Renault launches new Mobilize car-sharing brand

Groupe Renault has launched a new brand called Mobilize that will sit alongside its Renault Alpine and Dacia brands as an urban car-share operation.

Previewing its first vehicle, the Mobilize EZ-1, the new French brand has announced its pay-as-you-go service will be offered mainly to city-dwellers.

Looking like a natural replacement for the Renault Twizy that was sold in Europe, the EZ-1 measures in at just 2.3 metres long and features a large glass canopy.

The tiny Renault is claimed to be made of 50 per cent recyclable material, with up to 95 per cent of the vehicle said to be reusable at the end of its life.

Speaking of which, designers have created the little city car to have batteries that can be easily swapped, allowing Mobilize to take out depleted cells for fully recharged batteries without hogging city chargers.

Unlocked via a smartphone app, the new Mobilize EZ-1 can be rented by time or on a distance-covered basis.

Inside, there's a 1+1 seating arrangement that allows the EZ-1 to be as narrow as possible.

Built on a new modular platform, the EZ-1 is expected to be offered not only as a small commuter but as a delivery van for urban-based courier firms.

As well as producing the EZ-1, Mobilize will be responsible for developing new charging tech and services for Groupe Renault, allowing users in the future to easily locate a charging point and pay using a single payment method, wherever they are in Europe.

Finally, Mobilize will also now manage Renault's second-life battery business that sees recycled batteries from cars like the Renault ZOE supermini reused for home or business energy storage.

There's no word on when exactly Mobilize will launch, but it's expected the new brand will be phased in to replace the French car-maker's current car-share schemes that use the small Renault Twingo and battery-powered ZOE.

Groupe Renault has high expectations for its new brand, forecasting that the car-share business will account for around 50 per cent of its revenues by 2030.

Once launched, the upcoming Dacia Spring EV – set to be Europe's cheapest pure-electric vehicle – will also be offered via the Mobilize scheme for users who need a bigger vehicle with more range.