you about. This video is a good example. Here you have a car that is no doubt totally unsafe in a crash, has no power to get out of the way of other cars, tires and a suspension that are so bad a bump in the road could knock you into oncoming traffic and essentially no HVAC to keep the occupants even remotely comfortable in all but the best of weather, and yet I want one. That is the mark of a great salesman! Thank you.

[@markwellington1254]

I just love this whole concept of taking a tried and proven vehicle, updating it but not losing it's original charm. For me this would be a great way to do those chores around the house that you run and get what you need. The sides and back are truly a driving billboard and you could have like we have here in USA, wraps for vehicles to advertise all sorts of things, great idea. Jonny keep up the great videos and your style keeps me watching and waiting for more!

[@paulbrouyere1735]

I don’t really like cars (4 wheels and a steering wheel) but I liked the car and all of the video. This is the way forward if we want transport to be sustainable.

[@Madonsteamrailways]

The 2CV was one of the cars that a lot of my friends started driving on. In those days, they were two cylinder engines of approximately 602cc capacity.

[@puma1304]

I LOVE this car, we had one in my childhood, and we loved to sleep in the back when we were travelling (security was no issue these days), we also used it as mini-camper and many times we had our lunch inside when it was raining (during the week it was used to transport a huge cooler with ice cream). I also remember that when the car got too dirty we used the same procedure as we used in our 2CV, we took seats and doors out and sprinkled the interior with the garden hose... these cars were really special, almost like a jeep (we also had one), I would love to own one today, and I seriously think that the concept behind the 2CV (simple, affordable, minimalistic, easy to repair, easy to maintain) should also be emulated by today´s car industry! For me the ONLY issue with this car is security...

[@ThomasDoubting5]

Perfect classic for electrification., I really want this guy to succeed and sell a ton .

[@ThomasDoubting5]

@Mck Idyl there's a difference between saying and saying as much , if you genuinely think the guy doesn't want to sell a ton of his vehicles then I don't know what to say ? , Just go into business for 25 vans and that's it ? Do you honestly think it works that way ?

[@bikesfrench8524]

​@richardharrold9736location entreprise and startup

[@pascalfust1035]

What a beauty. Now, the only thing, this world is waiting for, is the brand new Acadiane :-)

[@ADudesRotary]

So much fun, I think it's great that people like Darren who have a passion for these types of cars are doing what they can to keep them available. 😊 Thanks for sharing Mr Smith.

[@GBuckne]

..I used to have one of these when I lived in Germany, I loved it but it was a gasoline engine, wasn't the fastest thing but so fun to drive...

[@johnwinters4201]

This one makes much more sense than the electric 2CV car. For a chichi small business wanting a delivery van and mobile advertising hoarding it could be perfect.

[@MattyEngland]

That's like saying the tooth fairy makes more sense than santa. Both clearly ludicrous for anyone with an IQ above 50.

[@benninger123]

You have to start including prices in your videos , it's the one thing you never mention , to me that's a very important aspect to decisions being made.

[@40spinup]

Absolutely loved this, Darren’s local so may pop down!

[@minello7]

I had an original 2CV, went from Preston to Cattolica in Italy over the Alps, what a fantastic car and holiday

[@danaschoen432]

I can't tell you how much I love your, I don't know what its called, how you organize your video. Teaser, intro, content, closing. It's as perfect as any channel I watch.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Dana, thank you

[@tobiastho9639]

No crash protection, no airbags, not even a headrest... just an art peace on wheels.

[@lawrencemartin1113]

Wonderful!! I miss my 2CV so much. Had a white one back in the early 1990's and we went all over the place in it. It was our daily workhorse, our leisure vehicle and a wonderful camping car. With the rear seat removed and a bespoke sheet of ply to fit across the floor space, it became a fantastic van for all our camping kit for a three week tour. It drive beautifully and was a joy. The rust and my poverty stricken budget at that time (I was an actor!) meant, it had to go eventually. Someone bought it for good money and took on the restoration. I had put a new chassis on it, but that broke the bank and when the wings went and various other areas needed urgent work, she had to go. I love the idea of this ban version but to be honest, would still opt for the flat twin petrol version. It was just so much fun to drive and had an amazing range for such a small car. Happy days!

