Automotive

Renault unveils autonomous EZ-GO ride-sharing concept

View 7 Images
The EZ-GO robo-car – coming sorta soon to a street near you?
The EZ-GO robo-car on display at the Geneva Auto Show
C.C. Weiss/New Atlas
The EZ-GO can seat six ride-sharing passengers
C.C. Weiss/New Atlas
The EZ-GO has a wide-opening front door
C.C. Weiss/New Atlas
The EZ-GO deploys its loading ramp
C.C. Weiss/New Atlas
The EZ-GO is described as combining the flexibility and comfort of an individual vehicle with the efficiency and safety of public transport
The EZ-GO robo-car – coming sorta soon to a street near you?
Users would summon an EZ-GO either via an app, or using an interface at a station
View gallery - 7 images

This Tuesday at the Geneva Auto Show, Renault unveiled its electric, autonomous EZ-GO robo-vehicle and ride-hailing concept. Designed for use by public or private services, it could provide both taxi and Uber drivers with some serious competition in the not-too-distant future.

According to Renault, the idea is that people could summon an EZ-GO car from anywhere in the city via an app, or by using an interface at one of many designated EZ-GO stations. The driverless vehicle would subsequently show up at their location, opening its wide front door, lowering its active suspension and deploying a lighted boarding ramp so they could walk (or roll a wheelchair) on board.

Never exceeding a speed of 50 km/h (31 mph), it would then proceed to transport the passengers to their destination. Four-wheel-steering would allow it to be nimble, while its level 4 autonomous driving capability would enable it to maintain distance from the vehicle in front, stay in its lane, change lanes when needed, and turn by itself at intersections.

All of the sensors that it uses for autonomous driving – such as radar, LiDAR, ultrasound and cameras – are located in a removable antenna located on the rear spoiler, which automatically deploys when the vehicle starts.

The EZ-GO deploys its loading ramp
C.C. Weiss/New Atlas

The car can carry up to six passengers, who would have an unobstructed 360-degree view out the windows and self-tinting glass roof while in transit – a centrally-located screen would additionally provide them with information such as points of interest, time remaining in their trip, or upcoming stops. What's more, because ride-sharing is a possibility, Renault states that the service could offer a highly competitive price/kilometer ratio.

Described by Renault as combining the flexibility and comfort of an individual vehicle with the efficiency and safety of public transport, EZ-GO builds upon the automaker's previous SYMBIOZ concept for an autonomous private car. The company states that it plans to launch some sort of ride-hailing robo-taxi commercial service by the end of its current Drive The Future 2017-2022 strategic plan.

Source: Renault

View gallery - 7 images
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flipboard
  • LinkedIn
7 comments
Craig Jennings
Have the solved the most difficult part of the equation? Humans are scum and will abuse/destroy/dump/ruin anything when they think they can get away with it? Lock the doors, video link with controller for inspection at destination, if all is well, unlock doors, if not..... zaaaaaap! :D
CAVUMark
Great for that Friday night pub crawl but I wouldn't want to be the first customer Saturday AM.
JimFox
opening its wide front door
Do you mean its REAR door?? Or do my eyes deceive me?
JimFox
Think I was wrong- it's getting hard to tell front from back with these 'cpncepts'! Frontal collision damage would be much more damaging if the 'door' takes the impact, surely?
Mik-Fielding
I'd like to see that negotiate the potholes and road humps so common on the roads in London!
Gregg Eshelman
Why do these companies keep making concept models with essentially zero clearance around the wheels? Then they never show them with the wheels steered. They also like to give them ridiculously low ground clearance so speed bumps would be impassible. Hit one pothole with this thing and it'd have the fenders ripped off.
These shows need a rule - if it would be impossible to actually run on real world roads, it doesn't get to be in the show.
ljaques
Surely the AI would be competent enough to swerve into =every= pothole, yet not savvy enough to zap the right perp who was robbing all the other riders before the pub hopper flooded the floor and seats, but don't forget that there aren't any seatbelts in there. All in all, cringeworthy concept and vehicle, Renault. (Looked better on paper, didn't it? ;)