Registered my UK interest some time ago. I'd buy one in a heartbeat.
If the limiter was upped to 40mph for UK it would make it a lot more useable.
But then you'd need a better battery and poss motor, or the 40mile range would reduce. So you could have a more costly vehicle.
My guess is someone (poss even Citroen) will do either an upgrade pack (battery and motor) or more likely Citroen will release something more like the Ami one concept - kinda like an Ami GTi. But your well into twizzy pricing and comparability then.
Registered my UK interest some time ago. I’d buy one in a heartbeat.
You should get an email today tobe able to preorder.
Love the idea of these and wish we could see more affordable EV solutions for all rather than the manufacturer obsession for expensive EV SUVs .
This would be perfect for many city dwellers.
As a rural village dweller with a 5 mile commute along a main A road I’d prefer a top speed nearer to 50mph and for kid dropping off duties a 4 seater variant buts its a step in the right direction.
Now if they could focus a bit harder on charging infrared for those of us in rural villages without driveways and access to charging ,there’d be an even bigger uptake to EV.
As a rural village dweller with a 5 mile commute along a main A road I’d prefer a top speed nearer to 50mph and for kid dropping off duties a 4 seater variant buts its a step in the right direction.
Obviously every niche cannot be catered for and I assume they have targeted what they think will be the largest market for such a vehicle. I'd love one but I doubt my wife would entertain the idea (even though it would be me driving it).
Love the idea of these and wish we could see more affordable EV solutions for all rather than the manufacturer obsession for expensive EV SUVs .
It's not their obsession. The issue is that batteries are really expensive and won't get cheap until the supply is increased. So they are making expensive SUVs with long ranges so they can milk the better-off to invest in supply chains and manufacturing capacity. Then smaller cheaper EVs will come.
This is why the Ami has a comparatively crappy battery and range to get it in the 6k price point.
I look at those and I can't help thinking an e-bike would be a lot more convenient. Lock it up anywhere, wheel it into your house/flat, charge in the front room, etc. Fortunately e-bikes are selling well already.
I'd love an ecargo bike for my deliverys, but at half the top speed of an Ami, no roof or winter protection & only a little cheaper (for a good one) etc and a wife that would flatly refuse to use it..... The Ami wins.
The Ami will suit some people,an ebike others and most people not at all....
Obviously every niche cannot be catered for and I assume they have targeted what they think will be the largest market for such a vehicle
I think the target was for French drivers without a full license wasn't it, hence the capped top speed?
Being able to drive at over 28mph in a car is hardly a niche is it!
If it's too heavy to be a quadracycle for licensing purposes how does it get through safety.
It's widely acknowledged that these things (both twizzy and Ami )are shocking in crash situations.....and perhaps that's why it's speed limited.
But surely if it needs a car license it needs to be subject to the same safety standards.
A large part of the original target market was for teenagers in Europe, and also drivers with restricted licenses within mainland Europe - it's classed as a quadricycle in Europe. But also for carshare and central city hire car schemes.
Unfortunately the UK gov and DVLA had deemed it too heavy for a quadricycle in the UK - so not for 16yr olds on provisional licenses. It's only too heavy because the batteries are weighty and UK law doesn't recognize this.
Regarding safety laws, I'm guessing it's in the same class that you see road legal quad bikes and those little farm vehicles (which have significantly higher top speeds) are road legal.
I like the idea of the Ami. I think it's what the Renault Twizzy should have been. This gives adequate protection from the weather and is a far better option for much of northern Europe which is a bit wetter than the Mediterranean where I think the Twizzy is more popular.
Having got two medium sized cars, I could see this replacing one. Just handy for the shops and not a stupid price like most electric cars.
I like the idea of the Ami. I think it’s what the Renault Twizzy should have been
I also like the idea of it and would prefer it over a Twizy (especially as Twizys are way more expensive now) but it was designed for a specific purpose/scenario as mentioned above which it meets well. I don't think it meets what is expected of a car requiring a full UK license anywhere near as well.
I look at those and I can’t help thinking an e-bike would be a lot more convenient.
ebikes will never appeal to 90%+ of those who wouldn't be regular cyclists or walkers. It's the real and perceived danger of mixing it in traffic, the being exposed to the elements in your best office/going out clothes/hair/makeup, the likelihood of it being nicked if you don't have proper managed storage at most ends of your predicted journeys, all of that. The Ami looks like it could convince some of those, and if it wasn't horrible to look at, might have convinced a few more.
