the electric cars of the future play the economy

It doesn’t necessarily show at first glance, but the Citroën Oli and the Mercedes Vision eqxx have several points in common. These are two light and energy-efficient electric prototypes. “I am a fairly rational buyer, I will mainly look at the autonomy and the capacity of the trunk according to my needs”, admits a visitor to the motor show where these two models are absent. Citroën is however proud to introduce Oli, economical and ecological with, in particular, a honeycombed cardboard roof and bonnet. “We gain 30% in weight for a more resistant material”advances Pierre Leclercq who also points to the windshield as a weight reduction factor in a minimalist style.

Across the Rhine, too, the time has come for optimization so that the Mercedes Vision eqxx breaks autonomy records. It could cover 1,200 kilometers on electric, without recharging, thanks to better penetration per hour with solid wheels and a transformation at the rear at more than 60 km/h for moreAero Dynamics. “The rear part is the most important in aerodynamics, it provides a lot of autonomy. This car only consumes 7 kilowatt hours, a record”, boasts Markus Schäfer, technology director at Mercedes-Benz. Solar panels even power the dashboard for more sobriety.