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Pickup trucks get filled with cardboard boxes all the time, but now there's one made of cardboard.
French automaker Citroen has unveiled a compact electric pickup concept built from unusual materials aimed at reducing weight and the resources needed to build it.
The Oli features body panels co-developed with BASF that are comprised of a honeycomb structure made from recycled cardboard sandwiched between fiberglass sheets, coated in a polyurethane resin and textured Elastocoat that is typically used on floors for protection.
Citroen says the material weighs half as much as steel and is strong enough for an adult to stand on the roof.
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(Citroen)
The angular vehicle has a perfectly vertical windshield and a buttressed open bed with a front wall that can be opened to extend it into the cabin.
This photograph taken on Sept. 29, 2022, shows a presentation by French car maker Citroen of their new concept car "Citroen Oli" in Paris. (ERIC PIERMONT/AFP via Getty Images )
Entry is provided by clamshell doors and the seats are constructed of recycled materials with a mesh design that makes them lighter and allows more light to permeate through the cabin.
The dashboard is a simple beam shape that has toggles for the climate control system, a smartphone dock and USB ports, but no screens or built-in audio, just slots on the ends that tubular Bluetooth speakers can be inserted into.
This photograph taken on Sept. 29, 2022, shows a presentation by French car maker Citroen of their new concept car "Citroen Oli" in Paris. (ERIC PIERMONT/AFP via Getty Images)
Citroen says the vehicle weighs just 2,200 pounds which is around a half-ton less than a comparable conventional vehicle. Its driving range is estimated at 249 miles per charge, but its top speed is restricted to 68 mph as it is envisioned as efficient urban transportation.
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Citroen, which is part of the Stellantis group that includes Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram, does not plan on putting it on sale as it is, but did say several of its elements will be incorporated into future production models.
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Citroen has a history of pushing the limits of automotive design and recently sold a line of vehicles under the Cactus name that had air-filled pockets on the doors designed to prevent dents.