Renault to launch 400kW ultra-rapid charging hubs and new EVs through Mobilize sub-brand
Meet the Renault Twizy Mk2
A Renault Group sub-brand focusing on car sharing, electric vehicles and micro-mobility is planning a network of 200 ultra-rapid charging stations and the introduction of several small electric vehicles.
Mobilize will significantly ramp up its presence in the UK over the coming years. Currently, the brand only exists this side of the Channel as Renault’s supplier of home chargers but its charging hub expansion throughout Europe will stretch to our shores as part of future phases of expansion.
The hubs will, in time, feature six charging points apiece capable of delivering recharge speeds of up to 400kW, which outstrips event the fastest posts currently on offer to the public in the UK, which generally go up to 350kW.
The Mobilize hubs will also feature rest areas, coffee shops, toilets and play areas for children once the initial rollout moves beyond Renault dealerships.
The plan is for the hubs to be open 24/7 and available to all electric vehicle drivers (for a fee) regardless of whether they drive a Renault Group vehicle or not.
In order to reduce the demand on local electricity grids, the firm said that it would utilise recycled EV batteries as a power storage solution as well as solar panels in order to minimise their impact, especially during peak times.
The first wave of Mobilize’s rollout of its chargers will spread across France, Spain, Italy and Belgium with other markets including the UK to follow.
At the time of writing, it isn’t known exactly when the company will expand its UK charging offering or how many of the hubs will be built here.
Renault Twizy successor
However, slightly more is known about Mobilize’s plans to introduce two new electric vehicles to the UK from the second half of next year.
First in line will be the Mobilize Duo, an angular micro-car with Lamborghini-style scissor doors and tandem seating making it in essence the successor to the Renault Twizy, and a competitor to Citroën’s Ami.
The Duo is designed to be as rugged and suited to its purpose as possible, with much of the body being made of tough, unpainted, recycled plastic in order to disguise any scratches or dents. The bumpers are the same front and rear making swaps and replacements simpler, and the whole car is 95% recyclable.
It’s similarly well thought out inside with removable seat covers for easier washing and, while there’s no heater, the steering wheel and seats are heated, with a slot on the dashboard that allows the user’s smartphone to be used as the Duo’s media centre.
The top speed of the Duo is limited to 50mph with its battery and powertrain providing a range of 87 miles.
It isn’t certain whether the Duo — which is already in operation as a part of Renault’s Zity car-sharing fleets in four European cities including Paris — will be offered for sale to individual private customers in the UK. Renault sees its niche more as part of third-party car-sharing fleets to which it will likely be sold on a subscription basis as part of a scheme called Mobilize Share with Mobilize/ Renault making money from maintenance, servicing and software updates.
As well as the passenger version of the Duo, Mobilize plans to offer a commercial variant known as the Bento, which gets a 700-litre cargo box instead of a back seat, making it ideal for last-mile deliveries.
While Mobilize has said that it hopes to introduce both the Duo and Bento to the UK, it’s not expressly clear at present whether the company plans to do likewise with the Bento’s larger counterpart, the Mobilize Hippo.
The Hippo is a similar type of vehicle, but which has a 200kg payload and a volume of up to three cubic metres with a modular construction that allows for the cargo bay to be swapped out to suit different purposes such as parcel delivery or refrigerated food transport.
There are currently no plans to introduce to the UK the Mobilize Limo, a version of the JMEV Yi, an electric saloon built in China as part of a joint-venture between Renault and Jiangling Motors, but which is offered in continental Europe through a subscription service for use as part of taxi and ride-hailing fleets.
Electric three-wheeler concept
Mobilize has also revealed a new concept vehicle (not confirmed for production yet), a type of scooter called the Solo, which, as its name suggests, is designed for single occupants, with, unlike most scooters, a roof and bodywork.
The Solo is a three-wheeler with two wheels at the front and another at the rear by which it is steered, and such is the design of its body that fleets (which is also the use for which the Solo is intended) will be able to be stacked together, nose to tail, like supermarket trolleys.
It isn’t known whether the Solo (if it enters production) will make it to the UK, but Mobilize’s plan to introduce at least two new models to the UK market from next year and potentially more in the coming years is a strong signal of its ambition.
Related articles
- After reading about the new Mobilize charging hubs, you might be interested to read about whether battery swapping is a good idea
- Even more EVs are in the pipeline as Lucid is launching in Europe
- And click here to see all the car makers’ electric vehicle plans
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