The Renault EZ-GO is unveiled in Geneva to advance shared autonomous driving

Urban driving is set to be radically different within a few years. We picture those science-fiction stories where cars take us from one place to another without us needing to touch the steering wheel, entirely emission-free and, above all, shared. In other words, there is no need to keep a car in the garage to get from one part of the city to another. What looks set to become the future on our streets are shared electric vehicles, which we will be able to access simply by using a mobile phone app that lets us request one of these vehicles.

The Renault EZ-GO is the French brand’s concept for this type of vehicle. A fully electric prototype that will operate at Level 4 autonomous driving, able to move through city streets without a driver. To do so, it will use a wide range of LIDAR, ultrasonic and radar sensors, allowing it to move freely around the city. Although it has no driver, it is continuously connected to a central system that coordinates all the vehicles. The operator will be able to give instructions to the Renault EZ-GO if necessary, for example to head to a charging station or to stop, if required.

In addition, its sensors allow it to detect traffic problems and pull over to a safe place in the event of an accident or a similar issue. Its futuristic exterior design has lights that show other road users that it is operating autonomously, and it emits sounds so that it can be detected by pedestrians and cyclists, since, being electric, its motor produces no noise.

It is designed to carry up to six passengers comfortably, so it can run several services, adapting its route to the journeys chosen by its occupants. Passengers enter and exit through the front of the vehicle, so they do not have to step onto the roadway, and the risks are minimised when getting in and out. Passengers can be comfortable on board and enjoy wide views of the city thanks to the extensive glazed area of the car.

They can interact with the car through a front display showing driving data. For charging, it uses an induction system, so no person needs to intervene for the batteries to charge. Of course, it also features Wi-Fi and charging ports for mobile devices. You can see the prototype that was presented at the Geneva Motor Show and a short video showing more of the car’s features.

https://youtu.be/-8wWwYhBGhE