The Renault Twizy- Quirky and Reliable or Problematic?

If there's one thing that Renault is known for, it's having the biggest range of electric cars throughout Europe. This car company is attempting to move into an entirely new group, however, by offering the cheapest electric cars for mainstream UK car owners as well.

Only their cheap four-wheeled car, the Renault Twizy, isn't actually a car at all. It's a quadricycle. It is defined as this because of its small size, low weight, and speed. With a price of only £7,000, though, who wants to argue logistics?

While this car is only 1.2 metres wide and 2.3 metres long, it is only of the quirkiest and coolest electric cars ever released. Sure, doors cost extra and it can only fit two people, but there are plenty of features that make its purchase worthwhile.

 

Driving the Twizy

The lithium ion battery that powers the Twizy makes the most of its 20bhp, reaching 30mph in just 4.4 seconds. Of course, it can't actually reach the higher speed that other cars can, like 60mph, but it is able to zip through 30mph traffic with ease, making it perfect for in-town driving. Its narrow size mimics that of a motorbike, giving you the ability to nip between cars in stalled traffic.

While you'll love actually being in the car, driving it isn't something to write home about. It doesn't corner well or have steering you'll want to write home about.

 

The Interior

While it might seem like having no doors would be an issue, the Twizy is designed to deflect wind away from you while you're inside the cabin. This, of course, doesn't help when it's raining or snowing, however, and it doesn't keep out cool temperatures at night. You'll need to wrap up in a warm sweater and coat if you want to drive this quadricycle around when the weather isn't fair.

Unlike driving a motorbike, which is what being in this car will remind you of, the Twizy has a driver's side airbag, four-point harnesses, and side impact bars to protect you in the event of a rollover. This means you don't have to wear a helmet when you're in the car, like you would on a motorbike.

 

About the Battery

In order to operate the Twizy, you have to arrange for a monthly contract with Renault for use of the car's battery. The price you pay for the battery will depend on how long you plant to use it each day and how many miles you plan to drive every year in this particular car. This battery hire operation lets you purchase the quadricycle at a lower up-front price. The battery can be charged by using any three-metre spiral lead and will need to be recharged every 60 miles or so.

 

Problematic Renault Parts and the Twizy

The Renault Twizy is relatively new, as it was only launched in 2012. While this means there hasn't been a lot of time for Renault parts to go bad, there has been one recall owners should be concerned about.

In November of 2012, Renault recalled  6,247 vehicles that were made between January 27^th and May 1^st of 2012 and sold in Germany, Switzerland and France. The cars were recalled because the manufacturer need to deal with brake fluid leaks. This could result in low of brake power and efficiency.

Some owners have experienced problems with other Renault parts, however, including:

 

• Charging problems due to high supply voltage

 

• Sticking accelerator

 

• Electrical faults

 

When Buying an Electric Car

While the Twizy may be too new for us to truly know what might go wrong with it later down the road, it shares many details with other electric cars on the market. Whether you're interested in buying the Twizy or any other electric vehicle, it's important to understand what considerations to think about before leaping into this type of choice.

 

• Leasing the Battery- Cars like the Twizy have batteries for lease. This means you have to hire it out with a monthly contract. In order to keep your battery (and keep the car running,) you'll need to pay a fee each month to keep the battery.

 

• Charging- While the Twizy uses an on-board charger to give the battery the juice it needs, not every electric car is like this. Some will need a off-board charger, called electric vehicle supply equipment, or EVSE. This type of charger provides 240 volts of electricity, helping you charge the battery when you're away from home.

 

• Range Anxiety- Although the Twizy can only go about 60 miles before needing to recharge, many other electric vehicles can go much further, anywhere from 80 to 100 miles. This can accommodate most typical drives, so the range shouldn't be a problem and shouldn't cause you anxiety. It's still important to keep an eye on your range, however, to ensure you don't end up stranded.

 

• Grants- The Renault Twizy isn't technically a car, but many other electric vehicles can make it possible for you to save money. In the UK, you can be awarded a grant that can help you save up to 35% off the cost of an electric car or 20% off the cost of an electric van.

 

• Car Parts- Like any other car, always be careful to look over your electric car before purchase, especially if you are buying used. You'll want to take note of any worn-down Renault parts so you can determine how much repairing or replacing them will cost you. You can then factor this information into the price you pay.

 

Are you ready to buy an electric car? While the Renault Twizy is technically a quadricycle, it can be used as an in-town electric vehicle that will have you zipping through traffic in no time. Just be sure you understand that a recall has been made for brake fluid leaks and that you'll have to lease the battery for it every month from the manufacturer before you making any purchasing decision.