The Ami looks like it could convince some of those
I doubt it, personally. People who want to change will change their behaviours, people who don't won't. I suspect people citing those things you mentioned are in the latter category so won't want to get out of their normal cars. But I hope I'm wrong.
especially as Twizys are way more expensive now
Twizzys are not really any more expensive than they were. Just now you own the battery as oppose pay a monthly rental.
I think the Ami is great - but I can see our local scroats picking it up and wandering off with it/putting it on a wall/turning it over etc 🙁
Twizzys are not really any more expensive than they were. Just now you own the battery as oppose pay a monthly rental.
Good point. The cheapest is still £12K though which is a crazy price for what it is.
Twizzys
Sounds like a chocolate bar doesn't it?
https://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/en/models/urban_mobility/ce04.html
£12k and half the wheels.
^ that BMW is stunning. Love the styling/design
I agree it's funny money for a crippled scooter i'd still buy a twizzy over an Ami currently based on the ability to make safe passage on roads outside the city rather than being a rolling road block
The more I read real world reviews of the Ami, the less likely I am to follow through with my deposit on one.....
a real world 30% range drop in cold weather on a 40mile range car is pretty bad and would only just cover me going to the 3 of 4 local railway stations.
Mud and water ingress due to shoddy door seals and failed welds on the chassis....
Practical issues with Ami include woefully undersized heater which struggles to keep windshield clear in single digit temps. Might be more designed as a summer car.
The issue is that batteries are really expensive and won’t get cheap until the supply is increased.
No, the price of batteries will drop when the technology allows the use of cheap, readily available elements in their manufacturing.
Lithium is very difficult to extract, and those areas where it’s currently mined are environmental wastelands, plus the extraction requires vast amounts of water. Then there’s cobalt…
There are some interesting developments in battery technology using sodium and iron, both very readily available and very abundant, and it looks very promising, but it’s getting adequate storage density, and scaling up that’s the issue - get past those hurdles and the price of EV’s will drop, making them much more appealing.
Give me an EV that’s the equivalent of my EcoSport, with around 400+ miles range, and I’d be all over it; I’d only need to charge it once or twice a month!
Practical issues with Ami include woefully undersized heater which struggles to keep windshield clear in single digit temps. Might be more designed as a summer car.
Couple that with a wind screen that's 4ft away from the driver and users are keeping extendable window squeegees in the car.....
Lithium is very difficult to extract, and those areas where it’s currently mined are environmental wastelands, plus the extraction requires vast amounts of water. Then there’s cobalt…
Cobalt is being reduced or eliminated from batteries and Lithium is somewhat easier to extract than oil.
a real world 30% range drop in cold weather on a 40mile range car is pretty bad and would only just cover me going to the 3 of 4 local railway stations.Mud and water ingress due to shoddy door seals and failed welds on the chassis….
Cheap Citroen is not very good shocker!!! 🙂
Practical issues with Ami include woefully undersized heater which struggles to keep windshield clear in single digit temps. Might be more designed as a summer car.
Just reading the Top Gear review which says the charging port is in the door frame and you have to leave the car door open to charge it. Unbelievable!
Just reading the Top Gear review which says the charging port is in the door frame and you have to leave the car door open to charge it. Unbelievable!
Fake news. There's a slot for the cable
Edit: all part of the Top Gear anti-EV andt-Citroën propaganda. In an article on their site they claim you'll melt things if you try to fast charge. Of course you won't, there are protection circuits.
Interestingly just saw a YouTube advert for the ami, with no doors (or very minimal) and it was more lifestyle adventure orientated.
(Probably an advert for the primary euro yoof market)
I want one for the beach 🙂
Meh it’s a ‘concept’ :-(, still where do i sign up for one 🙂
I watched the Fifth Gear Recharged test drive of the Ami, on catch up last night.
