Filed under:
Coupe,
Europe,
Renault,
Design/Style,
Electric
We've always maintained a quiet appreciation for Europe's appreciation for small cargo conversions - panel-back versions of small passenger cars like the
Opel Astra,
Ford Fiesta and such. They might not be able to hold great volumes, but for light-duty nimble urban schlepping on the cheap, we can see the value. Here in North America, smaller commercial conversions like the
Chevrolet HHR Panel and even the larger
Ram C/V have gone largely unappreciated, but that's due to any number of factors - cheaper fuel, more road space, etc.
But even then, it takes some thoughtful head-scratching to appreciate this new
Twizy Cargo EV from
Renault. No, it's not the Twizy's downed helicopter fuselage shape. While it's a bit zany, we can see why the single-seat electric quadcycle might be desirable in Europe for things like postal service duty and small delivery operations (pizza, anyone?), particularly along narrow cobblestone streets where a larger size can be a major disadvantage. While the standard Twizy features a two-seat tandem arrangement, Twizy Cargo eschews a spot for passengers in favor of a lockable, watertight trunk with 6.3 cubic feet of storage, about a cube larger than the trunk in a
2013 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
The Twizy Cargo EV will be available in two basic formulas, one with a 5-horsepower electric motor, and the other with 17 hp - the former is limited to just 45 kilometers per hour (28 mph) and the latter can zoom up to 80 kph (50 mph). Renault claims "real range" works out to about 50 miles in eco-minded driving and 30 miles or so under "extreme conditions." That all sounds fair enough for a dedicated urban center vehicle, but the pricing gives us pause: the Twizy Cargo will start at 8,080 euro including taxes (around $10,500 USD), which means this runabout is priced higher than many larger, more traditional vehicles offering similar cargo space along with more seats.
Scroll down for the official press release.
Continue reading Renault Twizy Cargo is an EV and shopping cart in one
Renault Twizy Cargo is an EV and shopping cart in one originally appeared on
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26-06-2013, 11:40 PM
