- Dacia has revealed a fully-electric car derived van, in the form of the Dacia Spring Cargo.
- Based heavily on the Dacia Spring EV, already one of the cheapest electric cars on sale in Europe, the Spring Cargo does away with the rear seats and windows, with a bulkhead fitted in favour, turning it into a compact van.
- This allows for a 370kg maximum payload, spread across a load space of 1,085 litres – up from 308 litres on the Spring’s passenger car variant.
The new cheapest electric van on sale in the UK
The passenger variant of the Spring was already one of the most affordable EVs money can buy, and this new launch pushes the Spring’s affordability further. The Spring Cargo will now be the cheapest electric van on sale in the UK, with a pre-VAT price of £14,995. If you then take into account the UK’s Plug in Van Grant, which is set to be extended for another year, the Spring Cargo is eligible for a further £2,500 discount, bringing its price excluding VAT down to just £12,495. This low retail price, combined with the grant, also means the the Spring Cargo will be available on Business Contract Hire at a price of £149 a month.
The electric drivetrain underneath remains identical to the passenger car version, packing a 26.8kWh battery offering an estimated range of around 186 miles around town, or 140 miles on a mix of rural and urban roads. This battery also allows for a rapid recharge time of 20-80% in 45 minutes. Dacia say this setup will give it the capability to carry out deliveries both in town and further afield, also helped along by its short 4.8 metre turning circle. The Spring’s existing vehicle-to-load functionality will also come in hand with this new commercial use, allowing drivers to power their work accessories throughout the day.
With electric vans becoming ever popular amongst UK firms, particularly for delivery purposes, the Spring Cargo could turn out to be a popular option for fleets looking to decarbonise.
