5 June 2012

Twizy targets the scooter brigade

A €7,000 alternative to the scooter with fuel costs pegged at around €50 a month seems a viable proposition in Europe's cities, writes Brian Byrne.

Those are the numbers for Renault's latest EV, the Twizy, recently launched to automotive journalists in Ibiza.

The 2-seater is arguably safer than the 125cc scooters so popular in south European cities like Rome and Barcelona, and its covered in format would extend its appeal to wetter and colder northern urban climes.

The Twizy's battery is rented by the owner, and offers 100kms on a 3.5-hour charge from an ordinary household electrical system.

Two versions will be available, one with its speed capped at 45km/h and the other capable of 80km/h. The first offers licence-free driving in many European countries.

The Twizy has two seats inline, and four wheels supporting its narrow body. Renault is expecting initial sales of around 10,000 units a year, but has a capacity to achieve 50,000 units annually.