The all-electric Renault Twizy is helping to preserve one of the most beautiful and popular tourist destinations in the UK as part of an innovative car sharing scheme that provides visitors to the Lake District with an unforgettable and environmentally-compatible way to experience the beautiful region.
The vehicles are a core component of the ‘See More’ programme, being delivered in partnership by Cumbria County Council, The Lake District National Park Authority and Cumbria Tourism, which is committed to enhancing visitor transport services in addition to reducing the impact of travel on the local environment.
The car-sharing scheme includes ten Renault Twizys that are available to hire from eight different locations in Keswick and Ullswater. The scheme is run in association with Co-wheels Car Club – the UK’s only independently-owned national car club that provides low emission, hybrid and electric cars on a pay-as-you-go basis.
On the launch of the Renault Twizy car sharing scheme, Nicola Parker, Programme Manager for Cumbria Tourism’s See More programme, said: “This new flock of electric Twizys are all about offering visitors a fun, quirky way to experience the unique Lake District landscape – particularly at a time when we need to show visitors that it is still well and truly business as usual after the recent floods. The sheep theme is synonymous with the region, so what better way of helping passengers get up close and personal with nature and really savour everything that makes the Lakes so special.”
Two of the Renault Twizys are available to hire from Field Studies Centre Blencathra. Tim Foster, Head of Centre, FSC Blencathra, believes that the unique vehicles are an excellent fit for the facility and its visitors.
Twizy is the world’s first mass market fully-electric compact two-seater. Silent, open to the elements and with snug tandem seating, the vehicle is the perfect mode of transport for visitors to fully experience the beauty of such areas as the Lake District. With zero emissions in use; Twizy is powered by a 17hp electric motor with a smooth one-speed automatic transmission and a light and compact lithium-ion battery pack. Twizy has a top speed of 50 mph and the model’s official ECE -15 UTAC range is up to 56 miles – Renault estimates that in real-world driving conditions that this equates to around 43 miles in warmer weather and 31 miles in winter conditions.
Three versions of Twizy are available – two-seat Expression and Dynamique models and the single-seat Cargo, which replaces the rear seat with a 180-litre boot to offer business and private customers a useful payload of 75kg. A wide range of colours and personalisation options enable owners to make their Twizy even more individual. Twizy is priced from £6,895 with battery hire available from £45 per month.
