DACIA is to shake up the electric vehicle market with the announcement it will be bringing its budget-priced Spring EV to the UK in 2024.

The car has been on sale in Europe since 2021 and has already racked up some 120,000 orders.

In some European markets it has sold for as little as £13,500 depending on local incentives for EV buyers but in Britain - where the Government has scrapped most EV deals - it will be priced from around £18,000.

That's still well below most other battery powered small cars and the Spring measures little more than the likes of a Skoda Citigo or VW up!.

The Spring is 3.7 metres long and has an official range of 143 miles from a 27.4kWh battery which gives it 44bhp.

Performance figures show that the Spring is aimed more at urban use than cruising and it has a 0 to 62mph acceleration time of 19 seconds with a top speed restricted to 78mph.

Recharging - done from a port hidden in the front grille - takes around five hours from a wallbox at home or some eight-and-a-half hours from the three-pin socket.

With a DC charging option available Dacia says the Spring can be recharged to 80 per cent capacity in less than an hour.

SUV-like styling gives the Spring a modern look while its boot at 290 litres is on the large side for a small car.

Luke Broad, Dacia brand director for the UK, said: "We are thrilled that Dacia Spring will come to the UK in 2024. It will certainly be worth the wait! It will literally plug a gap in the UK electric car market for a highly usable, quality EV that won't break the bank and which makes electric vehicle ownership more realistic than ever.

"With over 120,000 customers already sold on the Spring's unbeatable, ‘no-nonsense' blend of value, efficiency and durability, UK car buyers can look forward to an EV that's perfectly aligned to their mobility requirements and, importantly, is done the Dacia way."

Xavier Martinet, Dacia's senior vice president for sales, marketing and operations, added: "The UK is an important market for us, so we are delighted to strengthen our range with the Dacia Spring. With UK sales surging year-on-year and many British car buyers having a recognised appetite for the brand, it is now the right time to introduce a pure electric vehicle. Spring has democratised electric vehicle ownership in Europe, offering people the chance to enjoy sustainable driving without the often-associated price premium. I'm confident that Spring will we be as popular in the UK as it has proved throughout the rest of Europe."