Renault Twizy A Non-Starter For The Quebec Market
Last week, La Presse (via its Le Soleil subsidiary) published an article claiming that Renault could be on the verge of returning to the Canadian market. Specifically, the author, Paul-Robert Raymond went on to discuss Renault's desire to take advantage of Quebec's relatively lax low-speed electric vehicle program to import the Twizy, a 'quadra-cycle' type of battery-powered automobile that would serve as the tip of the spear for Renault's renewed North American enthusiasm.
The news concerning Renault's potential presence in Canada - and, by extension, possibly America - was picked up by a number of sources, including Green Car Reports, which was the only publication to actually question just how realistic the Twizy's chances were of finding success in Quebec. Because you see, the Twizy happens to be an open-air vehicle.
If you've ever been to Quebec in the winter time, you know that the idea of driving around in an automobile without a set of doors that actually seal the cabin away from the sub-zero temperatures that are our sad fate is one that would be met with uproarious laughter by the majority of the population. While the Twizy might make sense as a publicity stunt for companies seeking for cheap fleet runabouts during the summer months, the idea that Renault would be able to establish a beachhead in the province with a vehicle that is essentially unusable for a large portion of the year is laughable at best.
Quebec does offer the lowest electricity rates in North America, and the provincial government may provide excellent incentives to convince drivers to adopt electric vehicles. Nevertheless, no matter how tasty the free lunch might be, no one is going to be interested in eating it if it also means freezing their faces off. The Renault Twizy is a non-starter on the Quebec market, and it's hard to believe that the French automaker is setting itself up for anything other than failure if it intends to make the open-air car a key part of any North American renaissance.