• The Dacia Spring is the same car as the Renault Kwid.
• Renault has electrified the Spring/Kwid line-up.
• The Spring Electric will be the most affordable electric car in Europe when it launches in 2021.
• For more motoring stories, go to www.Wheels24.co.za
Electric mobility is on the up, and automakers are fast adapting to this new way of moving. One of the biggest problems we have regarding e-mobility is that the technologies required to produce these cars are still very much on the expensive side.
Locally, we have three cars making up the electric offering, with more to be offered in the coming years. However, with a starting price of R642 000 for the Mini Cooper SE Hatch - the most affordable electric vehicle (EV) in South Africa - we still have a long way to go to make these cars accessible to the masses.
Renault, though, or Dacia, as it's known in some parts of the world, might have a solution to this issue as they've electrified its Kwid city-car.
Dacia Spring Electric / Renault Kwid Electric (Renault Media)
Accessible and affordable
While we refer to it as the Renault Kwid, the car is also known as the Dacia Spring. A rebadged Kwid for those who want to separate green apples from red ones. The Kwid Electric will, just like it did back in 2016, aim to give the international carpool something to ponder about as it makes (electric) mobility both affordable and accessible.
The car will make its debut in Europe first, and Renault says that it will be the lowest-priced EV on the market. Not only that, but the car will be available as both a cargo vehicle and one that different users can share amongst each other to ease e-mobility in the city.
According to Renault, the Kwid Electric implements a 33kW all-electric engine that's mated to a 268kWh battery. When plugged into a 220V home socket or on a DC charging station and using the correct cables, the Kwid Electric's battery can charge from 0 to 80% full in less than an hour.
The driving range is a claimed 225km on a full charge.
If on sale in SA, would you consider the Kwid Electric as a purchase decision? Email us.
Dacia Spring Electric / Renault Kwid Electric (Renault Media)
Should it come to SA?
While the Kwid is not the go-to vehicle for some, others are drawn to it because of its attractive selling price and low running costs. The most expensive Kwid (1.0 Climber auto) retails for R193 900, and if Renault should bring the Kwid Electric to our market, it will carry a premium over the rest of the range.
In the grander scheme of things, the Kwid Electric will be the most affordable EV in the country should it make its local debut. Using the Mini SE as an example, it is around R37 000 more expensive than John Cooper Works model, but R167 488 more affordable than the JCW GP. If Renault manages to bring the Kwid Electric to market on the same premise as Mini did with the SE, we could see the Kwid Electric retailing for between R250 000 and R300 000.
These are only predictions, but given that the Kwid came to market as an affordable alternative in 2016, it should not be discounted for turning the next phase of mobility into another successful venture for the French automaker.
Dacia Spring Electric / Renault Kwid Electric (Renault Media)