Citroen’s Oli Concept Makes Us Question EV Designs Even More

Citroen’s newest concept car is an electric pickup truck that’s made from recycled materials. Yes, it is a truck. Despite its SUV-like shape and proportions, the EV is made with simplification and removing unnecessary features in mind, which doesn’t exactly convey much of that.

The name is a wordplay of ‘all E(lectric)’, which does give off some sense of cuteness that doesn’t exactly fit its bulky exterior. It is also the first to feature the French manufacturer’s new logo that seems like an oversimplified bug, rather than the established upward-facing arrows. The body is surprisingly made of cardboard with a specialized honeycomb structure and a plastic outer layer, ensuring that the entire car won’t turn soggy in the event of a light drizzle. The truck also has suicide doors, revealing the infra-red interior.

The seats are made of thermoplastic polyurethane with 3D-printed meshes, sitting on tubular frames. Thankfully, the dashboard is free of large screens, with removable bluetooth speakers in place of the infotainment system. The reliance on a smartphone for several features of the car, including door lock controls, is made easier with a phone dock.

Almost reminiscent of Citroen’s Ami, the air conditioning system is controlled by switches. There is one screen that displays all necessary info dubbed the ‘Smartband’, which is controlled by a joystick mounted on the steering wheel. The target weight of the Oli is precisely 1 ton, and it does sound off when bearing in mind the fact that newer compacts weigh at least 200 more kilos. It has a range of 400 km, with a top speed of 110 km/h.

It is hard to deny the thought that the Oli looks as if it drove straight out games like Saints Row 4, Cyberpunk 2077, or GTA Online. The absurd-yet somewhat comical exterior is still inline with the quirkiness of the brand, yet nearly unrecognizable. Rejected funky Hot Wheels design or not, it’s uncanny and surreal, but it still fits in with our imagery of the future where overengineering and appreciated design aspects is as simplified as logos of today.

(Images sourced from Citroen)