The European Union recently introduced a new directive for the harmonization of driving licenses, which concerns light quadricycles. The changes in legislation have already been applied in France, which means that 14-year-olds with road safety certificates are authorized to drive light motorized quadricycles, which were previously reserved for individuals aged 16 and over.
This means the Renault Twizy 45 can be driven from now on in France by individuals who turned 14.
Described by Renault as a safer and more comfortable alternative to two-wheeled scooters, the Twizy 45 is fit as standard with an airbag, double seatbelts, disc brakes and a protective cell. It can also be described as a “training vehicle” for young drivers before they get to drive actual automobiles.
Since the vehicle’s launch in 2012, Renault has sold approximately 15,000 Twizys in Europe. The 2.34-meter long by 1.24-meter wide two-seater model is available with two power variants.
The lower-powered Twizy 45 has 5hp and can reach a top speed of 28mph (45km/h), while the regular Twizy has 13kw (17hp) and a limited top speed of around 50 mph (80 km/h). The battery takes three and a half hours to be fully recharged using a standard three-pin plug in, with the vehicle offering a driving range of around 60 miles (under 100 km).