Renault Twizy

Renault Twizy
Overview
Manufacturer Renault
Also called Nissan New Mobility Concept
Production 2012–present
Assembly Valladolid, Spain (Renault Spain)
Body and chassis
Class Electric city car (A)
Body style 3-door hatchback
Layout Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Powertrain
Transmission Single gear
Battery 6.1 kWh lithium-ion battery
Electric range 100 km (62 mi)
Dimensions
Length 2.32 m (91 in)
Width 1.19 m (47 in)
Height 1.46 m (57 in)
Curb weight 450 kg (992 lb)

The Renault Twizy is a battery-powered 2 seat electric city car designed and marketed by Renault and manufactured in Valladolid, Spain.[1][2] Legally classified in Europe as a heavy quadricycle (light quadricycle for the lower-powered Urban 45 model), the Twizy has a maximum range of 100 km (62 mi).

The 2009 concept

The Twizy debuted as a concept car at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show[3] and was designed by Françoise Leboinne and Luciano Bove. In November 2010, Nissan announced a rebadged variant to the Twizy, called the New Mobility Concept, or NMC. In May 2011, Renault announced they would produce the Twizy and began taking reservations.

In March 2012, the Twizy was released to the France market, followed a month later in the UK and several other European countries.[4] Available in three models, starting at €6,990 up to €8,490 (in the UK: £6,990 to £7,400), the Twizy sales price does not include the battery pack, which is leased for a monthly fee that includes roadside assistance and a battery replacement guarantee.[5][6]

The Twizy was the top-selling plug-in electric vehicle in Europe during 2012.[7] Since its introduction, 15,000 Twizy have been sold worldwide through April 2015,[8][9] with Germany, France, Italy and Spain as the top selling markets.[10]

Specifications

Construction and safety

The Twizy is an ultra-compact vehicle, with a length of 2.32 metres (7 ft 7 in), a width of 1.19 metres (3 ft 11 in) and a height of 1.46 metres (4 ft 9 in).

The vehicle's frame and body offer occupants extra protection with its deformable structure, while the outboard position of the four wheels and the lateral beams located either side of the chassis provide protection in case of a side impact. The safety retention systems include a driver's airbag, a four-point safety belt at the front and a three-point one at the rear.

Models

The Twizy model is electric, and it therefore is part of Renault's Zero Emissions program.

Twizy Technic – doors are optional

Twizy Urban

Twizy Urban 45

The Twizy range starts with the light quadricycle-classed Urban 45 that is priced at €6,990 in Europe with a monthly battery lease charge of €50.[11] It has a motor power of 4 kW (5 hp), a maximum speed of 45 km/h (28 mph) and can thus be driven in most European countries by drivers from 14 years old with a special driving licence (France, Italy, Spain) or with a moped licence (Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Finland).[12]

Twizy Urban 80

The heavy quadricycle-classed Urban 80 model features a 13 kW (17 hp) electric motor and can drive up to 80 km/h (50 mph). It is priced at €7,690.

Twizy Colour and Technic

The Colour model is a colourful and 'fun' Twizy available for both the 45 and 80 trims.

The Technic model brings additional design elements while sharing the technical features with the Urban. It is priced at €8,490, and it is available for both the 45 and 80 trims.

Twizy Cargo

In June 2013 Renault announced the introduction of the Twizy Cargo, a model designed for hauling goods. The space destined for the seat of the second passenger was replaced with a cargo box with a volume of 180 L (6.4 cu ft) and maximum weight capacity of 75 kg (165 lb).[13][14]

Twizy Cargo 45

The Cargo 45 has 4 kW of power and top speed is limited to 45 km/h (28 mph). Pricing starts at €6,750 (US$8,839) plus VAT and the monthly battery lease fee that starts at €50 (US$65.50).[13]

The Nissan New Mobility Concept, a rebadged version of the Twizy, was deployed for the "Choimobi Yokohama" carsharing program in Japan in 2013.
Twizy Cargo 80

The Cargo 80 delivers a top speed of 80 km/h (50 mph). Pricing starts at €7,350(US$9,625) plus VAT and the monthly battery lease fee that starts at €50 (US$65.50).[13]

Nissan NMC

A rebadged version of the Twizy was launched in Japan as the Nissan New Mobility Concept (NMC). The electric vehicle was deployed in Yokohama on 11 October 2013 for service on a one-way carsharing program called "Choimobi Yokohama" (Choimobi means "easy mobility" in Japanese). During its first month on the market, over 2,700 customers sign-up for the service.[15][16] A total of 45 units were registered through the end of October 2013.[17]

Battery

Twizy with charging wire out.

