Dacia Hipster Concept: electric, cheap, small, urban, and countercultural

The two main problems when considering the purchase of an electric car are the range and the high price, which often makes the transition to electric mobility inaccessible to a large part of the population. Dacia wants to advance its plan to democratize access to electric mobility, with its new prototype named Hipster Concept, in reference to its urban, countercultural and somewhat indie, far from the trend of the major European manufacturers.

The Dacia Hipster is a vehicle measuring just 3 meters long, 1.55 meters wide, and 1.52 meters high, designed to move with agility and ease in urban environments. It has an SUV-style body—although this small electric vehicle will never leave the road—and an interior that can accommodate four adults and a trunk for 0,000 people. The rear row of seats folds down. Mechanically, Dacia has confirmed that the Hipster will only have a small electric motor that will send power to the front axle and will keep the overall weight at around 800 kilos, a figure that puts it closer to light quadricycles than to conventional cars.

The Romanian brand's vision is for the Hipster to be a second family car or a first car for a young, urban audience, one that doesn't need to make long road trips. In fact, several studies indicate that 95% of European drivers travel no more than 40 kilometers per day in their vehicle, a reality that fits perfectly with the Hipster's potential.

Dacia has not revealed the Hipster's power or battery capacity, stating only that this prototype would have a range of 175 kilometers or more, sufficient for the weekly commute of a large part of the urban population, and that it could be charged quickly, even at a charging station. Initial rumors surrounding the Dacia Hipster suggest it could use simple 10.2 kWh batteries, which the Renault Group already uses in its Mobilize Duo.

A European 'kei car'

The Hipster will be a small A-segment vehicle, which will be positioned one point above the current one Dacia Spring and the new one Citroën Ami. But no one can ignore that a few months ago the Renault group, parent company of Dacia, requested new legislation from the European authorities to regulate the segment of electric, urban, simple and accessible vehicles, just the target market that this Hipster wants to conquer.

Current Japanese legislation regulates that kei cars These types of vehicles should not exceed 3.40 meters in length and have an engine displacement of up to 600 cc, with very low fuel consumption and emissions figures. The Renault Group, in association with the Stellantis Group, is seeking to have the European Union issue its own regulations to incentivize small electric cars as a real urban mobility alternative that is environmentally friendly and appropriate for current market demand.

Using lightweight materials and a very basic infotainment system, which takes advantage of the smartphones The driver's control system, which replicates its operation with several vehicle controls and dispenses with a central screen, and the side window opening system, help the car keep development and production costs under control. Although Dacia has not confirmed the price of the future Hipster, it should be between 9,000 and 15,000 euros depending on the finishes and safety and infotainment systems of the final production version, which will likely hit the market sometime next year.