2023 Renault Twizy, or: Calimero the amusing commuter egg

2023 Renault Twizy, or: Calimero the amusing commuter egg

Author
Discussion

Caddyshack

10,883 posts

207 months

Friday 20th October 2023
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lipadier said:


biggrin

Caddyshack said:
I was looking at the 13kwh replacement batteries today, it is £5k fitted so not cheap. It more than doubles the battery capacity without taking up any more space or weight. Range goes up to 100 miles max (60 miles if used flat out and hilly) which is pretty useful…I expect I will get one if my battery begins to decay.
I'm on a german Twizy forum and some members there are quite active in building denser and more modern batteries for the Twizy. On the above mentioned meet was a guy with us who had a a 20kw one built in (= range +200km (+125 miles), with a weight of only 109kg (compared to the standard 6kw one with 98kg) = battery technology has marched on quite a lot during the last decade. - As soon as the warranty on my Twizy runs out I'm going to be very VERY interested in such a replacement.

Tango13 said:
Does it wheelie too? hehe
Nope, not even on a steep uphill road. hehe
That is interesting, I have seen welding supplies for putting cells together and there must be plenty of written of EV’s about.

lipadier

Original Poster:

273 posts

169 months

Friday 20th October 2023
quotequote all
^ But as good as all of it sounds, currently most Twizy battery projects are still only hobby garage solutions from enthusiasts.
As far as I know the only ready-to-install replacement battery that comes from a established manufacturer, is this 10kw pack:

https://www.power-and-storage.de/en-gb/shop/CATL-P...

So for about 2000 Euros (plus installation, minus selling old battery) you gain about +30% range.

lipadier

Original Poster:

273 posts

169 months

Friday 20th October 2023
quotequote all
Here is a Youtube series about how to replace the Twizys original 6kw battery with the above mentioned 10kw one. - Naturally it's in german but it has english screen commentary written on top, so you will get the gist. Not really plug-and-play, but it's doable, even by a non-pro:







Edited by lipadier on Friday 20th October 23:53

Caddyshack

10,883 posts

207 months

Saturday 21st October 2023
quotequote all
lipadier said:
^ But as good as all of it sounds, currently most Twizy battery projects are still only hobby garage solutions from enthusiasts.
As far as I know the only ready-to-install replacement battery that comes from a established manufacturer, is this 10kw pack:

https://www.power-and-storage.de/en-gb/shop/CATL-P...

So for about 2000 Euros (plus installation, minus selling old battery) you gain about +30% range.
Thanks, that is a lot cheaper. Self fitting would not worry me one bit.


lipadier

Original Poster:

273 posts

169 months

Monday 6th November 2023
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Biggest hack ever! Millions in development! - Or maybe it's just a cut part of a camping chair backrest. Maybe.




Aka: Solutions for problems that shouldn't be there in the first place. biglaugh

lipadier

Original Poster:

273 posts

169 months

Tuesday 7th November 2023
quotequote all
I see other Twizys underway now and then, but it's rare that you will park next to one, like today. Great colour on that one.- And yes these are dedicated "small cars" parking spaces. smile


lipadier

Original Poster:

273 posts

169 months

Thursday 16th November 2023
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lipadier said:
For longer winter journeys (I know they will happen) I'm simply going to buy me a electric heating jacket.
Bought me one, for 40 Euros (£34) from Internet-China. Plus a 20000mAh battery pack from a local shop. - Tought it will be utter crap, but it actually works, the less layers you have on underneath the better of course. I had it on with just a T-Shirt during a 60km (38mi) evening Twizy loop at 5°C in wind and rain yesterday.

The middle setting was just right, the highest one too hot, so that one will be fine in proper winter. - Granted, it's a bit of a wierd feeling, but you feel very cozy at the same time. - With the big battery pack this should work for many hours, if needed. - I simply ordered one with the most heating elements:


[


lipadier

Original Poster:

273 posts

169 months

Saturday 25th November 2023
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First day in the snow!




Granted, not really much of the fluffy stuff around so far, but it's a start. biggrin

General Price

5,260 posts

184 months

Saturday 25th November 2023
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Every time I read this thread it raises a smile.biggrin

I look forward to the day that the tesla battery and four wheel drive are fitted.

lipadier

Original Poster:

273 posts

169 months

Saturday 25th November 2023
quotequote all
General Price said:
Every time I read this thread it raises a smile.biggrin

I look forward to the day that the tesla battery and four wheel drive are fitted.
Damn thing is too new for thinkering, still two years of warranty! hehe

Cambs_Stuart

2,886 posts

85 months

Sunday 26th November 2023
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How was driving it in the cold and snow?

lipadier

Original Poster:

273 posts

169 months

Sunday 26th November 2023
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Cambs_Stuart said:
How was driving it in the cold and snow?
I did a 50km drive yesterday into the higher elevations of the Appenzeller Alps to visit family, recharged the Twizy there, and then drove those 50km back during the evening. It was 2°C when I drove up, and 1°C when I drove down. It was snowing lightly on my way back but mostly it didn't really stick to the roads as the were already salted:


- No problems to report, but you have to be aware that your track width is smaller than all the other cars, so you may hit the snow that lays inbetween the snow-free tire lanes.
- Traction was always there, no wheelspin at all, contrary to what I was expecting. (The Twizy is my first RWD vehicle, I always had AWD).
- With the winter tires the Twizy understeers way less than on summer ones, quite a big difference actually!
- The Twizy is very light and therefore reacts not too well to strong crosswinds, you have to hold on and be aware. Had one long exposed stretch on a hilltop where I went full tilt, and I was all over the place LOL

- The hating jacket was not really needed to be honest, but I turned it on anyways halfway in as it gives a lovely sit-in-a-hot-tub feel LOL
- Second fluffy jacked as a horse blanket over the legs and all was well.
- The heated windscreen is essential during the first few minutes.

Can't wait for proper winter! bounce

Cambs_Stuart

2,886 posts

85 months

Sunday 26th November 2023
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I have no need for one, but I'm very tempted by the heates jacket...

Kevin Cozner

1,034 posts

105 months

Sunday 26th November 2023
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[quote=General Price]Every time I read this thread it raises a smile.biggrin

/quote]
Yep, I'm now trying to justify buying one!

Gary C

12,500 posts

180 months

Sunday 26th November 2023
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I know what u mean. I would love one of the kids to need one then nick it every day.

Killer2005

19,660 posts

229 months

Sunday 26th November 2023
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Kevin Cozner said:
Yep, I'm now trying to justify buying one!
Me too.

However my wife has just got a new job with a 20 minute commute and potentially might need a car.

lipadier

Original Poster:

273 posts

169 months

Saturday 2nd December 2023
quotequote all
lipadier said:
Can't wait for proper winter! bounce
And now we are talking! woohoo





It's all analog and direct and so you always know what the weels are doing. = Incredible fun!! biggrin

General Price

5,260 posts

184 months

Saturday 2nd December 2023
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A child on Christmas morning.biggrin

andyj007

305 posts

179 months

Saturday 2nd December 2023
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awesoe thread .. my client has one of these , i took it for a spin about 3 years ago.. i thought it was utter brillinat fun.. bombing through the country lanes ..

i was just grining.. the positivity and fun from other drivers was immense..

I wish i had a use or even some nice places to go at weekends like lakes and mountain spots..

brilliant thread OP , nicely presneted .. thanks


lipadier

Original Poster:

273 posts

169 months

Saturday 2nd December 2023
quotequote all
General Price said:
A child on Christmas morning.biggrin
^ Pretty much, yes. biglaugh