a Renault Twizy
to a track we got soundly ticked off for going too fast, the silence of the electric motors only highlighting the amount of tyre squeal going on. And giggling. Admittedly this was on a tiny little go-kart track laid on for low-speed demo drives but it was enough fun to ponder what a feistier Twizy might be like.
Wings probably of marginal functional use...
Ponder no more, because Renault has unveiled an F1-influenced Twizy concept with enough rubber on the ground to avoid any suspicion arousing tyre squeal and keep The Man unaware of your zero-emission hooning.
This one might stand a chance of keeping up with proper cars on a full-size track too, the KERS boosted 97hp meaning it'll keep pace with a Megane 265 off the line to 62mph, taking six seconds dead. Enjoy it while it lasts, though, because just seven or so seconds later you'll be back to trundling along with 17hp while the momentarily startled Megane driver blasts off into the distance.
This temporary power boost comes from an adapted F1 KERS system, featuring a motor/generator working in parallel with the existing Twizy motor. When charged it offers that temporary burst of speed, regenerating under deceleration just like an F1 car. Or rather, not like an F1 car, because the Twizy simply doesn't go fast enough to regenerate the KERS. So the engineers have found a way of 'siphoning off' energy from the existing drive motor to help recharge the KERS batteries in the so-called recovery mode.
...but what the hell, it looks like a hoot!
Hit the wheel-mounted boost mode and the process is reversed, the slight (OK, significant) disparity between the KERS motor's 36,000rpm and the standard motor's 10,000rpm peaks handled by a reducer mechanism using the same gear set as the F1 installation. Which is pretty cool. All told the KERS package adds 30kg to the standard Twizy's 474kg. And lifts the top speed from a limited 50mph to 68mph, the improved acceleration recordable via the Renaultsport Monitor system seen on 'our' Megane 265 and the new
Clio 200 Turbo
Good clean fun, especially with the amusing bodykit and proper racing car tyres taken from a Formula Renault single seater.
For Chris Harris's take on the standard Twizy see his video here.