If you can access Quest on catch up, it’s worth a look. They had it up on two wheels at one point, which is a bit alarming as it’s top speed is only 28 mph. However, they were swinging it around a bit, so under normal use it’s probably ok. Just don’t swerve quickly to avoid any pedestrians or wild animals 🥺
Seems to be a vehicle without a purpose in UK. Still too slow - the youth can't use em like they can in europe Twizzy for its lack of doors still a better poor option
Here's hoping for a Dacia spring launching in UK.
Seems to be a vehicle without a purpose in UK. Still too slow – the youth can’t use em like they can in europe Twizzy for its lack of doors still a better poor option
As I said earlier in thread, it fits our use case perfectly. Just because it doesn’t work for you doesn’t mean it might not work for other people.
When does yours arrive ?
As I said earlier in thread, it fits our use case perfectly. Just because it doesn’t work for you doesn’t mean it might not work for other people.
Yep, I don’t want to get sand in my Aston 🙂
Joking aside,I think the use case is an important thing, short range electric cars are expensive for the limitations.
If something like an ami fits in with your needs for short journeys it’s reasonably priced and quirky.
As I said earlier in thread, it fits our use case perfectly. Just because it doesn’t work for you doesn’t mean it might not work for other people.
What is your use case? The real problem with it is the 28mph top speed, not the range.
I take it that you would be using it solely on 30mph limited roads so good for you but I think outside of living right in a major city that 28mph limit is going to be a real hindrance/dangerous.
I live in an area where most of the B roads are 40mph with a few A roads that are 50 and 60 that I have no option but to use to get anywhere so sadly an Ami doesn't work for me at all.
I live in an area where most of the B roads are 40mph with a few A roads that are 50 and 60 that I have no option but to use to get anywhere so sadly an Ami doesn’t work for me at all.
I think out of its use case it’s compromised,it’s not a car so doesn’t have the crash protection we take for granted.
The nice thing about the petrol smart I have is that it’s capable of handling the 50+60 mph sections as well as being great pootling around tight town sections and tbh plastic deformable bodywork is a useful thing in Spain.
A leccy smart cabrios a bit tasty in the pricing tbh 27.5k+ euros
3) a higher top speed would be betterer for safety – not much faster… 45-50mph would be cool.
Then it would just be a slowish car with different licensing reqts (and not a quadracycle)
I realise though that the Ami will still require a driving license in the UK.
Problem is that urban/interurban infra is/was currently a case of ‘when in Rome you have to keep up with the Romans’. Backpedaling in top gear is of course proving difficult.
It was never a fair fight against the automobile industry, and very few cities and towns ever thought beyond that. So we ‘designed’ a society around all journeys by car (even walking distances), work increasingly around long car-commutes, ‘normal’ being four/five door vehicles with mostly single-occupants and a broadly anti-diverse/monolithic, urban/interurban infrastructure geared more towards the ICE SUV + HGV than towards mass transit + HPVs/cycling.
Backtracking and redesigning will be a long process. Too late, IMO. Holland will be mostly underwater long before we catch up with them.
Then it would just be a slowish car with different licensing reqts (and not a quadracycle)
I realise though that the Ami will still require a driving license in the UK.
That's the point, the vehicle licensing requirements are a French thing, in the UK it is just a car which because of a 28mph top speed (another French requirement which is not a requirement in UK as again just a car) makes it usable by a MUCH smaller group of people that a car that would do say 40mph.
Would have been nice if a UK company could have made a similar (very cheap, low speed, low range) vehicle which wasn't intended to meet quadricycle/under 17 drivers as I think there could be a market for a 50mph car with a 50 mile range as it covers a lot of peoples use cases.
I'll wait for the second gen
I'm sure Citroen (like Renault already have) will realise that the Ami is not fit for purpose in the UK as we do not recognise it as quadracycle due to weight there's little reason to work within those constraints
That said as a city car share system it could work but too much of a one trick pony to want to own one
So we ‘designed’ a society around all journeys by car
I think you are looking at this from slightly the wrong angle. We didn't 'design' society around that at all (the Americans did though) - ours evolved. We started using cars loads when we could - after disposable income for most people started to climb post-war - because most people like using their cars instead of busses or walking.
I've lived in places with good public transport, and people still want cars because PT doesn't go everywhere. So whilst we didn't design society like this we'll have to design and mandate its replacement because people still like driving.
So whilst we didn’t design society like this
Maybe not initially as towns grew but postwar development/ road infrastructure was based around cars.
