Mobilize has created an inner-city vehicle, the EZ-1, that will be available to city residents and visitors.

The car-maker said its plan for Mobilize is spurred by customer demand and changing attitudes towards car use among young people.

Renault deputy CEO and the CEO of Mobilize, Clotilde Delbos, said customers – particularly young customers – were hesitant about buying a car because of higher prices for electric and hybrid car models, and measures by local governments in many areas around the world to restrict car use in urban centres.

“We have to understand the needs of the users. If they elect the type of mayors that support these decisions [to restrict cars], it means they agree with them,” she said.

“I think clearly the younger generation do not see cars as the status symbol it used to be, especially in cities. 

Clotilde Delbos, Renault deputy CEO and the CEO of Mobilize

“In France, the average at which you pass the driving licence is now something like 26. In the past you wanted to get a driving licence when you were 18.”

Mobilize will give customers the ability to use a range of cars as and when they need them, without having to purchase the vehicle outright.

Renault said it expects Mobilize to represent 20 per cent of turnover by 2030.

“We are convinced that mobility is going to change and shift from ownership to usage, especially in cities,” said Ms Delbos.

But Renault hasn’t given up on selling cars. It said it expects suburban families to purchase cars with Mobilize being a complementary service, largely aimed at people in the cities.

“In big cities, you can’t park, you have difficulty accessing the centre with some cars – non-electric vehicles are going to be banned in some cases as early as 2030 – and you have more and more congestion,” she said.

“Paris is an example where cities are reducing the number of lanes you can use because they want more space for bicycles or for cafes or restaurants, things like that.

“So at the end of the day, you’re pushed not to own a vehicle.”

She said that around the world, many city-dwellers are content to use public transport, or to walk and cycle for daily trips, reserving car usage for the weekends or for holidays. This is where Renault saw an opportunity.

“We thought, if there is a place for disruption, why leave it to others? Why not do it ourselves?”, she said.

EZ-1

“We don’t want to sell cars, we want to sell the services around the mobility object, which happens to be a car. We used to be a car company using tech. Now we want to be a tech company based on cars.”

Mobilize provides several vehicle types, from small EVs that can accommodate a maximum of two passengers, to larger cars for families.

“The cars that we’re going to be using (for Mobilize) are not at all like the one that we would be providing to people who want to own a car,” said Ms Delbos.

“We used to be called a car manufacturer, but at the end of the day what were we offering to customers? A way to be mobile. A way to access jobs. A way to have the freedom to go on vacation and transport their family. 

“I think we still have this responsibility, but as needs have changed, we have to change ourselves.”

To further enhance electric mobility, Mobilize will offer solutions to facilitate EV uptake including a charging pass for customers to easily locate public charging points and to pay with a single payment solution.

For EV and PHEV fleet customers, Mobilize will work through its subsidiary Elexent to offer easy access to charging infrastructure solutions throughout Europe.

The company has already shown its EZ-1 Prototype which is a two-seat EV claimed to be a new urban mobility solution that is designed for shared use. 

Renault said users will only pay for what they use, in terms of drive-time or distance covered. The vehicle is connected with keyless access and interacts with users via their smartphone.

Mobilize EZ-1 Prototype is a compact and agile electric vehicle for two people. It is only 2300mm long and has a minimal footprint. Top-to-bottom glass doors give its users an unhindered view of the surroundings.

The vehicle, which has a battery exchange system to allow it to be used non-stop, is built according to circular economy principles. Fifty per cent of the car is made from recycled materials and at the end of its life, 95 per cent of the car will be recyclable.

By Neil Dowling