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Tyres  /  Tyre NewsVan Tyre News  / Dacia Spring Cargo

New Dacia Spring Cargo: the UK’s cheapest electric van

Dacia Spring Cargo rear side

Claiming the title as the ‘the UK’s most affordable compact electric van’, the new Dacia Spring Cargo has arrived from just £14,995. But is it practical?

Among the growing list of compact electric van protypes hitting the scene just now — from the colourful Renault Estafette Concept to the deep-pocketed ELM Mobility EVOLV — Dacia’s Spring Cargo stands out as what has become a more traditional approach to last-mile deliveries: a car-derived van. 

Upon the release of the standard model, The Late Brake Show’s Jonny Smith pondered whether the Spring EV was a realistic option for small families, and now we’re wondering if it’s practical for small businesses too. 

One thing’s for sure, converting one of the cheapest EVs on the market for commercial use has made for some budget-friendly pricing. Oh, and if £14,995 still sounds like too much, the Spring Cargo qualifies for the £2,500 UK Plug in Van Grant (PiVG), a scheme which was extended for another year in the 2024 Autumn budget, among other things.

White car-derived van man

On the outside, it looks like a car, specifically a Dacia Spring (surprise surprise). There’s very little to differentiate the LCV version from the standard car model, with the Polar White paintwork acting as the key identifying feature. The myth of the white van man may have been debunked, but Dacia’s choice to ‘keep things simple’ here still represents some workhorse ambition.

Spring Cargo on road
The compact 3.2 m long frame boasting the same 4.8 m turning radius as the non-van model — ideal for navigating tight urban environments.
Image credit:  Dacia

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The design is a little frumpy, and it does seem all the personality tokens were spent in the band between the headlights, but as a budget EV, it avoids looking too cheap which is about all we can ask. The utilitarian plastic bumper and wheel arches look right at home in van format, representing an easy carry over into the cargo hauling world.

Small but mighty?

So, it’s not a big van, but since the loss of the Ford Fiesta Van and the Vauxhall Astravan, it has some big boots to fill. 

Spring Cargo boot
The doors have the seats outnumbered by five to two, but this offers some handy accessibility as the cargo area can be reached from three angles.
Image credit: Dacia

Similar to its forebears, the rear seats have been pulled out, and a mesh bulkhead has been installed to separate off the rear. This has created a 1085-litre cargo area (a shade over 1m3), capable of carrying a 370 kg payload. That’s more than twice the capabilities of Citroën’s polarising Ami Cargo, but less than a quarter the capacity and half the payload of the popular ë-Berlingo — somewhat symbolic of where the Spring Cargo sits within the market.

A new generation

One area that sets the Spring Cargo apart from its dearly departed car-derived cousins is the electric powertrain, increasingly applicable to today’s LEZ–marked cities.

Spring Cargo loading
The boot lip is slightly obstructive when loading, but some car-based limitations were inevitable.
Image credit: Dacia

The 65 hp electric motor, hooked up to a 26.8 kwh battery, can squeeze out a range up to 186 miles if conditions are ideal, although this will realistically be more like 140 miles in a mixed-use cycle. This range is above average for comparably sized delivery vehicles, and offers more versatility than quadricycle EVs such as Mobilize’s new Bento, as it is not limited to the same small roads.

Fast charging is available for those wary of keeping downtime to a minimum, allowing the Spring EV to be juiced up from 20% to 80% in 45 minutes — again nothing special, but a solid standard for the segment.

In the driver’s seat

Spring Cargo interior
Adding some utility, the Spring Cargo packs vehicle to load (V2L) technology, allowing the charging or power of tools and accessories up to 240V.
Image credit: Dacia

The front — as expected — is far more car-like than van-like, even if the line blurs with every passing year. The standard spec comes with a sleek 10-inch infotainment screen, USB ports, air con, parking sensors, a reversing camera, and just about everything else you’d expect from a contemporary car van. It is a touch plasticky, but once again, for the price? No complaints.

Hero image credit: Dacia

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