It isn't just a vehicle as it is also a service. This is how Renault describes its latest concept, the Renault EZ-GO, at its official unveiling at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. The new EZ-GO previews the future of both personal and shared mobility, as packaged in an all-electric, autonomous ride.
According to the French carmaker, the new EZ-GO is an electric, autonomous robo-vehicle and ride-hailing concept that features an iconic design that allows it to integrate into the environment while maximizing new ways of urban mobility.
With operations undertaken by either private or public companies, EZ-GO allows people to hail a ride either from a pre-determined or a mobile location. Renault believes that mobility solutions and smart cities of the future could achieve success by integrating vehicle-service to city infrastructure, as this enables them to leverage sensors, data analytics and connected services as well as multimodal systems.
EZ-GO doesn’t aim to replace passenger cars as well as public transport options – like the metro or buses – as it was created to complement them, as designed with individuals or small groups in mind. In fact, EZ-GO marries the comfort and flexibility of individual cars with efficiency and safety of public transportation. Renault conceptualized this vehicle-service to be available on demand, through permanent stations located across the city or through an app.
Underpinned by a groundbreaking platform, the new Renault EZ-GO features a cocoon-like styling designed to enable natural light to pierce through its panoramic glass roof while maximizing the field of vision of the sensors for its autonomous system. Entering the EZ-GO is an easy task, even when its passenger is on wheels. This is thanks to the fact that the EZ-GO comes with a wide flat floor flush with the boarding ramp on a station. It also marks the ground with light to indicate where the platform will land. Keeping in line with Renault’s "Easy Life" approach, the new EZ-GO allows for a change in usage and user scenarios.
Aside from its all-electric character, the new EZ-GO boasts of a Level 4 Autonomy. At this level of autonomous driving capability, EZ-GO could stay in lane, change lanes as well as maintain its distance from the vehicle up front. Likewise, the new EZ-GO could turn all by itself at a junction or move into a safe position during exceptional incidents in its vicinity. In terms of speed, the EZ-GO could only go as fast as 50 km/h (30 mph), as intended to boost its safety. The all-electric and autonomous capabilities of the new EZ-GO is complemented by Renault’s 4CONTROL four-wheel steering technology.
EZ-GO is the first of a series of concept cars focusing on mobility services that Renault plans to unveil this year. It follows the introduction of the SYMBIOZ, which is Renault’s electric, connected, level-4 autonomous drive demo car for individual ownership.