Renault EZ-GO: the "robot car" for the cities of the future

If urban mobility of the future turns out to be built around cars like the Renault EZ-GO, we have good reason to celebrate: autonomous, electric, connected, intelligent… and, depending on the brand, affordable.

It is called Renault EZ-GO, and it is one of the most spectacular prototypes presented at the Geneva Motor Show this year. Not for its design, nor for its performance. Rather, for what it represents. More than a car, the Renault EZ-GO is a concept in its own right. It is the way Renault understands the mobility of the future in large cities, applying all the technology at its disposal.

Electric and autonomous

The Renault EZ-GO has no steering wheel. No driver’s seat. You don’t need one. It is not a car you can buy, but a transport system you will share with other users. It measures 5.20 metres in length, 2.20 metres in width and 1.60 metres in height, with a wheelbase of 3.80 metres. Its total weight is 1,700 kg, of which 300 kg corresponds to the batteries housed in the floor, which power the electric motor that drives the rear wheels.

With a design that would not look out of place in any science-fiction film, the EZ-GO is built on a platform designed specifically for electric propulsion. Renault states that the EZ-GO is the first concept car of a new family of prototypes to be presented throughout 2018, using this same base.

It features the 4CONTROL system with four steering wheels to manoeuvre through the city as if it were a couple of metres shorter. The active suspension is designed to “swallow” even the steepest speed bumps without passengers feeling the slightest jolt inside. And, of course, it is prepared for autonomous driving.

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Up to six passengers, maximum connectivity

The design of its luminous bodywork brings many interesting innovations to a car intended for shared use. Thus, the Renault EZ-GO has no conventional doors. Access to the spacious cabin, with room for six occupants seated on sofa-style U-shaped benches, is through the front. The vehicle stops at the corresponding station, and the platform is positioned level with the floor. This makes access easier, for example, for people with reduced mobility.

Bear in mind that the Renault EZ-GO is not designed to be sold to private individuals, but as an on-demand mobility solution. In other words: what we know as car-sharing, or shared-car service. Cars like the EZ-GO could be booked from a mobile app or directly at stations spread across the city, as part of a service that could be provided by both private and public companies.

Another aspect Renault addresses with the EZ-GO is safety. With level 4 autonomous driving, the EZ-GO can travel through the city at a self-limited top speed of 50 km/h, maintaining its distance from other vehicles, changing lanes when necessary, turning only at intersections, or even reacting to unforeseen events thanks to its connection to a supervision centre that provides constant information.

And how does it coexist with pedestrians? Renault ensures this with the usual autonomous emergency braking systems, and also has messages on the vehicle’s light bands capable of indicating to pedestrians whether they can cross the street. The EZ-GO also emits sounds to alert pedestrians or cyclists of its presence.

Passengers, who can even choose their seat in the EZ-GO when making their reservation, enjoy onboard Wi-Fi connectivity, and inductive charging systems for their mobile devices. The service even contemplates offering different vehicles depending on the type of passenger. This allows, for example, using EZ-GO “shuttles” only for tourists visiting the city, or booking a vehicle exclusively for a group of passengers (family or friends) heading to a common destination.