Pierre Leclercq, the head of design at Citroen, believes that there is still a lot of potential to be explored in the electric vehicle market, including a possible resurgence of the humble MPV (multi-purpose vehicle). Leclercq’s thoughts were sparked by the unveiling of the ELO concept at the Brussels motor show, which featured a unique central driving position, pop-out chairs, and a versatile interior that can be converted into a bed with a projector for watching films. Although the ELO concept won’t be going into production, Leclercq sees it as a way to “push and test” the boundaries of what is possible in electric vehicle design.
Leclercq notes that the electric architecture of modern vehicles offers more freedom in terms of design, particularly in the front section where space can be freed up by the absence of a traditional engine. He believes that this could lead to the creation of more desirable and practical MPVs, a category that Citroen dominated in the 1980s and 1990s with its “monobox” shaped vehicles. However, with the rise of SUVs, MP