​Renault Samsung launches EV mobility service for Busan travelers

By Saijino Posted : May 14, 2021, 17:50 Updated : May 14, 2021, 17:50

[Courtesy of Renault Samsung]

SEOUL -- The South Korean unit of French carmaker Renault has launched a car-sharing service in the southern port city of Busan. Travelers can rent ultra-compact electric vehicles to visit tourist hot spots using the non-face-to-face mobility service. Busan City was upbeat, saying the service targeting MZers will help revitalize its tourism market.

According to government data, Busan, famous for its food, culture and beaches, had suffered a critical blow in 2020 when a coronavirus pandemic swept across South Korea. A total of 18.45 million tourists from home and abroad visited the port city, down 34.2 percent from a year ago.

Renault Samsung and Tour Staff, a tourism startup, kicked off "Tourzy" car-sharing service in Busan on May 13. Some 50 units of "Twizy," Renault's ultra-compact electric vehicle (EV), are operated in an urban area that is about eight kilometers (4.9 miles) wide. Renault said the mobility service targets travelers who visit areas around the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO) and the Osiria Tourism Complex in eastern Busan. The area is popular among young tourists but it lacks public transport infrastructure.

Tourists can rent and return EVs using a smartphone app that provides suggestions for popular tourist spots and famous restaurants. Twizy, a two-seated microcar, can be fully charged in three hours and 30 minutes with 220V electricity. Tourists can quickly navigate narrow alleys thanks to its narrower hull. "This eco-friendly car-sharing service will vitalize local tourism," Busan Mayor Park Hyeong-jun was quoted as saying.
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