In the 60s my uncles firm relocated from South London (lots of subsidies to promote this) to Devon. He was in his late 20s and didn’t have a licence, as train/tube/bus got you anywhere but it was a different story in. Perhaps Devon.
And that was repeated for most of his co workers who had previously walked/cycled/bussed to work.
The growth of out of town shopping has also encouraged car journeys, though how much is chicken/egg?
When does yours arrive ?
Haven’t yet put a deposit down as I’d like a bit of clarity over pricing first (I.e to actually see a price list!!)
What is your use case? The real problem with it is the 28mph top speed, not the range.
I take it that you would be using it solely on 30mph limited roads so good for you but I think outside of living right in a major city that 28mph limit is going to be a real hindrance/dangerous
Clean air zone city centre journeys only. A slim possibility it would go to a village outside the city centre but that journey can be done on 30mph roads apart from the very last half-mile. Wouldn’t ever be used outside of town other than that as we have a petrol car.
I’m sure Citroen (like Renault already have) will realise that the Ami is not fit for purpose in the UK as we do not recognise it as quadracycle due to weight there’s little reason to work within those constraints
I’m sorry, but you’re just talking biased bollocks. It is fit for the limited purposes it is intended for - it’s meant solely for urban use. Everyone banging on about low top speed is completely missing the point. In France they can be leased for €18 per month. It’s a cheap, eco city runabout.
it’s meant solely for urban use. Everyone banging on about low top speed is completely missing the point.
I dunno, lots of towns and cities have 40mph or even 50mph roads.
I'll believe it when I see it.
I see the gwizz took off and is every where.
As did the twizzy -despite being more fit for purpose than what is a glorified mobility scooter aimed at the unlicensed youths and drunks in France.
Sinclair C5 was less rubbish 😉
I dunno, lots of towns and cities have 40mph or even 50mph roads.
I’m sure they do. Ours doesn’t. It’s pretty much 30mph if not 20th from all of the city boundaries. It’s Bath, in case you were wondering.
I’ll believe it when I see it
Honestly struggling to see why you give a toss? It doesn’t work for you - fine. But that isn’t to say it wouldn’t work for other people. It isn’t a binary yes/no proposition.
I think it’s great that car companies are exploring mobility alternatives to conventional cars. I think these things would be great as a larger scale hire proposition around towns - just like the electric scooter trials going on here and in Bristol.
think these things would be great as a larger scale hire proposition around towns
This I can see in larger towns - geofenced. Keep them off the ring roads for their own safety
I've a deposit down - but I'm in two minds now as my daughter won't be able to drive it due to its weight. This puts us in the "I may as well spend 6k on a 'propper' car" bracket. I'm now looking at 49cc electric motor bikes (half the cost), but the wife isn't keen. So i<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">m keeping the deposit on it for now as I may buy it, see how it is and then sell on......</span>
but I think outside of living right in a major city that 28mph limit is going to be a real hindrance/dangerous.
I live rurally, all roads out of my village are 50+ but if your going that fast your driving dangerously. Quite often get stuck behind horses, cyclist and tractors, an Ami is no different. An Ami would only be hindrance/dangerous if other road users act irresponsibly. Ok so it would take me 5mins on my journey to town but I'm not fussed by that.
As for neigh sayers, over 10k people have put deposits down. That would suggest that there is a market for them in the UK as they are. I highly doubt Citroen will release a derestricted version - the french owners who have had the speed limiter removed only go an extra 10kph or so and the range is seriously affected.
I was also going to brand it up and use it as a delivery vehicle for my shop, which may still be a possibility, but I nee to look into it with my accountant.
Itll be interesting to see the cost and specs on the new electric fiat Panda - supposed to be the cheapest propper electric car on the market being released this year. They are reported to be releasing an absolutely bare bones version in the base spec - no radio etc.
Itll be interesting to see the cost and specs on the new electric fiat Panda – supposed to be the cheapest propper electric car on the market being released this year. They are reported to be releasing an absolutely bare bones version in the base spec – no radio etc
Noted. That sounds promising. As I too have looked at all the leccy options and come round to a cheap 1l petrol box being the smart choice given my milage (choosing to substitute the car for other methods where possible)
An Ami would only be hindrance/dangerous if other road users act irresponsibly.
