It is difficult to imagine modern life without the use of high technology and electricity. Their development also affected the auto industry. One of its most striking recent projects can be called an electric car Renault Twizy, a review of which is presented in this article. Due to its cleanliness from an environmental point of view and mobility, the novelty has found admirers all over the world.
general description
The debut of the production version of the model in the public took place at the exhibition in Frankfurt in May 2012. Many skeptics believe that it is more appropriate to attribute it to ATVs. Along with this, in fact - this is a car that is subject to mandatory registration. Representatives of the French company themselves prefer to call Renault Twizy an urban microcar. The model is based on a tubular chassis. Its total weight is 473 kilograms. The novelty is being produced at a factory located in the Spanish city of Valladolid. It is not possible to charge the car using a regular household network. You need to do this either at the charging station or in the garage through a grounded power outlet.
Exterior
The model itself is a small two-seater car, the length of which is 2.3 meters and the width is 1.2 meters. Its body with the aim of reducing the cost is built of plastic. The machine is equipped with interesting doors, which differ in the absence of side windows. They are not installed on the basic package. At the rear is an orange turn signal and a large “Stop” signal. Appearance, which is difficult to compare with the appearance of other electric vehicles, is the main feature of the exterior of the Renault Twizy. Photos of the model are additional confirmation that it looks more like a car for traveling around the golf course than a familiar sedan. In the front part there is a compartment, inside of which there is a plug for recharging, as well as a tank for wiper fluid. The machine is not equipped with a central lock, so anyone can sit on it.
Interior
All interior elements, as well as the body, are made of plastic. The car is designed for the simultaneous placement of no more than two people who are sitting one after another. For each of them there are belts and an airbag. There is not enough space in the back, so the passenger is not very comfortable here. Moreover, it is more convenient to drive yourself and the driver, because otherwise he has to move as far as possible to the steering wheel. No matter how strange it may sound, the designers even managed to provide for the luggage compartment in the Renault Twizy. Its characteristics are not impressive, but a minimal set of everyday things can be placed here without any problems. As for the quality of interior decoration materials, it is far from the highest.
The ability to adjust the steering wheel is not provided. On either side of it are small niches that cannot be called comfortable. The fact is that the objects placed there slip out all the time. There is also a deeper compartment in the back of the front seat. Along with this, it quickly fills with dust penetrating through the cracks.
Dashboard
The Renault Twizy dashboard interface is hardly rich. Moreover, the set of functions here is minimal. Directly above the steering wheel is a small-sized monochrome screen, which is highlighted in blue. It displays information on the daily and total mileage, speed, time, mode of operation of the gearbox, as well as the remaining power reserve. If the machine is connected to a power source, the percentage of battery charge is displayed here.
Security
In order to increase the safety of the car, all four of its wheels are equipped with separate brakes. Be that as it may, to save energy both the steering wheel and the braking system, the creators of the model were not equipped with amplifiers. Thus, at first, when stopping, the driver needs to get used to the stiff and at the same time short pedal stroke. Along with this, it should be noted that there is no particular need for brakes, because the car itself slows down, you just have to let go of the “gas”. If you sharply press the brake pedal at a speed of 70 km / h, the front wheels can generally go in use, because the car is not equipped with an ABS system for the above reasons.
Options
The manufacturer has two options for the machine. The first one is called the Renault Twizy-45. It is a European version and is intended for persons under the age of sixteen. The maximum speed here is limited to 45 km / h. The car is equipped with a 5-horsepower electric motor. The second option is aimed at drivers who have the appropriate category "B" license. Under the hood of such machines is a power plant that develops 17 horsepower. The maximum speed of this version is 81 km / h.
Main characteristics
The asynchronous motor is the driving force behind the Renault Twizy electric car. The technical characteristics of the power plant allow you to accelerate the car to a maximum of 81 km / h. In this case, the greatest distance that the model can cover without additional recharging is about one hundred kilometers. In this case, we are talking about an economical driving mode. Motors operate in conjunction with an automatic transmission. The front of the model is equipped with a spring independent suspension, and the rear - of the MacPherson type. The car uses a lithium-ion rechargeable battery that fully charges in about four hours. The car picks up speed quite briskly, which is facilitated by its low weight. The chassis, according to expert reviews, is balanced perfectly. This, in turn, allows the driver to drive an electric car quite safely and aggressively, without fear that he will tip over at some point.
Attractiveness and perspectives
The successful combination of practicality and incredible savings is rightfully considered the main advantage that the Renault Twizy electric car boasts. The characteristics of the model make it very competitive and attract potential buyers in European markets. The fact is that in Western countries such vehicles are not taxed. Moreover, they are allocated separate free parking spaces almost everywhere. It should be noted that the car is very easy to operate and is characterized by excellent maneuverability. This is not surprising, given the fact that the radius of its turn does not exceed three meters. With all this, one should not forget about the cost of fuel, the growth of which will end when it is unknown. And it is unlikely to happen at all. Thanks to all these nuances, according to official information of the representatives of the manufacturer, in Europe there has recently been a steady increase in sales of electric vehicles.
disadvantages
As with any vehicle, the Renault Twizy has its drawbacks. First of all, they are associated with the comfort of the driver and passenger. Non-padded plastic seats, combined with a stiffer suspension, make this car far from an ideal option for traveling long distances. There is no way to listen to music or place a large number of individual things. Although the struggle for the environment is at the heart of the new product, people inside do not feel this at all, because the exhaust fumes from cars passing by get directly into the passenger compartment. Moreover, in the event of a critical situation, the side plastic doors are not able to properly protect the driver. At the same time, one should not forget about the absence of a normal brake system and power steering.
Cost in Europe
The cost of an electric car Renault Twizy in different countries is different. If the price of a car in France starts at 6990 euros, then in the UK its minimum value is 6,690 pounds. In this case, we are talking about the standard version of the machine. The battery is not included in the standard package, so you have to consider the cost of its rent, which is about 540 euros per year. If we talk about the cost of the maximum configuration, then it can reach the mark of 12 thousand US dollars.
Opportunity to purchase in Russia
The car can be delivered to our country. Along with this, everyone can get a model exclusively by reservation. The cost of the machine for domestic consumers is in the range from 300 thousand to 1.45 million rubles. In this case, delivery and duties are not taken into account.
Summary
The electric car Renault Twizi is perfect for traveling around the city for both men and women. Its main advantage compared to other vehicles can be called economical and clean from an environmental point of view. As evidenced by numerous expert reviews, for daily trips in a megalopolis, its power reserve is small. On the other hand, it’s impossible to drive too far by car: the driver and passenger quickly get tired due to, to put it mildly, not very comfortable seats and stiffer suspension. In domestic conditions, it is generally impossible to operate a car in winter. Be that as it may, in the European market the novelty is quite popular. Without a doubt, they will buy the model in our country. At the same time, only motorists who already have a full-fledged car and a warm garage with a socket can become its target audience.