EZ-GO Taxi Concept

Renault EZ-GO

Renault EZ-GO

The Geneva Motor Show has always been a melting pot of astounding concept vehicles. But when fans saw this specimen, they thought it was a left-over from a sci-fi photo shoot. The Renault EZ-GO concept is a robo-taxi that flies in the face of all the norms. (And it does bring to mind Doc Brown’s flying DeLorean.)

From the outside, this erector set-looking vehicle is clearly one of a kind. Its wheels are all but invisible behind mock-alloy panels. It has no traditional doors, instead sporting nearly floor to ceiling windows. Entrance is gained through the back hatch, which raises almost all of the roof. It’s not a car you climb into, its a car you walk into. There is even a little drop-down ramp.

And, once inside, the strangeness is compounded. By eliminating all instrumentation, Renault has capitalized on every inch of space. You’ll find no steering wheel, no pedals, no dashboard, not even a mirror. The majority of the EZ-GO’s impressive 5.2 meter length is taken up by a U-shaped couch, which seats six.

The idea, as Renault explains it, is to provide a form of public transportation sized between a yellow cab taxi and a mini-bus. The configuration they’ve come up with meets a myriad of additional passenger needs. The combination of ramp, hatch and generous space allows for easy access and use by persons confined to wheelchairs. This extends to baby strollers, trolleys and (that most unruly of cargo) groups of kids.

Intended for use in cities, the EZ-GO is an electric vehicle powered by a rear-axle mounted motor. Lack of a traditional engine frees up even more space but restricts the EZ-GO to 30mph (a little less than 50kph). It’s extraordinary length might have hampered a normal vehicle in the cramped quarters of a city. But the EZ-GO’s independent 4-wheel steering system make it more agile and maneuverable than cars half its size.

Taxis, such as this one, will be summoned or booked via smart app, much like Uber. But the true market Renault has set their sights on is not the everyday consumer. Renault intends to create a new benchmark and infrastructure that will allow businesses, hotels (even cities) to utilise fleets of these robo-taxis for their own services. For this reason, Renault has said, the Renault badge is all but missing from this concept. The are not trying to market a Renault, they are trying to change history.

While the EZ-GO represents Renault’s view of a more distant future, they intend to roll out robo-taxis commercially by 2022. Although we are unlikely ever to get to see such a fleet in South Africa, we are blessed with other examples of Renault’s vision.

And these ones you get to drive yourself! Book a test drive today and get to experience the future first hand!


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