New Mobilize Duo is a Renault Twizy successor with supercar doors

• New tiny electric city car
• Debut model from Renault Group’s EV brand Mobilize
• 100 miles of range

This year has seen the introduction of several new affordable electric cars, but few are quite as inexpensive as the new Mobilize Duo, a two-seater EV from the Renault Group. Picking up where the original Renault Twizy left off, the Duo has been designed to appeal to city dwellers in need of low cost, short distance transportation.

Much like its key rival, the Citroen Ami, the Mobilize Duo isn’t technically a car. Instead, it’s legally classified as a quadricycle, meaning it comes with a few caveats. For starters, the basic Duo has a top speed of just 28mph, but it can be driven on an AM moped licence from the age of 16. Prices will start from just over €9,000 (around £7,530) in France, although UK pricing is yet to be confirmed.

What do I need to know about the Mobilize Duo?

First things first, the Mobilize Duo isn’t a car that will appeal to most EV buyers. In fact, it’s not a car at all – much like its spiritual predecessor, the Renault Twizy, it’s considered a quadricycle. It has just two seats arranged in tandem, snuggly squeezed into a body that measures just 2,430mm in length.

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Power is supplied by a small battery and electric motor, the latter pinched from the mild-hybrid system fitted to the Renault Austral SUV. The Duo 45 is limited to just 28mph, in line with the EU’s L6 quadricycle regulations, while the Duo 85 gets a 50mph top speed. You’ll need a 125cc motorcycle licence to drive the 85, however. Range stands at 100 miles for both models, which should be more than enough for the inner city trips that the Duo is designed for. 

The design of the Duo hasn’t strayed far from the foundations laid down by the Renault Twizy in 2012. The driver sits ahead of the passenger, with the four wheels pushed out to the furthest corners of its body . You do get a pair of proper doors this time around, though, and they wouldn’t look out of place on the latest Lamborghini. The forward-pivoting doors aren’t just there for street cred – they can be opened fully without extending beyond its footprint, making it easy to get in and out when parked in a tight spot.

It’s safe to say the interior is fairly basic, but you get a boombox-inspired dashboard and 300 litres worth of storage compartments. Mobilize will also sell a utility version called the Bento, which has a giant 649-litre cargo box in place of the rear seat.

Prices start from just over €9,000 (around £7,530) for the Duo 45, increasing to €10,700 (around £8,960) for the Duo 80. A pricier Duo 85 Evo will be offered for €11,600 (around £9,710), which include a few extra creature comforts like a heated driver’s seat, premium upholstery and Bluetooth.

You can read our full review of the Citroen Ami here…