Dacia’s VP of gross sales, advertising and marketing, and operations,  Xavier Martinet, has claimed numerous EVs are too heavy and due to this fact unhealthy for the setting. Martinet believes “if we’re severe about collectively lowering emissions, then extreme weight shouldn’t be acceptable”.

Romanian automaker Dacia launched its first EV, the Spring, in 2021. A compact crossover obtainable completely in mainland Europe, the Spring weighs simply 2138 lbs. For reference, a GMC Hummer EV weighs over 4 instances as a lot as that.

The Spring is so mild as a result of it is powered by a 26.8 kWh battery and comes with a minimal quantity of options. Therefore it will probably solely go 140 miles on a single cost and has a high pace of 78 mph. However in response to Dacia vary and efficiency are irrelevant to its clients, with the everyday Spring proprietor driving simply 25 miles a day at a mean pace of 18 mph. 

The Spring comes with fabric seats and a radio, with a touchscreen being obtainable on increased trim ranges. Costs begin at underneath €15,000 ($16,070) after incentives in Germany. 

Martinet advised UK outlet AutoCar that it is “madness” to permit producers to provide “two-, three-tonne automobiles which might be occupied by one individual and which drive simply 35 miles a day”. He believes the Spring is ideal proof of Dacia’s mindset – do not add pointless weight and energy if it will not be used. 

Though it’ll by no means be offered within the US, the Spring is doing effectively in Europe. A part of the explanation for its success is the truth that no different 5-seat EV is remotely as low-cost because it. Dacia reportedly plans on launching a RHD model of the Spring for the UK and Irish markets later this yr.