The Citroen 2 CV Is Back And Ready For The 21st Century

This one is not about home energy upgrades, but about a car, so here is the short version for anyone curious.

Citroen has revealed a concept version of its classic 2 CV, this time as a battery electric car. The original 2 CV was a cheap, simple car built after World War II in France, and more than 5 million were sold between 1949 and 1990. The new concept, shown at the Paris Motor Show, is small (about 12 feet 4 inches long), designed to be light and affordable, with a cloth roof and a stripped-down interior meant to keep weight and cost down. Less weight means the car can use a smaller, cheaper battery.

The production version is still at least two years away and is expected to cost around 15,000 euros. It will be built to meet a future European standard for small electric cars called M1E. No battery range, charging, or power details have been released yet. Citroen describes it as a short-range, low-cost city car rather than something for long road trips.

None of this affects home energy upgrades, rebates, or weatherization programs. If you are weighing an electric vehicle purchase, this is a preview of a future European model, not something available to buy yet, and there is no word on whether or when it might come to the United States.