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I’m all of a Twizy! Sust-it road tests Renault’s micro electric car

A cold damp February day hardly sees the best time to road test an electric car with no windows or heater – we’re brave souls at Sust-it!  See our latest two minute EV video road test here:

The Twizy is designed as an urban commuter vehicle, that’s incredibly cheap to run and fun to drive. It offers you a better weather protection and practicality than a scooter or motorbike, and handles pretty well considering narrow track and skinny tyres. Driving it is incredibly easy – as are most electric cars and bikes, as you’ve no gears to worry about.

Twizy’s are powered by 17hp electric motors, with smooth one-speed automatic transmission and lightweight lithium-ion battery pack. Regenerative braking is used for energy recovery, stretching out the range to around 60/50 miles. It’s almost silent in operation apart from the reassuring buzzing of the electric motor. The combination of power and Twizy’s lightweight construction allows it to accelerate to a limited top speed of about 50 mph.

A word of warning… the Twizy performed very poorly in Euro NCAP crash test and showed serious risks of life threatening injuries – be careful!

Renault have come up with a interesting purchasing scheme where you buy the Twizy (prices from £6.5k) and you hire the batteries from them for £45 to £57 per month, dependent on your mileage. If the batteries fail during the hire period Renault will replace them.

Twizy’s equipment includes:-

  • 3m charging cable (standard three pin plug)
  • Battery econometer and gauge
  • Range indicator and journey eco-score display
  • Regenerative braking system
  • Drivers airbag
  • Disc brakes front and rear
  • Electronic engine immobiliser
  • Lockable steering column and handbrake
  • 4-point front seatbelt and 3-point rear seatbelt
  • Anti-submarining front seat
  • Integrated front and rear headrests
  • Adjustable front seat
  • Lateral front wind deflector
  • 31-litre lockable storage behind rear seat
  • Two gloveboxes (one lockable)
  • Drive and speed display

 

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