Renault Twizy: electric quad with a high fun factor

With the Twizy – a neologism of ‘twin’ for two-seater and ‘easy’ for simple operation – Renault is presenting a vehicle concept for inner-city traffic that is intended to combine the advantages of a car and a scooter. The purely electrically powered two-seater meanders through the city with zero emissions, quietly and agilely like a scooter, but thanks to four wheels, pedals and steering wheel it can be driven as easily and comfortably as a car. The highlight: the driver and passenger sit one behind the other in a highly rigid safety passenger cell, in which a driver’s airbag is already part of the basic equipment; A helmet and protective jacket are not required, especially since the Twizy is supplied with a fixed roof as standard and with wing doors as an option.
With a length of just 2.3 meters and a width of 1.2 meters, the Twizy can find a parking space even in the tightest of spaces. A tiny turning circle of just 6.8 meters makes maneuvering in narrow old town streets easier. Renault offers the new Twizy in two versions: the standard version has an output of 13 kW (18 hp) and a top speed of 80 km/h; the Twizy 45 offers 4 kW (5 hp) and a top speed of 45 km/h and can be driven from the age of 16 with an ‘S’ driving license. Its own weight is not insignificant: the dwarf weighs 562 kilograms, 98 kg of which is due to the battery.

Range: 100 kilometers

In the city version, which was in great demand by far, an asynchronous electric motor delivers a torque of 57 Nm to the rear axle and accelerates the vehicle to 80 km/h (limited). The ‘juice’ is provided by an air-cooled lithium-ion battery with an output of 6.1 kWh, which is said to offer a range of 100 kilometers and can be connected to a 230-volt socket in 3.5 hours via a coiled spiral cable with a Schuko plug. household socket can be charged; a charge costs about 1.50 euros in Germany.

The costs

The small Renault Twizy 45 costs 6,990 euros in retail, for the more powerful city version 7,690 to 8,490 euros must be estimated – plus 50 to 72 euros monthly rent for the battery. Not cheap. But not an everyday vehicle either.

Contact: Renault Germany