Almost 18 months on though, it seems that the Ami will have the last laugh. According to Citroën, sales have increased steadily as the public become more familiar with what is technically not a car, but a 100% electric “motorised quadricycle.” Citroën has sold over 22,000 models since release, far exceeding expectations. Having already made it to Spain, Italy and Germany, the Ami is soon set to be launched in the UK. At a starting price of £7,695 ($15,000), it will be by far the cheapest EV in Britain. Reports suggest over 2,000 pre-orders have already been placed. 

In France, some Ami owners are so proud of their purchase they have volunteered to become “superfans”, meaning they take the time to offer curious potential buyers a ride in their car and talk them through the pros and cons. One of these unaffiliated ambassadors, Oliver Diamy, is very keen to show off his new getaround. 

Having suffered a stroke and becoming partially paralysed on the left side of his body, Diamy thought he would never drive again. The Ami has changed that. With a regulated top speed of 45km/h, no gear box, no air conditioning, no stereo (but space for a portable speaker), no power steering, no central locking and only one window wiper, the Ami is anything but complicated. It virtually drives itself; in France you don’t even need a driver's licence to drive it.

Indeed, French 14-year-olds are eligible to get behind the Ami’s wheel. Because of this, despite being designed for urban areas the Ami has become surprisingly popular in rural communities, giving younger people more autonomy. Where incomes are lower it has helped cut costs on long-distance solo shopping trips.

Another detail, because of its classification, one does not need a specific qualification to sell the Ami. They are in displays across the country in stores like Fnac and Derby, France’s equivalents to JB HI-FI or Noel Leemings. 

After three hours on the charger in a regular wall socket, the Ami can travel around 75 kilometres. This costs Diamy a total of about 80 cents ($1.30) and says the Ami saves him about 280 euros ($420) in Uber fees a month. A tidy investment. 

For Diamy, the best feature is not that it is 100% electric, but that the Ami is miniscule. Aside from the benefit of being able to “turn around on a handkerchief,” the fact it weighs 450 kilograms means it requires next to no energy to power. He believes the ecological transition is about both technological innovation and mind set, “Driving a two ton Tesla to the supermarket even if it is 100% electric is not the solution,” he says, “you’re still consuming far too much energy."

The French government seems to have acknowledged this. Among other various policy incentives, residential parking is free for mini EV’s like the Ami.

While the Ami has proved a rational solution for a select European minority, it is inconclusive whether or not its benefits are appropriate for other parts of the world. Here, the sophisticated regional transport networks allow Europeans to have the best of both worlds: a tiny EV to get you from your home to the market and trains that will take you on holiday or to visit relatives.

To expand the Ami’s market, Citroën are releasing variations of the simple model. The “Cargo” replaces the passenger seat with 400 litres of storage area, the “Vibe” will include various design modifications and the “Buggy,” a concept yet to make the production line, will see the Ami’s doors come off, its tires treaded and it’s chassy reinforced.

With climate change's effects becoming more pronounced and fuel prices increasing across Europe, for Oliver Diamy, the Ami is a no brainer. He says it combines convenience, cost and an ethical responsibility to divest from fossil fuels, “I know it’s not for everyone but it just makes sense,” he says, “one year from now, it will make even more sense.”