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Dacia presented at an online event the serial version of the Spring concept shown in the spring. The electric model with a range of 225 km can be ordered from the summer and will reach customers in the autumn, making it the cheapest electric car in the EU. Under the Renault logo was presented an electric Megane concept that will be produced in 2021. Megan’s engine will have the equivalent of 220 hp, while the Dacia Spring will be 45 hp.
Dacia Spring will be able to reach a top speed of 125 km / h. Prices have NOT been communicated.
In Europe, cars in segment A (mini class) travel an average of 31 km per day. From this base, Spring would only need one charge per week.
The autonomy can be extended by almost 10% by pressing the ECO button on the dashboard, which limits the power to 23 kW (instead of 33 kW) and the maximum speed to 100 km / h.
What Dacia says about charging
The charging time for the lithium ion battery is:
- Less than an hour for an 80% load on a 30 kW DC terminal
- Less than 5 hours for a 100% load on a 7.4 kW Wallbox
- Less than 8:30 for a 100% load on a 3.7 kW Wallbox
- Less than 14 hours for a 100% load on a standard 2.3 kW output
Spring, cargo version (Dacia photo)
Technical data
Lung Length: 3734mm
Width: 1,622mm (1,770mm with rear view mirrors)
Height: 1,516 mm
Ampatament: 2423 mm
Empty ground clearance: 150mm
Motor
Electric motor 33 kW (44 CP)
Battery: 26.8 kWh
Charging: AC up to 6.6 kW / DC up to 30 kW (optional)
Autonomy: 225 km WLTP / 295 km WLTP City
Maximum speed: 125 km / h
What Dacia says about design and dimensions
The general line of the car is distinguished by specific elements of the universe of crossover models: well-contoured wheel arches, flag bars, reinforced bumpers at the bottom, protective shield at the rear and a high ground clearance (150 mm empty) .
The domed hood and prominent sides give the model a robust appearance. However, Spring belongs to the mini segment: its dimensions are only 3.73 m long, 1.62 meters wide (without mirrors) and 1.51 m high.
What Dacia says about the interior
Dacia Spring offers surprisingly large interior space and a spacious boot. Cozy and well equipped, the cabin can comfortably accommodate four adults.
Despite its small exterior size, Spring is spacious enough for four adults. In the rear seats, which benefit from generous headroom and 100mm knee-to-front seatback clearance, even people with above-average heights can find a seat without problems.
The impression of available space also contributes to the overall comfort felt inside. Front seat occupants have storage space at the glove box, front doors and base of the center console, totaling 23.1 L. Rear passengers benefit from pockets located in the seat backs forwards.
Spring will also have a cargo version, available exclusively in white:
Available exclusively in white, Spring Cargo has standard equipment that includes air conditioning, radio (with Bluetooth, USB socket and pre-equipment for phone / smartphone holder), textile upholstery, black exterior door handles and mirror caps and wheels with 14 ”steel rims.
UPDATE 4 Dacia Spring will have a range of 225 km. The car will be present in carpool services in early 2021. For individual customers, deliveries will take place in the fall of 2021 and orders can be placed in the summer. There will also be a cargo version with the rear seat removed.
UPDATE 3 The company introduced Megane Vision, an electrical concept derived from Megane. The engine has the equivalent of 220 hp and the battery is 60 kW. The range is 450 km in the WLTP cycle. The model will be produced from the end of 2021 in factories in France. He called it Renault-ution, says De Meo, referring to the recovery of the struggling brand.
UPDATE 1: Luca de Meo. The Renault boss says there are 350,000 electric cars of the brand on the streets, and the Zoe model is the second best-selling electric car, after the Tesla Model 3. All Renault models will have an electric or hybrid version from 2022.
Renault brought its first electric cars to Europe in 2011, and in 2012 it launched Zoe, the electric car that is still the best-seller in Europe, but we are talking about small numbers compared to diesel and gasoline cars. Also, if 6-7 years ago there were about 10 electric models on the market, now there are three times as many.
There has been talk of the electric Dacia for over a decade, but it wasn’t about launching a production model at the time, because charging stations were almost non-existent and the technology was even more expensive than now, so a Dacia car clearly it would have cost more than 20,000 euros and would have had no buyers.
But now there are more charging stations, the price of the technology has dropped and the subsidies from European countries exceed 8-10,000 euros, so an electric car becomes interesting, although the autonomy of the basic models is less than 250 km. .
The Dacia Electric Spring will probably cost around 15-17,000 euros without subsidies, it will have a real range somewhere around 170-190 km and a top speed of 125 km / h. It will not be a large car, the concept measures 3.7 meters, 30 cm smaller than Sandero, and the production version will still be there. Being an electric car, it is heavier than a conventional one, the battery probably weighs between 250 and 300 km.
The electric Dacia is not a big or fast car, but it is, as the French say, “a small citadine aux allures de SUV”, that is, a city car, but with the appearance of an SUV.
For greater autonomy, a larger battery and a more powerful motor would have been needed, which would have brought the price above 20,000 euros and would have left the “beach” of the brand’s customers. Electric cars with a real range of more than 250 km cost, without subsidies, about 30,000 euros.
What is the market like next spring? In the first half of 2020, 220,000 electric cars were sold in Europe, an increase of 22% compared to the first half of 2019, and this is due to the subsidies that made the cars attractive in price for many. The best-selling model was the Renault Zoe, with 36,000 units, followed by the Tesla Model 3 with 32,000 and Volkswagen e-Golf, with 17,000, being the top 5 finished by Peugeot e-208 and Audi e-Tron. Seats 6 through 10 were occupied by the Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Kona EV, Kia Niro EV, BMW i3, and Volkswagen e-Up !. But there are about 30 models on the market and Renault has some serious competition.
In Romania, APIA data shows that electric cars have the best year so far due to the Rabla Plus program subsidies totaling 9,000 euros. During the first nine months, electric car sales totaled 1,407 units, 40% over the same period in 2019. 343 cars were Renault, 306 were Skoda and 198 Volkswagen. Hyundai sold 152 electric cars, BMW 78s and Smart 67s. Tesla ranked ninth with 45, but the numbers only refer to new cars.
The share of electricity in the total market is small, 1.6%, but it is a great thing that it has doubled in one year.
Starting prices (rounded) for some electric models, before subsidies
Skoda CITIGOe IV (20,000 euros with VAT)
Smart EQ fortwo coupé (22,000 euros cu TVA)
Volkswagen e-up! (22,500 euros with VAT)
Smart forfour EQ (22.600 Euro cu TVA)
Opel Corsa-e (29,900 euros with VAT)
Peugeot e-208 (30,000 euros with VAT)
Renault Zoe ZE (30,300 euros with VAT)
Volkswagen e-Golf (33,100 euros with VAT)
MINI Cooper SE (33,100 euros with VAT)
Peugeot e-2008 (33,500 euros with VAT)
Volkswagen ID.3 (36,000 euros with VAT)
KIA e-Soul (37,800 euros with VAT)
BMW i3 (40,300 euros with VAT)
Tesla Model 3 (approximately 50,000 euros).
Tesla cars are also excluded from the Rabla Plus program this year, because the manufacturer is not officially represented in Romania.