Oh that's ok then 🙂
I'm not against these things at all, I'd be happy for our streets to be slower and safer. I'm just saying why I don't think they'll be that successful. I hope I'm wrong.
As for neigh sayers, over 10k people have put deposits down.
It really is a case of horses for courses.
I dunno, lots of towns and cities have 40mph or even 50mph roads.
Clydeside expressway comes to mind, as does the M8/74.
I’m sure they do. Ours doesn’t. It’s pretty much 30mph if not 20th from all of the city boundaries. It’s Bath, in case you were wondering.
As a city, it's not comparable to the likes of Manchester, Glasgow or Leeds, they are built very differently. Edinburgh is probably closer as they never blasted a motorway through the middle.
I like it quite a bit, needs luggage space tho.
Just reading the Top Gear review which says the charging port is in the door frame and you have to leave the car door open to charge it. Unbelievable!
Just looked at the photo posted a few down from this, and its worse than just TopGear being Top Gear.
it LOOKS like a really neat bit of design. Very french. The door closes on the plug, which presumably is the mechanism for ensuring it isnt unplugged! save yourself a load of components, cost and complexity just by being a bit smarter.
My 206 had the electric window switches in the centre console, rather than in the door. Half the number of switches and no additional switch required for the driver to be able to operate the passenger window.
As a city, it’s not comparable to the likes of Manchester, Glasgow or Leeds, they are built very differently.
I'm not sure I ever said it was.
I'm slightly mystified at the number of people here trying to demonstrate I'm "wrong", as if it's some kind of 'gotcha'; as I've (repeatedly) explained, what works for us may not work for everyone else, but for our particular circumstances, and subject to confirmation as to pricing etc, we think it will work for our specific situation.
That doesn't mean I'm suggesting everyone should have one, or it should replace your STW-standard Audi estate/Skoda VRS etc, or that you should try razzing one up the fast lane of the M4 etc etc.
If anything, I've have thought a cyclist-orientated forum would be happier with the idea of smaller, slower urban vehicles on the roads.
As for neigh sayers, over 10k people have put deposits down. That would suggest that there is a market for them in the UK as they are.
Though the deposit system is fully refundable, so it'll be interesting who actually follows through. As I mention above, the main issue for me ATM is a total absence of any information about pricing. If there was even a hint about how they intend to finance these things, I could make a decision one way or the other, but their website has been saying "information coming soon" for over six months now.
I’m slightly mystified at the number of people here trying to demonstrate I’m “wrong”, as if it’s some kind of ‘gotcha’; as I’ve (repeatedly) explained, what works for us may not work for everyone else, but for our particular circumstances, and subject to confirmation as to pricing etc, we think it will work for our specific situation.
You are clearly not wrong as it fits exactly what you want to do (albeit still having a petrol car for when you go on roads above 30mph)
My point is that it would be a MUCH better option if it wasn't limited to 28mph for MOST people so it will never be successful.
I’m slightly mystified at the number of people here trying to demonstrate I’m “wrong”, as if it’s some kind of ‘gotcha’;
Same blokes leaving comments for adverts for the new range of electric vans.
"I drive a thousand miles a day, carrying life saving hearts that also weigh 2 tons and live in a 4th floor flat with no parking facilities, therefore this van is pointless and should be banned"~
The gov should be looking at adding a class to our licensing system to facilitate these, and make them as attractive as possible. Basically sans permis, or roll it into the scooter/moped CBT class.
They could then go a step further and apply this new class to UberULEZ (ie, youre only allowed in to the UberULEZ in this new "city friendly" class.
As I mention above, the main issue for me ATM is a total absence of any information about pricing.
It's been leaked that the pricing will be available by end of Feb but more likely this month, first delivery is now expected for June.
My point is that it would be a MUCH better option if it wasn’t limited to 28mph for MOST people so it will never be successful.
But then it would be a different vehicle, and cirtainly more expensive to produce and buy. As I said earlier even the de-restricted ones only go 10kph faster! The point is it's <span style="text-decoration: underline;">not</span> a vehicle for most people, it's a niche vehicle for some people, and one that no other mainstream manufacturer is producing at the moment.
