PSA- Mitsubishi Imiev!

 

Citroën C-Zero.

Now, I’ve written ’bout a whole mess of cars, but I ain’t ever talked ’bout one I actually owned myself. So I reckon it’s ’bout time I tip my hat to my old Citroën C-Zero from PSA,  Peugeot Citroën, built on the same platform as the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, made in partnership with Mitsubishi.

I talk a whole lot ’bout big ol’ gas-guzzlin’ rigs and all kinds of machines that ain’t exactly climate-friendly, and that whole culture that comes with ’em. But truth be told, I ain’t really into pollutin’ cars myself. I actually care a fair bit ’bout the climate. And I’m way more into design than what kinda engine’s under the hood.

My Citroën C-Zero was straight-up badass. Rear-wheel drive, and a whole lotta fun to drift around with. Only thing is, that little thing barely had enough range to make it from Sandvika to Sundvollen, then barely squeak around Steinsfjorden through Åsa and back again without a charge, even in summertime.

And from Bærum to Sjusjøen in summer, sure, but only with a couple o’ charges along the way.

I remember one time drivin’ my lil’ EV from Sandvika all the way to the end of Sørkedalen and back, and it was ’round 20 below. Battery gauge was sittin’ at about three-quarters full when I left. By the time I got to the end of Sørkedalen, it was already down to four bars, under half. 

After a quick ski trip knowin’ my poor Zero (which I’d named ‘Helene’) was down there freezing her little battery pack off I came back to find she’d dropped to three bars, and there I was sittin’ in that dang traffic jam headin’ toward the Røa intersection thinkin’: ‘Dang… if this line don’t start movin’ soon, I’m gonna run outta juice right here.’

Lucky for me, traffic finally opened up. Past Haga it dropped to two bars, and by the time I climbed the hill over Steinshøgda it suddenly dipped to one. Headin’ down past Bryn Church — boom — zero bars. Still rollin’, though. Passed the YX 7-Eleven on Rykkinn and suddenly that little turtle light popped on. And when a Citroën Zero shows the turtle, you got maybe ’bout a kilometer, mile and a half at best, before she just gives up.

But I made it. Rolled up to the COOP Extra on Rykkinn, plugged her in, and in no time that poor little Helene perked right back up lettin’ out the sweetest little whine, kinda like your tiny dog finally warmin’ back up after bein’ out in the cold.

And here ya see a video of a Mitsubishi i-MiEV over in the States bein’ driven pretty much the exact same way I did mine. Now remember, the Peugeot Ion and the Mitsubishi i-MiEV are the exact same dang cars. Folks say the PSA Mitsubishi i-MiEV was cooked up over in Japan on account of the lack of space in downtown Tokyo — and I reckon that’s true, ‘cause these little rigs are real easy to park on kinda any street. They’ve also got those nice skinny tires with a deep tread that’ll dig right into winter roads, so they’re mighty fine in snow, well, if you ignore the whole range situation.

The PSA i-MiEV’s also got surprisin’ly good room on the inside, considerin’ how tiny the outside looks. Plenty of space for four folks, and the trunk ain’t half bad either — especially once you fold down those back seats. I used mine a whole bunch for haulin’ all sorts’a used stuff back when I was buyin’ half of finn.no, felt like.

Drive yourself a Citroën C-Zero with chrome ladies in a V-shape on the hood, and both your Citroën gal and your dog’ll be struttin’ just as proud as little Helene did.

Here ya can plain as day see just how much room there is in a PSA i-MiEV, even without them back seats folded down. I’ve hauled not just one, but two big ol’ heavy air-conditionin’ units in mine. You can even fit a whole dang stove in there,  plus a bit more if you pack it right.

And here you can see a Finn.no ad showin’ a kit that lets you fold down the front passenger seat too, so you get yourself even more space, just sayin!