For many years, people have shown a strong preference for purchasing SUVs. Citroen believes that with the transition to e-mobility, this category of automobiles will again be rendered irrelevant. In an interview with AutoExpress, the company's CEO, Vincent Cobée, stated that "the world of SUVs is over," even though current sales figures do not support this assertion. He used the example of sedans being referred to as SUVs simply because they are taller. This includes the brand-new Citroen C4 X, which is also offered as an electric vehicle.
According to the CEO, improved aerodynamics is a primary factor in the automotive industry's shift away from SUVs toward cars such as the Citroen e-C4 X. If the aerodynamics of a battery-powered electric car isn't optimized, the vehicle will have a significantly reduced range. It is simply "60/70/80 kilometers" between an SUV and a sedan, but the difference between having excellent or mediocre aerodynamics can cost you an additional 50 kilometers.
When it comes to large electric vehicles, manufacturers are increasingly installing battery packs that are larger in capacity to meet the requirements of the market for driving ranges. According to Cobée, this will only sometimes be viable for various reasons, including but not limited to taxes, incentives, regulation, and even public exposure.
The more a battery's capacity to store electricity, the larger it must be, increasing the number of raw materials and production costs required; additionally, the battery's negative impact on the environment grows proportionately. "If you lived in a large city five years ago and drove a large SUV to drop off your children at school, you were considered a guy. If you continue to behave in this manner, you will be labeled an evil person," Cobée stated.
The leader of Citroen has stated that weight gain cannot be tolerated under any circumstances. In the 1970s, the average weight of a car was 1.3 tons. The typical weight of an automobile produced nowadays is 1,300 kilos. "By the year 2050, the typical automobile will weigh two tons. Therefore, to complete the same work with the same quality, we must spend three times the amount of resources."
Cobée believes that a greater emphasis should be placed on enhancing the charging experience while moving. Citroen aims to make this process easier for its clients by providing route planning tools and, as a stopgap solution, allowing its electric car customers to take out short-term loans of combustion-powered vehicles. The latter service is already offered in France, and AutoExpress plans to bring it to additional markets soon.