Currently reading: New Dacia SUV will be Europe's most affordable EV
Spring Electric concept, based heavily on Renault's K-ZE, will offer a 125-mile range in production form

Dacia has previewed its first electric vehicle with the Spring Electric concept - and promised that the production version, due in 2021, will be the most affordable EV sold in Europe.

As expected, the Spring Electric’s design is based heavily on the Renault City K-ZE electric crossover that Dacia’s parent company designed primarily for the Chinese market. It retains the high ground clearance and rugged styling of that model, albeit with a reworked front end featuring a new-look Dacia grille, and has narrow LED lights front and rear.

Although no technical information has been released, Dacia says the production version of the Spring Electric will have a range of more than 125 miles, which reflects its intended use as a city car.

The Spring Electric is 3730mm long and has five doors. Dacia claims the “light and compact” design “focuses on the essentials, offering easier access for the greatest number of people”.

As well as offering the car for private sale, Dacia says the Spring Electric will be made available for use with car-sharing services. The Renault Group has already experienced success with electric vehicles in this area in Europe, with the Zoe, Kangoo ZE and Twizy. 

Dacia says its first electric vehicle will be offered at a “fair price”, but there’s no indication of what that is likely to be. There is also no decision on whether the model will be launched in the UK. However, the likely early focus for the model will be on car sharing services, which have achieved limited take-up in the UK.

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James Attwood

James Attwood, digital editor
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James is Autocar's acting magazine editor. Having served in that role since June 2023, he is in charge of the day-to-day running of the world's oldest car magazine, and regularly interviews some of the biggest names in the industry to secure news and features, such as his world exclusive look into production of Volkswagen currywurst. Really.

Before first joining Autocar in 2017, James spent more than a decade in motorsport journalist, working on Autosport, autosport.com, F1 Racing and Motorsport News, covering everything from club rallying to top-level international events. He also spent 18 months running Move Electric, Haymarket's e-mobility title, where he developed knowledge of the e-bike and e-scooter markets. 

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gavsmit 3 March 2020

City EV paradox

With the main saving for considering an EV being what fuels it, I don't see the financial benefits of running an expensive EV for short distances as a city car. That's unless you plan to avoid things like extortionate congestion charges, but EVs won't be exempt from those forever (i.e. politicians calling it a 'congestion' charge rather than 'polution' charge) and not everyone lives in big cities with politicians out to make as much money as possible out of every day working people under the "can't argue with that" excuse of climate change.

The Renault / Dacia's press release language seems to be pointing to a hefty price hike over the current, modest, vehicle already on sale cheaply overseas too, thus making the disappointing range even more of an issue - the addition of coloured wheel inserts and mirrors making that potential con even more obvious.

 

 

 

The Apprentice 3 March 2020

They might be onto something.

They might be onto something. Manufacturers seem to think the short range EV city car market has money to spend and is above all else image conscious, so we have Honda, Mini aiming that way. But SUV's are the big success story, people want them. Others are making full size EV SUV's. But being the first and maybe only one to market with a city size EV one may, turn out to be a stroke of genius.
jonboy4969 3 March 2020

The MG eZS is the first small

The MG eZS is the first small fully Electric EV, not this thing, and if Dacia are going to be at a pricing level to be the cheapest then they are going to have to do something special to beat the MG which is flying out of the showrooms.
Old But not yet Dead 4 March 2020

apples and pears.

This is a much smaller car than the MG. It is around 60cm shorter and is narrower and lower. I like the MG , but it is aimed at a different market .
Andrew1 3 March 2020

This will be a big hit in the

This will be a big hit in the cities.