We first told you about it in April, and now the Twizys have arrived in the Orange company vehicle fleet. Here in the Orange live blog team, we have fallen head-over-heels for this beautiful little vehicle, and its design that combines modernity and a cute styling, its green credentials since it is electric and its sense of fun. Adeline Breton, Alexandra Operto and I decided to put it through its paces and share the experience with you: you are invited to join us in our trip around Paris in the Twizy, as if you were really there, in the video below, then to scroll through the “Twizy and the great monuments of Paris” photo album at the end of the article.
[EN] a ride in Paris in the Orange Twizy par liveorange
driving a Twizy means a funky experience is guaranteed!
The Twizy may well have four wheels but that doesn’t make it a car; it is half-open yet you feel fully comfortable and safe, so nor is it classed alongside two-wheeled vehicles; the Twizy is in a class of its own. As a result, it’s sure to make an impression, as we discovered on the streets of Paris: tourists were taking as many photos of our pretty Twizy decked out in the colors of the Orange brand as they were of the capital’s famous sights and monuments. Whenever we stopped at the lights, bus drivers, taxi drivers, scooter riders and other Parisian drivers were quick to ask us how it felt to drive “live and direct” on the road. As for pedestrians, their heads turned as we passed, intrigued by the spectacle and smiling from ear to ear. If you want to drive a Twizy, you have to love coming into contact with people, accept that you are the center of attention and enjoy having your picture taken, as we were being snapped throughout our journey. For the record, it’s actually a great way to meet new people… a hot tip for our single readers 
Flexible driving and child’s play to maneuver
Over and above the funky, fun aspect, the Twizy is a very practical mode of urban transport since its small size means you are able to squeeze between vehicles with ease. You won’t feel as free as you would on two wheels, but much more so than in a standard vehicle, and at least you feel completely safe (do bear in mind that our Twizy was fitted with doors, which are optional extras). It is unbelievably easy to control, since there are only two buttons to press (forward and reverse), and two pedals to use (brake and accelerator). So apart from turning the steering wheel, there is practically nothing to do!
Twizy in front of the Eiffel Tour
Let’s not forget one of the essential elements of the Twizy: it is electric… and therefore “green”. It is one of the reasons Orange chose to add the Twizy to its fleet, since we are fully committed to reducing energy consumption (find out more in the Orange CSR policy). The vehicle is completely silent, which is a strange sensation at first because we are so used to hearing the roar of the engine. Once we got over this, we loved the quietness which reigned inside the vehicle. On the other hand, because electric vehicles are still in their infancy, people are not used to not hearing them coming. As a result, you have to be a lot more alert and remember that if you can’t be heard, you can’t be seen.
With regard to negatives, we only noted a few things: the handbrake is sometimes very hard to release, which caused as a few stressful moments! The Twizy’s small wheels must be linked up to shock absorbers that are just as small, because on poorly maintained roads and Parisian cobbles, the Twizy failed to cushion many bumps. When you have doors, the lack of windows to go with them can seem strange because why wouldn’t you go all the way when kitting it out? We tested it in the best possible weather conditions, and as such, the Twizy’s openness was an advantage. However, in wintertime or in the rain, it must be a whole lot less pleasant. For that reason, the Twizy must not be looked upon as a car, but more like a cross between a scooter and a car, offering a range of benefits and drawbacks from each.
Our experience of the Twizy in Paris was an entirely positive one. The Twizy is the vehicle of the future, and all it needs now is wings to fly ^^ Feel free to contact Renault ZE and test the Twizy for yourself… your Twizy will not be in the same colors as the Orange version, but the effect will be the same
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