[@Madonsteamrailways]

What a brilliant idea!! A 2CV van with an electric motor rather than a petrol engine with two cylinders!! But it sounds like a good vehicle if you’re a London based driver using it for carrying light loads!!

[@ianashton1593]

Had a Dyane 6 and a couple of 2CV’s when I was young as they were all I could afford. Great little cars, simple to work on and very reliable.

[@stan.rarick8556]

My first car was a 1961 VW transporter (van) with a 36 hp engine. Minimalist indeed. I would love this car

[@BanjoLuke1]

I have an Acadiane that I really must sort out and make roadworthy. This video might be the trigger. The Acadiane was the final evolution of what the early AK became: 32bhp, front discs, load-sensitive limiters on the rear brakes, wind-up windows). The posh version😢 even had a passenger sun visor, although mone is not that classy. An AK (or an Acadiane) at full tilt is a wonderful thing. The lack of an eager flat twin is to be regretted, but I suppose we ought to move with the ages. 😢

[@klauszinser]

Very well done. I had a 2CV around 1985. Afterwards the Mini MK3

[@HawkMillFarm]

Just had a day driving Mclaren, Aston and Porsche at a Supercar event and I want a EVie more. Happy with 60 if it will stay in front of a lorry on a dual carriageway. Love it.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

David, thanks for the comment. I think there's always something charming about a slow, chirpy character car. Mopeds often have the same appeal.

[@Butterfly-zs2pc]

Friend-shoring with Britain is a great idea for fellow countries, lol. Absolutely LOVE 2CV AK Electric Van. 🇨🇦🇺🇸🇬🇧 👍👍👍

[@jbmaru]

Kudos to these people for making brand new 2CV vans, and electric at that. What's more, the whirring of the electric motor reminds me a bit of the "singing" of the 2CV engine!

[@TheHkluivert]

Yeah, Jonnie said it was the gearbox (original citroen) that he heard whirring

[@florianwagner7279]

Like it really much 👍 Why not convert it into kind of a camper van, as so many had been used in the 60ii and 70ies 🍀? Unfortunately don‘t think you will get a legislation plate on the continent for this lovely car. Well done. Thank you for this video.

[@Yorkshiremadmick]

Great that you can have a Petrol engine version Hope they do really well with these.

[@LouDeVere]

Amazing! In truth, I'm sitting here at home in Australia watching this and seriously wondering if I should approach the company to buy one. I've now calmed down and realise that a) I don't need a van any longer b) I don't need another EV as I have two. The nostalgia of these vehicles for me is tremendous. I had a 2CV6 back around 1984 and I loved it to bits. I now drive either a BYD Atto 3 or a Tesla model Y. Good on ya for making this classic car available as an EV. You'll sell every one you make and more. Outstanding review!

[@MetalMorris]

What a lovely episode this is. My brother use to drive a Citroën Aca Dyane. I'll send his a link to this vid/ He would love it too.

[@Your.Uncle.AngMoh]

A proper air conditioner to cope with Australian summers is a MUST. And as long as I- at just under 2 metres and 120 Kg (6'6 and 18 stone)- can fit in it comfortably, these would be great! Anything over about 110 Km/Hr would be frightening on those skinny tyres. Keeping the car as a quirky little suburban runabout is all you need. Inter-urban driving in the UK is a lot less than it is here in Australia; Brisbane and Sydney are over 900 Km apart. Keep the power to the wheels down and maximise the driving range of the vehicle.

[@martinlaver007]

A great little thing. On that side of things.

[@peterbullen3347]

Will we ever see the old local milk float for local shop deliveries? Remember the noise of the milk bottles was all we heard..

