Renault Kwid-derived Dacia Spring EV hatchback unveiled in Europe

Tuhin Guha Published: October 26, 2020, 10:18 AM IST

Dacia, the Romanian budget arm of Renault, has unveiled the production version of the Dacia Spring Electric. The Spring Electric is an EV hatchback closely related to the entry-level Renault Kwid hatchback sold in India and is the cheapest EV to go on sale in Europe. The Spring Electric carries the same running gear as the Renault City K-ZE EV that was launch in China last year and was also showcased at the 2020 Auto Expo.

The Spring electric is powered by a 26.8 kWh battery pack that feeds a 33 kW electric motor. This gives the EV a 225 km WLTP range and a 295 km WLTP city cycle range. An Eco mode can improve this range figure by 10 per cent by limited power to 25 kW and top-speed to 100 kmph. The unrestricted top-speed is 125 kmph and 125 Nm of torque is available from standstill.

The Dacia Spring Electric can reach 80 per cent charge in under an hour via a 30 kW fast charger or charge fully in five hours via a 7.4 kW wallbox. A 3.7 kW wallbox takes 8.5 hours while a common household socket does it in 14 hours.

The Dacia Spring Electric looks largely identical to the Renault Kwid sold in India. There is the same twin-part headlamps, the SUV-inspired body cladding, contrasting highlights and the flex steel wheels. The differences are the Dacia family grille which also incorporates the charging port and LED taillamps. On the inside, there is an EV-optimised instrument cluster with a 3.5-inch display, a four-spoke Dacia steering wheel, a 7-inch infotainment screen, the rotary drive dial and blue accenting. With the placement of the battery, this version has 150mm of ground clearance against the 184mm of the conventionally-powered Indian version. A smartphone app can be used to keep track of the hatchback's charge status and range, pre-cool the cabin and geolocate it.

Dacia is also offering a version of the Spring Electric optimised for ride-sharing. This version is only available in white or grey, black door handles and mirrors and more durable interiors with vinyl seats and floor mats. It also comes pre-fitted with smartphone-based geolocation and door-opening function. Also available is a cargo version of the Spring Electric aimed at last-mile deliveries. Here the back seat has been removed freeing up 800 litres of boot space rated for a 325kg payload. There is a wire mesh partition separating this from the front seats, tie-down points and special flooring.

Although Renault India has remained non-committal on EVs for the Indian market, as a pointer towards what a Renault Kwid EV might look like, the Dacia Spring Electric leaves very little to the imagination.