A tank of fuel costs between 12 and 18 € for a combustion license-free car. A full charge of an electric license-free car comes to less than 2 €. The economic argument is unbeatable, but you still have to pick the right one. In 2026, the market for electric license-free cars has become considerably more structured. A tour of the market.
The state of the electric license-free car market in 2026
Five years ago, electric license-free cars were limited to a handful of obscure models with anaemic range. The Citroën Ami changed everything in 2020. Today, every major license-free car manufacturer offers at least one electric version, and electric sales represent more than 30% of license-free car registrations in France.
Two segments coexist:
- The urban entry level: Citroën Ami, Fiat Topolino (~5,500-8,000 €), designed for pure city use, limited range
- The classic electric license-free cars: Aixam e-City, Ligier Myli, Microcar M.Go Electric (~13,000-16,000 €), superior finish and range
Full technical comparison
| Model | Base price | WLTP range | Charging time | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citroën Ami | 5,990 € (or 19.99 €/mo lease) | 75 km | ~4h (household socket) | 6 kW |
| Fiat Topolino | 7,990 € | 75 km | ~4h (household socket) | 6 kW |
| Aixam e-City | ~15,000 € | 100 km WLTP | 4h (Type 2) | 6 kW |
| Ligier Myli | ~14,200 € | 100 km WLTP | 3h30 (optional fast charging) | 8 kW |
| Microcar M.Go Electric | ~14,000 € | 92 km WLTP | 4h (Type 2) | 6 kW |
Citroën Ami: the volume champion
The Ami is the best-selling electric license-free car in France, and that is no accident. Its starting price of 5,990 €, or 19.99 €/month on a no-deposit lease, makes it accessible to any reasonable budget. It is the gateway to the electric license-free car, and it owns that role.
What it does well:
- The price: unbeatable in its category
- Availability: at Citroën, Fnac, Darty, online
- Ease of charging: any standard 220V socket
- The image: recognisable, unapologetic, without complexes
What disappoints:
- The spartan interior: non-adjustable driver’s seat, no air conditioning
- The 75 km of real range often cut to 55-60 km in genuine mixed use (cold, terrain, load)
- The cabin strictly seats 2 in tandem, impossible to carry someone side by side
- The absence of a built-in GPS
The Ami is perfect for hyper-urban use: commuting, doing the shopping, dropping off a passenger within a 20-30 km radius. As soon as you step outside that framework, its limits make themselves felt.
Fiat Topolino: the Ami with more charm
Based on exactly the same Stellantis platform as the Ami, the Topolino brings no technical difference, same battery, same motor, same range. It plays solely on design and finish.
And on those two points, it clearly scores. The round lines inspired by the original 1950s Fiat 500, the retro details, the optional JBL speaker, the warm colour schemes, the Topolino is unanimously judged more attractive and better finished than the Ami.
The price difference: about 2,000 € more than the Ami for the same technical package. Is the design worth 2,000 €? For some buyers, yes.
The Dolcevita version with a soft top is the best configuration for summer use, more versatile than the Ami Buggy which removes the doors.
Our detailed comparison Citroën Ami vs Fiat Topolino gives you all the details if you are hesitating between these two models.
Aixam e-City: the premium benchmark
The Aixam e-City is the electric license-free car for those who want the best finish on the market with enough range for semi-urban or peri-urban use.
Its distinctive strengths:
- Interior finish clearly superior to the Ami or the Topolino: adjustable seats, a more complete dashboard, material quality
- A range of 100 km WLTP (about 75-80 km in real use)
- The Aixam after-sales network, the densest in France with ~800 service points
- The same dimensions as a combustion Aixam, 2 real seats side by side
The drawback:
- The price: ~15,000 € for the full version is almost triple that of an Ami
- Charging only on a Type 2 or household socket, no fast charging available
The e-City is the rational choice for someone who drives 30-50 km a day and wants a vehicle that stays comfortable over time.
Ligier Myli: the most dynamic
The Myli is Ligier’s most modern offering. A contemporary design with signature LED headlights, a more refined interior than previous generations, and an accelerated charging option that lets it go from 0 to 80% in less than 2 hours with the right cable.
Its strong points:
- The most modern design in the category aside from the Ami/Topolino
- A power of 8 kW (versus 6 kW for most competitors), uphill pickup is better
- The fast charging option: a concrete advantage for users in a hurry
- A 100-litre boot
The limits:
- A price slightly higher than the M.Go Electric for arguments that are mainly stylistic
- The Ligier after-sales network is less extensive than Aixam’s (~650 points)
The Myli is the right choice for those who want the most recent and most dynamic electric model in the category.
Microcar M.Go Electric: the safe bet
The M.Go Electric is the no-surprise choice. Known robustness, controlled maintenance, an extensive Microcar-Ligier network. A range of 92 km WLTP, slightly lower than the Myli and the e-City but sufficient for the vast majority of uses.
It is positioned as the most affordable of the three “classic” models (~14,000 €) while offering the same level of reliability as its combustion cousins.
How to choose according to your use
| Use | Recommended model |
|---|---|
| Strictly urban (< 20 km/day) | Citroën Ami (unbeatable price) |
| Urban with a taste for design | Fiat Topolino |
| Semi-urban, finish a priority | Aixam e-City |
| Semi-urban, dynamism a priority | Ligier Myli |
| Budget < 14,500 €, regular use | Microcar M.Go Electric |
| Teenager (from age 14) | Citroën Ami or Fiat Topolino |
Running cost over 3 years (5,000 km/year)
| Item | Ami / Topolino | e-City / Myli / M.Go |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase | 6,000-8,000 € | 14,000-15,000 € |
| Energy (3 years) | ~150 € | ~150 € |
| Maintenance (3 y) | ~150 € | ~250 € |
| Insurance (3 y) | ~1,200 € | ~1,200 € |
| Total | ~7,500-9,500 € | ~15,600-16,600 € |
The 6,000-8,000 € difference in favour of the Ami/Topolino is not recovered through running costs, electricity costs the same whatever the battery. The decision therefore comes down to comfort, range and finish.
2026 verdict
For the entry level: the Citroën Ami remains unbeatable on price. The Topolino is worth the premium if you value design.
For the top range: the Aixam e-City for the finish and the after-sales network, the Ligier Myli for the dynamism and fast charging.
To avoid: being tempted by a first-generation used electric license-free car (pre-2020), the batteries of these models are nearing the end of their life and replacement costs are prohibitive.
The GPS missing from all these license-free cars
None of these electric license-free cars includes a GPS suited to their use. The Ami and the Topolino offer a simple smartphone holder. The top-range models have a screen but without navigation software that filters out roads forbidden to license-free cars.
TacTac fills exactly this gap. The GPS app dedicated to license-free cars automatically filters out the expressways, ring roads and high-speed roads inaccessible to electric license-free cars, whatever the brand. Find all our comparisons in the complete license-free car 2026 guide.
Join the TacTac waiting list and navigate your electric license-free car with peace of mind.