Renault has said goodbye to the Twizy, and hello to the Mobilize Duo.
Having teased the car in 2021, mobility-focused Renault sub-brand Mobilize has confirmed what will power its compact city EV – and its stripped-out cargo version, dubbed the Bento.
Power comes from an electric motor mounted on the rear axle. In the base Duo 45, that motor is limited to a top speed of 45km/h. That means in parts of Europe it can be piloted by unlicensed drivers as young as 14.
The Duo 80 will hit 80km/h, and requires a full licence.
Range is likely to sit at around 140km, although that figure has been calculated using a new standard designed for electric motorbikes.
Like the Twizy, the Duo features two seats mounted inline. At 2.43m long, 1.3m wide and 1.46m tall, the Duo is longer and wider than the car it replaces, which should free up more interior space.
Both the front and rear bumper are identical to make repairs simpler and cheaper, and the car has been built with 50 per cent recycled materials. At the end of its life, Renault says 95 per cent of the Duo can be recycled.
As for the Bento? It loses the rear seat in favour of a massive backpack, which holds up to 700 litres of kit.
Inside, the Duo features a stripped-back dashboard. Its connected services can be updated over the air, as Mobilize is focused on ride-sharing and fleet operators – although the company does mention private sales in its media materials as well.
It’ll be available in Duo guise from late in 2023, with the Bento to follow in 2024.
What is Mobilize?
Mobilize joins Renault, Alpine and Dacia, and will offer its own purpose-built models.
It’ll be helmed by Clotilde Delbos, who is also Groupe Renault’s chief financial officer and deputy CEO.
Each vehicle in the Mobilize range will be all-electric and will fulfil different needs, including car-sharing and ride-hailing services and last-mile delivery.
As a new mobility brand, Mobilize will offer hardware in the form of vehicles, and the software used to interact with them.
It’ll be supported by RCI Bank and Services, who’ll help provide leasing, subscription and pay-as-you-go options to users.
Leveraging Renault’s dealership network, Mobilize vehicles will be easily accessible in Europe whether that be for a quick drive up the road or with a multi-year subscription.
Mobilize’s goals are to reduce the gap between car usage and cost, as it says cars are currently left unused 90 per cent of the time, and both contribute to a zero CO2 footprint and improve residual value.
The brand is also developing a universal charging pass and app for customers in Europe.