[@sUASNews]

I want one, I loved all the 2CVs I owned very sorry not to have one now. There are only 20 or so roadworthy in South Africa where I live. The 2CVs I had were in the UK in the 90s

[@johndeere1951a]

America needs 2CV 🇫🇷 ✌️🇺🇲 My answer here is my 2011 Turkish built Ford Transit Connect. Short and tall ✌️😮

[@NigeUK007]

Bravo. A beautiful thing! Simple, practical, and feels like it is built to last a lifetime. I love it.

[@johnstenlund472]

I’m just flabbergasted, you can buy whole new chassis AND approved by Citroen.

[@2BugsandaBack]

I would love to see a video on the Mehari you mentioned. In the right part of the world, an electric Mehari for buzzing to the beach would be absolutely perfect!

[@graycrow]

Here is one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jIWkeIR_jKp6fa8

[@danw1955]

I wouldn't mind having one for short trips back and forth to town, but not for $50,000 USD!!!! Maybe 15-20,000 at most, and then you'd have to figure out how to get it licensed. Seeing that it's a NEW vehicle, it would almost have to be licensed as an ATV to get around the US vehicle safety standards for airbags, crash test, etc., plus the fact that it wouldn't be able to maintain normal highway speeds. For inner city travel, and rural use, it could be comparable to a mid-range electrified Polaris ATV, but with more carrying capacity. A short bed Polaris Sportsman 6x6 is around $15,000 after taxes.😉

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

This is exactly the sort of thing that is needed for inner city delivery for locations where ICE is already banned. It doesn't need to be fast, it needs to be effcient and easy to use, with small turning circle and plenty of load access. As for the price, think about the tax write down as a business expense, and compare to to the price of a HiAce, but with almost zero running costs - just plug it in to charge overnight before you head home at the end of the day.

[@alivdee9946]

I'd rather have this one instead of all the new EV sportscar or SUV. This is what electric should be light and practical. Like the new concept Citroen Oli.

[@eveningstar3230]

it is great how the older vehicles are getting new lease of life with electricity!! excellent video!

[@HowardLeVert]

Lovely to see Darren again after my favourite LBS episode ever, to wit the lovely barn-find 2CV you two did. It did get mentioned in this video, but I couldn't help but hear that characteristic whine of the 2CV transmission, minus the flat-twin accompaniment. It is a real delight to see this, just like the Morris JE. Here's wishing them every success.

[@caspar2155]

In the mid 50's the 2CV was manufactured in the UK (Slough!). On the Slough Trading Estate.

[@Dogtagnan]

This, the Citroen H lorry and the Morris J van. All great classic retro looks reinvented. Now we need a Morris Minor. Plenty of room under that bonnet.

[@michiganengineer8621]

That would indeed be perfect for city delivery services or shops that do deliveries within say a 30 mile range.

[@michaelrobson3460]

Hey, Johnny, you always have the top tunes. Do a playlist or even - ahem- a cd in your merch for the over 50 community, who dont fit in your t shirts, hoodies or even the new barnfinder fleece.

[@bluebear6570]

This is truly a back into the future car! If it weren´t for trhe lack of any safety features, I´d say this car displays what cars should be like in the future - simple, basic transport with ashort to medium range, inexpensive to buy and cheap to run.

[@balduinHH]

But why? This car is safer than any motorcycle.

[@tyroxis]

Retrofitting and EV Conversion is so much ahead in the UK. That’s awesome to see such projects like this one.

[@pikeyandclaire]

Great to see classic design back on the roads!

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Have to say a lot of folks really enjoyed seeing it. You get a lot of waves!

[@petesmitt]

Prices estimated to start from £39995.00.. you won't see many of them for sure.

[@hattyfarbuckle]

The 2CV was the pioneer of the large diameter narrow tyres, a route followed by BMW with the i3... I've always remembered a Lotus Esprit article in CAR Mag [UK] in the 80s or 90s when on winding Alpine roads in slush and snow the power was useless on supercar of the day summer tyres and could not keep up with a local 2CV with narrow tyres and traction control provided by the lack of excess power

[@mjw_S61]

Looks great. The joy in these cars is driving at the limit whilst remembering what they are (were) all about. Fantastic that this has carried through to the EV. I realise this fella is in business to make a few pennies but £40k plus VAT kills it for me. A budget, basic, desirable EV can be made but for whatever reason no-one has jumped on this premise. Dare I say as soon as the term 'Artisan' slipped in it was game over. I fully appreciate the work Mr Smith does but it doesn't sit right that Ora get called out for its failings (quite rightly) but nothing said to question the asking price for these vans etc.

