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Renault’s budget brand has launched Europe’s most affordable electric car. There’s just one catch…
The 2021 Dacia Spring EV has launched in Europe as the continent’s cheapest electric car, priced from approximately €12,000 (AU$18,500) plus on-road costs in some markets.
However, buyers better not be in a hurry. The Dacia Spring – with Dacia is Renault’s Romanian-based budget brand – is slower than a 50-year-old Volkswagen Beetle, according to 0-100km/h times published by the car maker.
The compact 970kg five-seater – which is largely based on the existing India-only Renault Kwid and China’s electric Renault City K-ZE – puts out a meagre 33kW/125Nm from its single front-mounted electric motor.
The 0-100km/h ‘sprint’ takes a leisurely 19.1 seconds, on the way to a top speed of just 125km/h. For reference, the 1977 Volkswagen Beetle reached the same speed in just 17.2 seconds.
MORE: Dacia aims to sell Europe’s cheapest EV from 2021
Voltage is drawn from a 27.4kWh lithium-ion battery pack, permitting a claimed range of 230km on the combined WLTP cycle.
When it goes on sale next week, the Dacia Spring EV will be priced from €12,403 (AU$19,000) in France (when government incentives are taken into account).
For reference, the cheapest electric vehicle currently available in Australia – the MG ZS EV – quotes a starting price almost two-and-a-half times greater, at $43,990 plus on-road costs.
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