The 6.1 kWh (22 MJ) lithium-ion battery is located underneath the front seat. Both motor variants carry the same weight of 474 kg (1,045 lb),[18] including batteries of 100 kg (220 lb). The range is homologated at 100 km (62 mi). In real conditions, Renault announces around 80 km (50 mi). In worst conditions (high speed, no eco-driving), Twizy can reach 50 km (31 mi).

The battery can be charged with an extendable spiral cable stored beneath a flap at the front of the vehicle. The integrated charger is compatible with roadside battery charging facilities as well as the standard 220 V 10 A household electrical supply. Charging an empty battery takes around three-and-a-half hours.

A planned Renault battery plant near Paris was delayed due to technical constraints. Construction will start in the second quarter of 2012 and production of batteries is expected to begin in 2014 or 2015. In the meantime Renault intends to buy batteries for its EV range from a joint venture between Nissan Motor and NEC as well as LG Chem of South Korea.[19]

Twizy is only supplied with LG Chem modules. Batteries are assembled in Renault Valladolid plant.

Sales

Since its market launch in March 2012, global sales reached 9,020 units through the end of 2012,[20] of which, 9,015 units were sold in Europe,[20] making the Twizy the best-selling plug-in electric vehicle in the European market that year.[7] In France, a total 1,551 units were registered through June 2012, including 1,212 Twizy 80s and 339 Twizy 45s, representing a market share of 89% in the heavy quadricycle segment, and a market share of 28.5% among all categories of electric vehicles sold in France during the first half of 2012, surpassing the Bollore Bluecar, the top selling highway-capable all-electric car during this time period.[21]

Global sales fell 66.4% in 2013 from 2012, with 3,025 units delivered.[10] Cumulative sales reached 14,160 units through October 2014.[8] As of October 2014, the best-selling markets are Germany with 3,728 units and France with 3,276 units, followed by Italy with 2,265 units, Spain with 1,292, and Benelux with 1,137 units delivered since 2011.[10]

Carsharing program

Renault tested a carsharing program called Twizy Way in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France, beginning in late June 2012. During the testing phase the program operated with a fleet of 50 Renault Twizys distributed over a pilot area covering around 27 km2 (10 sq mi), and around 200 were allowed to sign up for testing.[5] Twizy Way opened the service to the general public in December 2012.[22]

Chinese copy

In September 2014 the Chinese company Zhejiang Litong New Energy Automobile Corporation launched the Rayttle E28. The E28 greatly resembles the Twizy in outside appearance, size and claimed performance.[23]

Popular culture

In the music video of David Guetta's song "Rest of my Life", a Twizy was shown in one of the scenes where it is seen in a tunnel, and it also appeared in David Guetta's video for the song "Play Hard". Several Twizys are featured in Guetta's music video of the song "The Alphabeat". In it Guetta himself and the video's main characters drive Twizys. The cars are then charged by electricity generated by the dancing and jumping of the people attending Guetta's gig. Several Twizys are also featured as a futuristic vehicle in a film by Terry Gilliam called: "The Zero Theorem".