[@petesmitt]

He charges up to £30k for restored 2CV's, so there is a tiny market of people prepared to pay.

[@williambain4506]

Far too pricy for me too,for what you get and the wipers should park lower. Cant see many of them sold

[@mondotv4216]

Nah - I get it. He's handbuilding cars. The parts are bespoke so they're expensive, the EV parts are expensive because he's sourcing them new. I don't think he's in it to get rich.

[@Markybug-Keira-Cody]

these are not made by a dictatorship

[@edwardlloyd1516]

It's a good price for a hand built car. You can't compare hand built prices to mass produced prices.

[@jef_teugels]

Brilliant!!! I can imagine a new generation local small businesses using these. I know I would!

[@gordonsimpson3235]

Interesting Jonny. But for me, to lose the 2CV engine sound and changing gear with the quirky gearlever, is too higher price to pay

[@SB-vb8ch]

I can't get past the Cypress Hill track playing in my head every time AK is mentioned...fair play for the concept & execution. Very appropriate.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Highly appropriate.

[@TeamHorneyRacing]

@@TheLateBrakeShowit’s insane in the membrane.

[@dcallan812]

Love it, just like the electric car a while back. So happy someone is bringing the van back. Great video 2x👍

[@philflip1963]

Generally I think that converting internal combustion engined vehicles to electric is a bit misguided but the 2CV is so cute I make an exception in this case!

[@alansalter1836]

I prefer the old sound the 2cv makes 👍 what a car simple but solid

[@blazejnycz1]

Brilliant idea. Keep it simple. Greetings from Poland. I've been working/living in London for 16 years so I know exactly what you mean... London Traffic... perfect car/van for environment like that... but not only. Great show. Great vision of the bloke who manufacture it. Great idea.👌👍

[@alanduncan3337]

Great review Jonny, love the car and van. I think they'll have plenty of orders for it.

[@niazifetto6637]

"Bienvenue au spectacle de freinage tardif!" Superb.

[@michaelfilbee2239]

YES.....a basic ev......this is what people need...not super techno stuff..just about right for large towns and citys..

[@MOSSFEEN]

But still costs over £40k to buy 🤣🤣🤣

[@thorbjrnhellehaven5766]

As much as I love this vehicle and how basic it is, we mustn't forget the they target a niche market; small volumes, 3 months production, probably costly. Yet, I love the vehicle, but I can't see myself ordering one. I really want more mass produced *basic* EVs. Not just niche retro EVs, but also modern yet basic and mass produced for a low budget.

[@Madonsteamrailways]

Just remember that it took 30 minutes to get the original from 0-62!! And it sounded like one of those miraculous men in their flying machine!!

[@km5lb11]

I wish we could get simple and practical vehicles like this in the United States

[@trevorberridge6079]

Some years ago there was a programme called Pebble Mill on the BBC. They featured a purpose built vehicle that was designed to handle desert roads in Africa. Long story short, this "high tech" vehicle broke down during the expedition and was rescued with the help of a driver who rolled up in a 30 year-old 2CV trundling through like it was going to the corner shop. 2CVs were odd looking (I called them Upside-Down Prams) but the simple tech was hardy, easy to repair and the suspension handled rough terrain so well that it is almost unmatched to this day. It's the epitome of substance over style.

[@mytinplaterailway]

Not sure the repine is practical.

[@stevesims8232]

Love your delivery of the show. So relaxed and informative. Thank you Jonny

[@OwainF]

Am I seeing things or is the rear tyre catching the bodywork at 2:30? 👀

[@piccalillipit9211]

I think its behind the body and when its loaded the body will drop down and the wheel align in the hole - I think

[@Everything_Evan]

I keep looking at it and it definitely looks like it's touching

[@100tinsoldiers]

if you go to about 4:11 you can see they are set in quite a bit from the body.