I'd love our gov to get their act in gear and start looking at electric vehicles like heavy quadricycles, scooters etc which Europe now seem to be ahead of us on. Unfortunately our restrictions & calcifications seems to be what limits the Ami.
so it will never be successful
How do you define success here?
I drive a thousand miles a day, carrying life saving hearts that also weigh 2 tons
He's a liar or breaking the law:
https://www.vansdirect.co.uk/van-driving-hours-law/
There aren't many Amis around even here and the ones I've seen are driven by people conforming to young student or lost their license sterotypes. Nice concept for big city commuters for whom public transport isn't practical.
I see the gwizz took off and is every where.
The G-Whiz was popular in London at the time as it was the only viable electric car - congestion charge exempt, plenty of parts of London did free parking and charging too, so it made sense for some despite the car's flaws.
Once the Nissan Leaf launched in 2011 and you could have a proper roomy family hatchback with 5 human sized seats and a boot, you saw fewer and fewer G-Whiz on London's roads.
The Ami looks fun but it'll sell in tiny numbers here, much like the Twizy.
How do you define success here?
A car that would sell in large numbers and be purchased instead of a used petrol car for the many, many people that don't drive more than 50 miles per days and don't drive on motorways.
The Ami will be successful if it fills its niche, at least in the current capitalist climate.
I’m not sure I ever said it was.
I’m slightly mystified at the number of people here trying to demonstrate I’m “wrong”, as if it’s some kind of ‘gotcha’; as I’ve (repeatedly) explained, what works for us may not work for everyone else, but for our particular circumstances, and subject to confirmation as to pricing etc, we think it will work for our specific situation.
As Kerley says nobody is saying you're wrong, I was just demonstrating why your use case is completely different from someone living in the other cities I mentioned. If anything I was demonstrating why your use case is more viable than someone else's, or at least that's what I thought. Apologies if it came across otherwise.
If anything, I’ve have thought a cyclist-orientated forum would be happier with the idea of smaller, slower urban vehicles on the roads.
I am, but I'd be even happier if there were less urban vehicles full stop. I appreciate these are a very different proposition to your average car or moped though.
He’s a liar or breaking the law:
Holy sarcasm bypass Batman!
We didn’t ‘design’ society around that at all (the Americans did though) – ours evolved
Hence the ‘irony quotes’.
I don't really disagree with you otherwise. Although UK transport infra was/is reshaped in a very similar way to how the US societal model was shaped. This included the partial demolition of (and for decades a complete lack of planning for) traditional multimodal transport. Don’t forget, over 8000 miles of railway taken up. Much of it sold off so will never be recommissioned. Beeching alone closed 2,363 railway stations. My dream as a weird kid/Human Powered Vehicles enthusiast was one of recommissioned branch lines serving and invigorating rural-British communities, alongside (or in place of) which would be a cycle path and extra links to smaller communities. My current reimagining would be much the same yet with the cycle-path also accommodating e-bikes and trikes of all descriptions (including cargo and taxi). Dedicated train carriages will also carry these.
Anything for more connected, more relaxing, more engaging, less expensive, less dangerous and less-polluting options than 100 % asphalt and amnesia. I have a dream 🙂
But then realised that we are still ‘evolving’:
A car that would sell in large numbers and be purchased instead of a used petrol car for the many, many people that don’t drive more than 50 miles per days and don’t drive on motorways.
I'd say we are still at least 10yrs away from that, & I would suspect the vast majority of people will continue to buy 2nd hand combustion engine cars for a further 5 to 10years + after that unless some very serious legislation is introduced
The Ami is here to fill a niche, & Citroen know it. They didn't release it here straight away, even then it's taken over 10k X £250 deposits for them to even confirm it will come to the UK. It's an experiment, I don't understand why people are so negative about something that they will never buy (at least for now).
I’d say we are still at least 10yrs away from that, & I would suspect the vast majority of people will continue to buy 2nd hand combustion engine cars for a further 5 to 10years + after that unless some very serious legislation is introduced
Agree that we are probably 10 years away from it but that is because there is no alternative for anyone that buys cars around the £5k - £10k price. Not everyone want to spend £25K on a car but that is the choice you have if you want an EV
It feels like the Ami, and other electric motorbikes and cars, is the start of something. Rewind back to gWizz, C5 and others, they were premature in time and technology. I do think that we are about to see a shift in how people get around, how expensive 'full size, big enough for biking at the weekend in Wales' vehicles are etc etc.
