Renault Mobilize recently unveiled its new Duo, which will replace the Twizy. This new electric car has the particularity of being able to be driven from the age of 14, and offering excellent autonomy.
Electric cars are increasingly popular as the oil crisis continues to escalate. But the market was above all surprised by the creation of a new category: small city cars that don’t look like much, but are as accessible as they are fun to drive. On this ground, it is the Citroën Ami which has managed to shine.
Renault recently responded to this through its Mobilize brand. We are now preparing for the arrival of Mobilize Duoa small car that we will rather consider as a quadricycle which has many particularities… and advantages.
What is the Renault Mobilize Duo?
If you stopped at thermal engines without being too interested in electrics, the new car from the Mobilize brand will be easier to understand if you compare it to the Smart. But if, you know, these tiny two-seater which have the great advantage of being able to park and sneak around everywhere. The Mobilize Duo is of the same ilk: it is a two-seater quadricycle, whose the second place is located behind the driver. The passenger can go up to 1.80m in height, and the front seat slides 20 centimeters to allow him to access his seat.
It is his size that is the most astonishing. Here we have a “car” 2.43 meters long, 1.20 meters wide and 1.46 meters high. To give you an idea, you can easily park three Mobilize Duos in an ordinary parking space. However, the safety of the vehicle has not been diminished, since it is wrapped in large shields that are easy to repair and interchange to facilitate its production. This is also why the body is plasticwithout painting, which you can customize in multitudes of sticker choices on 6 predefined areas.
You can also count on an airbag in the front of the vehicle, a large loudspeaker in the cabin and a USB C port to connect your smartphone, which will thus become the multimedia “brain” of the Mobilize Duo. Storage is available and will accommodate two cabin suitcases. It is also possible to transform this space to optimize it for people with reduced mobilityand thus store a foldable wheelchair.
To charge the vehicle, you will need to use a Type 2 socket available at most public terminals. A standard socket is also available, especially for the home.
Who can drive the Renault Mobilize Duo?
The Renault Mobilize Duo can be driven without a license in its first version limited to 45 km/h. The vehicle is thus categorized as a light quadricycle, in the same way as the classic scooters of teenagers.
A second variant that can drive up to 80km/h will however require the traditional B license for heavy quadricycles.
What range for the Renault Mobilize Duo?
Renault and its Mobilize group have announced a range of up to 140 kilometers for the Mobilize Duo, pending certification however. It thus places itself well above its competitors such as the Citroën Ami or Renault’s previous model, the Twizy.
As said before, you will have to rely on a Type 2 cable to recharge it on public terminals. However, it is possible to use a standard cable to recharge it, especially at home. We don’t have any details on the specifics of the battery it uses or its average recharge time though.
The Mobilize Duo utility version
Note that this Mobilize Duo will not only be available as a simple car. A utility version is also planned, dubbed Bento by the company. This is made of its second seat in the back to accommodate a large closed trunk of 700 liters, also in plastic.
You won’t be able to buy the Renault Mobilize Duo, at least when it comes out. This vehicle will in truth be offered for long-term rental, with a minimum three-month subscription. To order it, it will necessarily go through the official website of the brand, which is not yet available. For now, the Mobilize Duo is simply presented to the public for the Paris Motor Show 2022.
The Bento utility version will also be available for long-term rental, but only for professionals, from 2024. Note that for these projects, Renault seeks to concentrate production on French soil.