[@OwainF]

@@100tinsoldiers Ah yeah I see now

[@charlescoulson]

I have an original Petrol 2CV which whilst only used in the summer is always a delight. The E version looks such a great idea and for the kind of motoring we do, it makes most other 'town cars' look silly. At 40mph who needs aerodynamics?

[@mytinplaterailway]

Who needs this? Your 2CV is surely better?

[@chrisl7902]

Had a red 2 CV back in about 1989. And yes, it had to have the chassis replaced not all that long after I bought it. But it was a hoot to drive and you had the fun of waving at other 2CV drivers (although that’s probably something that doesn’t happen much these days given how few you see any more).

[@GrotrianSeiler]

Wonderful video. Wonderful concept. Thanks so much for sharing the opportunity.

[@Waciglass]

Can you get optional extras, like a old school sat nav. The A-Z of Great Britain 2023 - could be a fun thing they include with each purchase. Or a usb, just add your own powerbank 😂

[@Trebuchet48]

My battery lawnmower came with two 40V 4AH batteries. You could get a dozen of those and a three port charger for less than US$1000. Run the car on six at a time and swap when back to the shop. Or for a little more, they have 6AH batteries.

[@markthomasson5077]

That’s only 2kwh.

[@fenflyer]

I want an Austin Morris/ BMC J4 EV van 🤠🇬🇧👍

[@paulmcmahon1129]

Citroen used to offer a million francs to anyone who could roll a 2CV. They NEVER had to pay out.

[@mikebull1972]

Quirky little thing! A bit niche perhaps, but there's always someone who wants something. Entertaining little film nonetheless!

[@pennysmurf]

I think the back needs quad tires and a slightly more powerful motor. But such a charming car

[@creamy9000]

Pardon for asking if this is a silly question, but how would this be legal to sell if it is all new material? is it because it is so low volume it can skirt around any crash safety standards?

[@robertwright5487]

Some countries don't have the same silly safety standards like the US.😉

[@ForeverNeverwhere1]

SVA certification I guess, if 95% is new and the rest reconditioned to as new, it would be registered as a brand new car.

[@MattyEngland]

​@@robertwright5487 Yeah, because who doesn't want to get impaled on the steering column in the event of a crash.

[@dkmorris713]

Jonny just killing it with this KZbin thing.

[@markarnold8160]

Eeeeek! Onions next to patisserie - non monsieur!!

[@Noah_E]

It's really cool and I get that a lot of work goes into it, but at over $52k USD, that's hard to justify vs a modern EV that is simply more car for the $$.

[@andysims4906]

First electric that actually makes sense . How does it get round modern day safety / crash requirements

[@hillbillyacoustics6547]

We design and build festival sound systems, however we are currently developing our new solar and wind compact sound system, if I had a spare 40k this would be a perfect transport/advert for it, love it.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

What a cool idea!

[@wobblybobengland]

How do you get type approval for a 1950s death trap?

[@aleisterlavey9716]

Singing the French anthem as a threat in front of the legislation committee

[@MrJulianneave]

I think that if you're sitting there getting ready to type a "why would you buy this for $40K when you could just get a ___" then this just fundamentally isn't the car for you, and you aren't the person this was built for. For every ten people who look at this and just can't get it to stack up in their mind, there's one person who couldn't even wait for the end of the video to get onto the AK website and start checking out specs and wait times. The guys making these cars are doing it for that person, and were never gearing up to take on the mass market.

[@karlp8484]

But the torque is huge compared to the Kw (120 Nm) so acceleration will be very smart up to say 40 KMh. If you bother to put it in 1st or 2nd gear. Speaking of which, could he not have just ditched the gearbox entirely - it's an EV after all.

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

Keeping the gears is smarter - either peppier performance, or climbing steep driveways with full load, use lower gear for more torque.

[@mikenco]

A rolling advert platform for an artisan, city based company, hits the nail on the head.