I still remember the invitation I received in 2009 from Renault to go to the presentation, truly ahead of its time, of the new range of its vehicles. Fifteen years ago hearing about electric cars was simply science fiction: now, leaving aside the fact that I gave up a nice trip paid in Paris (work reasons), I would have liked to be there. Twizy, Zoe and Fluence were born then, and I missed the chance to say “I was there”.
Of the three, until recently the greatest commercial success was experienced by this strange "car-not car" (but also "not motorbike") which would only be sold starting from 2011. And... ready, go, in 9 months it would become the best-selling electric car in Italy and Europe. Easy, you might say, there were very few around. True. But the Twizy has stood the test of time, despite a not-so-comfortable approach (the doors open) and only now, 14 years after the concept, an heir is ready. It is called Mobilize Duo.
Mobilize Duo: Aaaaaaazibeeegna !!
There is a week left at the Paris Motor Show, and it will be seven days of sweet expectation: mobilize, Renault's "creative" arm for micromobility will present this new contraption in style, which seems to add a "+1" to everything the "old" Twizy electric vehicle represented.
Of course, it's still a quadricycle (with all the "flexibility" that this entails), but it has solutions that place it a little closer to the minicar, also to exploit the intermediate spaces between the electric small cars and Citroen Ami-type trinkets.
For starters, it has airbags. They are not necessary, perhaps not necessary in some cases, but they are certainly a step forward: going slowly does not mean being invulnerable, and you can also withstand a rear-end collision much better if there are suitable protections. And it's just the beginning.
Padded seats, (almost) all recyclable and much more
Mobilize Duo retains a certain something of the Twizy, and the "motorcycle" configuration with two seats arranged in single file. Otherwise it is much more comfortable, complete with padded seats. Ullalla. What if they get wet? It depends: the doors are really closed this time, and the padding is safe too. It has a front and rear configuration similar to that of a motorcycle, it is more comfortable than the Twizy. The Twizy only had unpadded seats and had no traditional doors, only half-height doors.
Two versions, 45 km/h (28 mph) and 80 km/h (50 mph). Autonomy? Compatible with everything you need to do in the city: 140km (87 miles), and it charges with a wall socket at home, or a level 2 charger.
The formula? Very Citroen: or subscription, or long-term lease (starting from three months). The prices are announced super affordable, even for the Bento version (which would be the cargo), very useful for home delivery services. At the end of its life, 95% of Mobilize Duo can be recycled: not bad.
Mobilize Duo didn't capture my heart, but…
Renault's upgrade is the signal that the arrival of micromobility continues at full speed. Electric micro-cars and small quadricycles are becoming increasingly popular across Europe, where they provide sufficient speed and load capacity for typical city requirements, but take up much less space and are easier to park.
Other micro electric cars such as microline (which I love to death) and the aforementioned Citroen Friend they have all targeted this urban niche with a focus on young, eco-conscious drivers who appreciate a small, efficient vehicle, and not a status symbol. Mobilize Duo didn't capture my heart, I prefer the two things mentioned above. But I want to give myself some time: if they are roses they will bloom.
What do you think? Would you buy it? Let me know on the various social channels of FuturoProssimo!
