Carrying out a 14,000 kilometer long crossing from Morocco to South Africa, behind the wheel of several electric Citroën Amis, is the challenge undertaken by Éric Vigouroux, entrepreneur and former rally-raid driver, and his team through the “green cruise”. A major event supported by Stellantis Middle East & Africa (MEA).
The primary objective of this expedition is to pay tribute to the centenary of the legendary “black cruise” by reinterpreting its spirit of adventure and exploration, this time focused on sustainable mobility. It is worth remembering that this “black cruise” was an automobile expedition crossing the African continent from north to south, from October 28, 1924 to June 26, 1925. Also called the “Citroën Center Africa expedition”, it was initiated by André Citroën himself. -even to promote its brand and open a regular motorized line across Africa.
Read also | The new Peugeot 3008 hybrid arrives in Morocco
Éric Vigouroux therefore took up the challenge of retracing this emblematic route with electric vehicles, powered exclusively by renewable energies. The journey officially began on October 28 in Ouarzazate, with arrival planned in Cape Town in mid-January 2025. This demanding route will highlight the Ami’s compact and energy-efficient design, capable of traversing various terrains. The vehicles participating in this expedition received improvements, including increased range, enlarged wheels and a reinforced chassis.
At the origin of this adventure, Eric Vigouroux, a former rally-raid driver, sets off on this crossing, accompanied by three experienced teammates.
But the main challenge remains the power supply. To answer this, the team developed mini portable solar power plants, made up of 40 solar panels, to recharge the batteries during rest stops. Each day of the expedition starts at 6:30 a.m. with a three-hour drive to cover 100 km, followed by a 5-6 hour solar recharge. At the end of the afternoon, the team leaves for a second journey of 100 km, completing a daily total of 200 km at an average speed of 45 km/h. In addition, renewable energy sites on the continent will be used for faster recharges.
Read also | Morocco: Work on the first Gigafactory in Africa and the Middle East has begun [Vidéo]
Leaving Morocco to reach South Africa behind the wheel of an electric Ami is a daring challenge. In addition to the expedition and adventure component, this event is intended to be a call for environmental awareness and ecological travel across Africa. It is for all these reasons that Stellantis MEA, with its Citroën brand, has joined this mission as a committed partner, wishing to put forward a common vision to promote sustainable mobility on the African continent.
Remember that Stellantis MEA is committed, as part of its “Vision Dare Forward 2030” plan, to making mobility clean and accessible throughout the Middle East and Africa, a region that stands out for its growing demand for solutions. affordable transportation. With a population of 2 billion and around 4 million new vehicle sales per year, the MEA region represents a vast opportunity for micro-electromobility. Stellantis also sees this segment as a bridge between two-wheelers and traditional used vehicles, offering a new solution for urban and regional mobility.
Read also | The Women’s Champions League will take place from November 9 to 23 in El Jadida and Casablanca
“At Stellantis, our goal is to lead the transformation of micro-electromobility in the Middle East and Africa by leveraging our deep market understanding, robust distribution networks and advanced industrial ecosystem,” said Samir Cherfan. And the Director of Operations of Stellantis MEA added: “our factory in Kenitra, Morocco, plays a central role in this mission, by producing a range of electric micromobility vehicles exclusively for the region. Starting with the Citroën Ami, production has since expanded to include the Opel Rocks-e and the Fiat Topolino.
