What is it?
The Twizy Z.E. concept is Renault's idea of how we should be getting around town without damaging the environment or getting wet. Billed as an alternative to a scooter, the Twizy places its two occupants one behind the other in the same way a bike does, but there's a roof and windscreen for weather protection.
Why's it here?
Renault is committing heavily to electric cars for the near future; the Twizy is part of this thinking. It's also a chance for Renault to test the waters for smaller, lighter and cheaper electric vehicles. Electric cars are currently restricted by their range, so a compact city vehicle like the Twizy is here to show that an electric vehicle can be part of a bigger solution.
Show stopper or floor filler?
The looks of the Twizy make it a pure motorshow concept, so it's bound to draw a crowd. The quirky styling hides a more important reason for people to stop and gawp because the Twizy offers similar performance to a 125cc scooter but with no emissions from its 20bhp motor. A top speed of 47mph and turning circle of 3.0m also make it ideal for town driving.
Alisdair Suttie - 16 Sep 2009