Electric micromobility on the rise. After the Citroën Ami, Fiat Topolino, Microlino or Ligier Myli, another small model will be launched at the end of 2024. The Renault group is somehow reviving its Twizy, a cutting-edge model launched in 2011 and whose production stopped in 2023.
A Twizy without a diamond, here is the Mobilize Duo
If we stay with the same concept of a small two-seater electric vehicle, with the driver in a central position, in front of his passenger, this new Twizy has lost its diamond. In fact, Renault has chosen to market it under its new brand: Mobilize.
This entity launched in 2021 brings together financing activities (loan and leasing for vehicles), but also offers charging solutions, installation of terminals at home or to charge anywhere else and an innovative mobility offer. Innovative mobility that takes shape with this model, the Mobilize Duo.
A Twizy… more accomplished
Therefore, we find the general shape of the Twizy… but with a more accomplished side in the Duo. Because we have real doors that close completely. Something that did not happen with the Twizy when it was launched and one of its main failures.
In terms of dimensions, we stay quite close to this ancestor. The Duo measures 2.43 meters long, 11 centimeters longer than the Twizy. The same in width, with 1.30 meters, we also gained 11 centimeters. But on the other hand, nothing moves in terms of height, 1.46 meters.
This format is quite close to what will surely be its main competitor in France: the Citroën AMI. The latter is only 2 centimeters shorter and a little wider, 9 centimeters longer, with the two passengers side by side in the herringbone model.
The Duo adopts a rather futuristic look, the body is not painted, but can be customized with stickers. A decoration included as standard in our test model in the version called “80 Evo”, since it is capable of reaching 80km/h.
And in the version without a license, the “45 Neo” limited to 45 km/h like the Citroën Ami, without a standard sticker and therefore a completely black Duo with metal rims. We can still customize it with packs ranging from 500 euros (orange) to 600 euros (green or gray).
Curious detail: the front shield is identical to the rear. We thus find ourselves with the same recipe to reduce costs as in Citroën with the AMI. Except that in this Mobilize Duo we still have a front part clearly differentiated from the rear part.
On board this space capsule
To board, a small button opens the elytron door. We maintain this advantage of the Twizy with doors that can therefore be opened even with a vehicle parked close to others.
This also helps avoid collisions with cyclists or pedestrians. It is also quite practical to be able to enter from both sides of the car with this central driver position.
You enter this Mobilize Duo quite easily, the only possible difficulty being exiting on the right side. In fact, the handbrake could hinder the driver.
The passenger slides back without too much torque with the seat being able to move forward thanks to the adjustment lever at the front. A tab behind this seat will allow this same passenger to move the front seat forward on their own to exit the Duo.
The comfort is logically quite spartan, but the seats are a little more comfortable than in an AMI.
Behind the steering wheel is the “boom box”, the dashboard of this Duo. It is quite practical to use, with the start button, the warning button and the gearbox settings (D, N and R) on the left side.
Still to the left of the steering wheel, but at the bottom there is a section dedicated to comfort options, ventilation (with an anti-fog mode that has proven to be quite effective), heated windshield, activation of the heated seat (optional at 300 euros in the 45 Neo, standard in the 80 Evo) and even air conditioning. The latter costs 1,000 euros as an option, but could be quite useful in summer with the only two small openings, folding windows like a 2CV… or a Citroën AMI.
In the center, a small screen offers all the necessary information, such as speed or remaining range. Finally, on the right, a smartphone holder will allow you to control your GPS application, but also play music via Bluetooth.
Mobilize also insists on the presence of a standard airbag, which is not required by ATV regulations. An additional safety argument for this model.
Although the vehicle is small, we also appreciate the presence of a reversing radar (optional for 300 euros). It is not useless since we lack rear visibility.
We will regret the lack of storage, with a simple small net at the foot of the passenger seat. Only on board you can continue to use the passenger space as a cargo area and you can also place hand luggage on the sides of the driver’s seat.
Driving the “80 Evo” version
At the wheel, this Mobilize Duo is quite pleasant to drive, is quite responsive to the accelerator and has good suspension optimization. Enough to make it a pretty attractive daily travel tool, in and out of big cities.
Our test model, capable of reaching 80 km/h, proves to be quite versatile, although in reality we did not have much chance of exceeding 45 km/h. Speed at which the Neo version is limited, but with almost identical performance from 0 to 45 km/h.
Indeed, logically we remain at fairly limited power levels: the 45 Neo engine is announced with 5.6 kW (8 horsepower) and the 80 Evo with 7.4 kW (10 horsepower).
And all these versions have the same 10.3kWh battery, with 160 kilometers of autonomy announced. It is a little less in the utility version, the Mobilize Bento, which changes the back seat for a large 650-liter trunk.
To recharge, the Duo is offered as standard with a standard 1.8kW socket (wait 5h30 to go from 10 to 95%). As an option, it is possible to opt for a Type 2 Mode 3 cable that offers up to 2KW, but which replaces the standard socket and offers a time saving of only half an hour over this 10 to 95%.
Good surprise during this visibility test with the numerous glass surfaces, although a little disturbing due to not having a central rear-view mirror. You still have a good direct view through the rear window when reversing. The side mirrors are small but offer quite good visibility and it is quite original to see the outside at the bottom of the doors and, therefore, the road passing by.
While the Duo can logically slide less than a scooter, its small size makes it quite agile in the city. The turning radius is announced at 3.4 meters, a little shorter than that of an AMI and comparable to that of a Twingo, at 4.3 meters, or that of a Clio, at 5.2 meters.
This is also an argument for being able to park easily: you can, for example, park perpendicular to the sidewalk (if regulations allow it) as we have seen with many first generation Smart and other AMI/Topolino in the center of Rome.
In terms of length, Mobilize estimates that three Duos can theoretically fit on a standard seat.
At what price?
The Mobilize 45 Neo has a starting price of 9,990 euros and the 80 Evo at 12,500 euros. Unfortunately, light quadricycles have just lost the 900 euro bonus from which they benefited until now.
A price that may seem quite high, but for an almost unique offer on the market, that of this quadricycle with a central driving position and quite substantial autonomy. Although it is still quite rudimentary, comfort is still a clear improvement over the first Renault Twizy or a competitor like the Citroën AMI, which starts at 8,000 euros (but does not offer a version that exceeds 45 km/h).
Adding two options, air conditioning and reversing radar, the final price reaches 13,800 euros in our Mobilize Duo in Evo 80.
Let’s see if this model, to say the least original, will find its place in an already quite wide range of 100% electric micromobilities.
Source: BFM TV