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Renault Twizy". Renault.com. Renault. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  2. ↑ "Renault ultima la primera hornada de su vehículo 100 % eléctrico, 'made in Spain'" (in Spanish). 24 February 2012.
  3. ↑ Pulman, Ben. "Renault Twizy ZE electric concept at 2009 Frankfurt motor show". Car Magazine. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  4. ↑ King, Danny (2012-06-15). "Twizy Way brings Renault's tiny EV car-sharing in France". Autoblog Green. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  5. 1 2 Loveday, Eric (2011-08-12). "After driving the Renault Twizy, reviewer calls it "the only EV I could imagine owning"". AutoblogGreen. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
  6. ↑ Pulman, Ben (2010-09-30). "Renault Twizy (2011): the tandem-seat electric city car". Car Magazine. Retrieved 2011-08-13.
  7. 1 2 Eric Loveday (2013-02-15). "Video: Twizy Twists Its Way Through Renault’s Indoor Technocentre". InsideEVs.com. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
  8. 1 2 Mark Kane (2014-11-22). "Renault Electric Car Sales Quietly Surpass 50,000". InsideEVs.com. Retrieved 2014-11-29.
  9. ↑ "15,000 Renault Twizy Now in Circulation". AutoVolt magazine. 2015-04-01. Retrieved 2015-04-02. Electro mobility helps respect the environment, reduce acoustic pollution, and contributes to preserving our cultural heritage, damaged everyday by car exhaust gases... With 20% of vehicles using electric power, particulate concentration in the city air could be reduced by up to 30%, and NO2 concentration by 45%.
  10. 1 2 3 Groupe Renault (November 2014). "Ventes Mensuelles" [Monthly Sales] (in French). Renault.com. Retrieved 2014-11-29. Click on "Ventes mensuelles du groupe (décembre 2011) (xls, 183 Ko)" "Ventes mensuelles (décembre 2012) (xls, 289 Ko)" - Ventes mensuelles (décembre 2013) (xlsx, 227 Ko)" - "Ventes mensuelles (octobre 2014) (XLSX - 219 Ko)" to download the files for 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 sales, and open the tab "Twizy Renault".
  11. ↑ "Nissan Leaf sales begin in Spain". The Independent. 2011-05-12. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
  12. ↑ "Renault Twizy will be launched over a year and will cost €5,000". Fantasi Cars. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
  13. 1 2 3 Mark Kane (2013-06-24). "Renault Unveils Twizy Cargo Electric Delivery Vehicle". InsideEVs.com. Retrieved 2013-06-26.
  14. ↑ Michaël Torregrossa (2013-06-24). "Twizy Cargo – Renault lance une version utilitaire du Twizy pour les professionnels" [Twizy Cargo - Renault launches a utility version of the Twizy for professionals] (in French). Association pour l'Avenir du Véhicule Electrique Méditerranéen (AVEM). Retrieved 2013-06-26.
  15. ↑ Danny King (2013-09-27). "Nissan New Mobility Concept enters carsharing service in Japan". Autoblog Green. Retrieved 2013-11-30.
  16. ↑ "More than 2,700 sign up in first month of "Choimobi Yokohama" Car Sharing Service using NISSAN New Mobility CONCEPT Ultra-Compact EV". House of Japan. 2013-11-18. Retrieved 2013-11-30.
  17. ↑ Jose Pontes (2013-11-30). "Japan October 2013". EV Sales. Retrieved 2013-11-30.
  18. ↑
  19. ↑ Beresford, Helen (2011-06-15). "Renault says battery plant project delayed". Reuters.
  20. 1 2 "Ventes Mensuelles" [Monthly Sales] (in French). Renault. 2013-01-18. Retrieved 2013-01-18. Click on Ventes mensuelles (XLS), December 2012, 294 Ko to download, and open the TWIZY sheet.
  21. ↑ "Véhicules électriques – Les immatriculations en France au premier semestre 2012" [Electric Vehicles – Registrations in France in the first half of 2012] (in French). Association pour l'Avenir du Véhicule Electrique Méditerranéen (AVEM). 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
  22. ↑ "Twizy Way : retours d’expérience et ouverture d’une boutique" [Twizy Way: feedback and opening a boutique] (in French). Automobile Propre. 2012-12-04. Retrieved 2012-12-19.
  23. ↑ Ning, W.E. (12 January 2015). "Spotted in China: Rayttle E28 EV is not a Renault Twizy". Car News China. Retrieved 26 January 2015.

External links

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