08:47 30-04-2026

Citroën Ami Rip Curl adds character to the minimalist urban EV

Citroën has started sales of an unusual version of its most affordable electric vehicle: the Ami Rip Curl. The price is €9,290, and production is limited to just 1,600 units. The point matters because this is highly accessible electric urban transport that can be driven without a full driving licence.

In essence, this is the same Ami Buggy, but with a stronger focus on style and emotion. It has an open body, a soft roof, a compact length of 2.41 metres and a deliberately minimalist construction. The hardware is unchanged: a 6 kW electric motor, equal to 8 hp, a top speed of 45 km/h and a range of 75 km. Charging takes 4 hours from a regular household socket. This is purely city transport, built around simplicity and low running costs.

The main difference is visual. The Rip Curl version gets a black body, contrasting 14-inch wheels and bright surf-culture accents. Two design themes are available: Sunrise in yellow and Sunset in purple. Inside, Citroën has added coloured details, a smartphone holder and even a new 5.7-inch digital instrument display, which counts as a meaningful upgrade in this class.

The Ami is not an alternative to a conventional car; it is closer to a scooter or a microcar replacement. On the market, that points to growing demand for ultra-cheap electric vehicles for short journeys. For buyers, it means minimal costs, no complex maintenance and the possibility of driving from the age of 15, albeit with serious limits in speed and comfort.

The wider context is clear as well: models like this are becoming especially relevant in Europe, where environmental rules and access to city centres are tightening. The Ami Rip Curl is an attempt to add emotion to extremely utilitarian transport and draw in a younger audience.

The Ami Rip Curl is not about versatility. It is about a niche: a cheap way into electric mobility, with limitations that buyers need to accept from the start.