Mobilize Duo

As the name suggests, the Duo is designed for two people. Unlike similar little vehicles from other brands, those people do not sit next to each other, but behind each other. This has the advantage that the Duo is much narrower and thus more manoeuvrable in heavy traffic. Like other "quadricycles", as this type of car is officially called, the Duo is built as economically as possible. The Duo consists of a strong tubular frame with plastic "sheet metal". The front and rear bumper are the same, as this makes production easier. The bodywork is not painted, but provided with stickers for a colour and pattern. For now, four colours are available (red, green, blue and white), but Mobilize is brewing up more original colours and patterns.

Maybe the most striking feature of the Duo are its scissor doors. This not only makes the Duo trendy, it also has a function. Because the doors do not hinge outwards, it is possible to get in and out in very tight parking spaces without hitting anything. However, it takes strength to open and close the doors. Moreover, fingers can easily get between the door and the bodywork. Since the doors move upwards, they are not equipped with door pockets (everything would fall out there). Mobilize makes up for this: the underside of the doors is also made of glass, which in practice proves very useful for seeing kerbs and other obstacles while manoeuvring. Unfortunately, the rear window is stained glass, making it less useful. Mobilize is aware of this problem and promises improvement in the near future. Incidentally, acoustic rear parking assist ("beeper") is standard.

Because the driver and co-driver sit behind each other, it is possible to get in and out of the car on either the left or the right. The passenger prefers to get in on the right, as then the driver's seat belt is less in the way. For this test, two people, each about 190 cm tall, were briefly driven and fit. However, it is far from comfortable and downright claustrophobic. Moreover: the driver has the safety of an airbag (from the Renault Captur), while the rear passenger's forehead sits mere centimetres from a hard metal bar. In short: the Duo lends itself only to very short journeys (10 minutes) as a two-seater and the rear seat will be used mainly as luggage space.

Equipment

Like the exterior, the interior can also be coloured with stickers. The housing of the digital speedometer is based on a ghettoblaster (portable radio from the 1980s) and therefore sturdy, angular and equipped with large buttons. The Duo is equipped with an automatic transmission, fan and windscreen heater. Seat heating and air conditioning are optional.

On the speedometer casing are a cradle for a smartphone and a USB-C connection, as the Duo has no radio or navigation system. However, Mobilize does provide a "speaker" from which music or instructions from a navigation app can be heard. Speaker is in quotes, as in fact the entire dashboard is vibrated to reproduce sound and that works fine in practice. Nevertheless, keep in mind that this "moped" does not have the sophistication of a passenger car. Everything is simpler and when the fan is switched on, for example, it makes a noise as if a hoover had been turned on!

Electric micro car

The Duo comes in a version with a maximum speed of 45 km/h ("L6e" for use without a driving licence) and a version that reaches 80 km/h ("L7e" for which a driving licence is required). In terms of appearance, there is no difference between the two, but even at low speed, a difference in performance is noticeable. Even up to 45 km/h, the more powerful version performs with more ease. Regardless of the engine chosen, the weight of a passenger hardly affects performance in the city.

The Duo is an electric vehicle, an automatic transmission is therefore standard (or rather, there is only one gear). The Duo uses the same battery as the Renault 5, but with a quarter of the capacity. This gives the Duo a range of 161 km. During the test in very heavy traffic, it was 150 km, which is an unprecedented range for an electric micro car. The Duo comes either with a cable for charging at a 220-volt socket or with a cable for charging at public chargers (but not fast chargers). The charging cable is attached to the Duo. Therefore, it is not possible to choose a different plug later (the plug for charging at public charging points will be the best choice in most cases).

Handling

Mobilize says the Duo is fitted with sound insulation in several places, but little of this was noticeable during the test drive. As with other micro-vehicles, the electric motor is clearly audible, although it is an oasis of calm next to the prattling (two-stroke) engines of conventional makes. From 50 km/h onwards, the electric motor revs noticeably and after 70 km/h sprint power diminishes. Nevertheless, longer distances at 70-80 km/h could be covered without much difficulty during the test.

Then, moreover, the Duo remains stable and, thanks to disc brakes all round (with provision that distributes braking force evenly between the front and rear wheels), also safe in an emergency stop. Both the brakes and steering are not power-assisted, but thanks to the low weight (507 kg for the 80 km/h version, 495 kg for the 45 km/h version) and the successful tuning of the mechanics, it feels like both are power-assisted. On bad road surfaces, the Duo clatters and rattles, while it is noticeable that the suspension copes well. The Duo then does not get jumpy (like many competitors) and stays safely on its set course. So the narrow tyres or narrow build are not perceived as a disadvantage. Although the Duo cannot stand in the shadow of a simple passenger car, it is definitely more stable and comfortable than other quadricycles.

Also, the central steering and narrow build make the Duo almost unbeatable in the city. The test drive took place in the heart of Rome (the photos were taken in the lee of an industrial estate) and that is where the Duo came into its own at its best. While other cars had to wait for oncoming traffic at double-parked cars, the Duo could always pass between them. In heavy traffic, the Duo can use every gap to consistently beat the rest. Cyclists and mopeds pose no danger as they can easily share the lane with the Duo. And after a few hours in this traffic chaos, the conclusion is clear: when it comes to individual transport in the city, the Mobilize Duo offers the best combination of speed, comfort and safety.

Conclusion

Renault wants to make a fresh start with micro-mobility and has therefore created a new brand: Mobilize. In addition to charge cards, charging stations and business services, Mobilize now provides micro cars. In doing so, the new manufacturer is not inhibited by Renault's old corporate culture and it therefore comes up with a concept of its own.

In the Duo, two people do not sit side by side, but behind each other (just like in the Renault Twizy of yesteryear). This makes for more manoeuvrability in the city. The scissor doors make entry and exit easier in tight parking spaces and they make the Duo a hip vehicle for young people. For them, the Duo is safer and more comfortable than a moped, but more economical than a car (and the L6e does not require a driving licence). In addition, the Duo is suitable for car sharing. Thanks to the partnership with Renault, Mobilize can use several standard parts (electric motor, battery, airbag), making the Duo more mature than other "mopeds" while costing the same. Moreover: the Duo can simply be bought from the Renault dealer.