Skip advert
Advertisement

Electric Citroen C1

evo has a drive of the electric version of Citroen's highly likeable C1 city car

Like it or not, electric cars look like they’re here to stay. In the shape of performance cars like the Tesla Roadster that’s no bad thing, but what about the opposite, more attainable end to the market?

It’s a genre best known for the deeply undesirable G-Wiz, but now there’s a far more appealing alternative if you feel the urge to go electric. It’s from the Electric Car Company and it’s a conversion of the Citroen C1 city car.

Advertisement - Article continues below

That’s not a bad place to start, the C1 being our favourite when we compared budget cars last year. Much of its appeal comes from the slightly uncouth but characterful 3-cylinder 1-litre engine that lies under the bonnet, though, so if this is replaced with the silent, smooth torque curve of an electric motor, do things fall flat?

Not quite. Up to 30mph this C1 Evie feels quicker than its petrol equivalent, the power delivery feeling unnaturally constant thanks to its torquey, single-speed delivery. Beyond that speed things are less impressive, the car quickly running out of puff, and feeling laboured by the weight of all its batteries.

For urban, sub-30mph driving, though, it’ll no doubt suit its target driver just nicely. Power source aside it’s the same as any C1, so is a compact but practical five-door city car that refreshingly puts function above form.

The main negative comes courtesy of Citroen’s donor car – the regular, petrol C1 is already admirably economical and light on carbon emissions, making the case for the Evie – which kicks off at £16,850, double the price – a difficult one. As a step towards a likeable electric car, though, it’s a good one.

Extra Info

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

TVR: Why we think it’s all over
TVR Griffith
Opinion

TVR: Why we think it’s all over

There’s barely a flicker of life when it comes to TVR and the ‘new’ Griffith. We can only fear the worst
17 Jul 2025
Save £30k on a new Range Rover and buy a Renault 5 with the savings!
Range Rover
News

Save £30k on a new Range Rover and buy a Renault 5 with the savings!

Discounts on new Range Rovers are so big you could buy a new Renault 5 with the money you save…
15 Jul 2025
​Best hot hatchbacks 2025 – affordable new performance cars
Best hot hatchbacks 2025
Best cars

​Best hot hatchbacks 2025 – affordable new performance cars

Contracted though the hot hatch market may be, there are still some great models out there, from the electric Alpine A290 to the five-cylinder Audi RS…
14 Jul 2025