They really are not for everyone, they are flawed and limited in ability, but for a niche of people they are perfect.
My dad currently has a (tiny) Suziki petrol camper van. At most he does a 2-5 mile journey, a few times a week for a supermarket, church and the community garden, occasionally to my sisters house for tea. 99% of the time it is him and a shopping bag or bag of bulbs for the garden. He has under-cover storage and the housing association are just installing a few charging points in the car park of his sheltered flat complex. He can go on faster roads, but all his journey's are within a 30mph zone without any 'cost' in time really. An Ami, ideally with heater, is utterly perfect. Even more perfect would be his sheltered housing complex having half a dozen of them available as a car club for the 120+ residents.
Although UK transport infra was/is reshaped in a very similar way to how the US societal model was shaped. This included the partial demolition of (and for decades a complete lack of planning for) traditional multimodal transport.
Yes but we're nowhere near as far down that road as the US is.
that is because there is no alternative for anyone that buys cars around the £5k – £10k price
There is used. At that price you can get much more range, enough speed for any road, four or five seats and plenty of room for your shopping and dog etc. Or you could when I looked.
My dream as a weird kid/Human Powered Vehicles enthusiast was one of recommissioned branch lines
Same, I'd love to see the lines in Wales put back in as it would completely change how you get about the country and open up loads more places as viable living/working locations for someone like me who WFHs but with travel.
I've just been thinking about this - is this the start of the eKei car in the UK?
Kei make so much sense in Japan because of thier laws. The UK is edging in laws/cost/culture for a few.
Small and electric = win.?
is this the start of the eKei car in the UK
Hope so, Kei makes so much sense.
Here’s hoping for a Dacia spring launching in UK.
Ditto.
I think the Twizzy has trailblazed many of the issue the Ami faces in the UK; more limited top speed and range than people are used to (not necessarily less than they actually need), it's got doors at least.
But as already noted we've become a very Car-centric society that is used to the "contingencies" an ICE powered car allows, day to day range and top speed requirements exceed lots of people's real life use cases. I know for a fact that my missus could make use of something like and Ami, but wouldn't even consider it "just in case".
The Spring, being more of a Car than a Quadracycle probably strikes the balance better in order to make inroads with the UK market, you could get by on an A-road or DC with it, you could do an extra Urban Commute of ~ 40-50 miles (and back) with it.
But Yeah the use case is basically replacement of all those Aygo' and Citroen C1s that typically do about 10-25 miles a day and seldom leave town, but owners will always consider the edge-case as a necessity... the 'Spring' would probably work for them where the Ami is just that wee bit less attractive...
squirrelking
Free Memberis this the start of the eKei car in the UK
Hope so, Kei makes so much sense.
It’ll have to be a eKei SUV thou 🙂
I think the spring is the one the U.K. will go for,although going by euro prices it’s 3-4ishx the price of an ami.
I think of the ami as a more practical step up from a moped, I could see my mum zipping to to the shops in an ami whereas there would be no chance she’d ride a moped and the uptake of ULEZones and the fact that cheap cars aren’t looking like a thing nowadays and not everyone wants to take a bus especially in covid times.
The U.K. actually warmed to the Smart after all the initial novelty value.(although I think they were always pricey)
I think of the ami as a more practical step up from a moped, I could see my mum zipping to to the shops in an ami whereas there would be no chance she’d ride a moped
My issue with comparing it to a moped is the licencing. If it's licensed/insured effectively as a car, which it is, people just buy a 2nd hand car for.the same money. If, it could be driven on a CBT as first advertised, it would have a fair old chunk of the moped market.
In the UK the Ami makes excellent sense as a delivery or short hop higher vehicle for city's, but less as a car replacement, unless your willing to have some big compromises.
So pricing has..... Finally...... Been released !!!
Looking at the FB UK Ami group page lots of people pulling there deposits, but still quite a few placing orders. Current delivery estimate is September this year (cirtainly different to the original 'Spring 2022') but most are expecting a Christmas or early 2023 delivery day.
Glad I pulled my deposit early now and went with a 💩📦 van for less than a grand.
😳 double the cost it needs to be to make a difference.
