Do you want an electric A2?

The forthcoming Dacia Spring is a very interesting model and I'll have a think about purchasing one next year. I've been very happy with my Dacia Sandero Bi-fuel. I really didn't think that there's a more economic car to drive but I've realised that the Spring can be re-fueled for free! I'm about to have a 14 panel solar array installed together with an inverter and 2 x 5kW batteries. That should provide adequate power to re-charge the Spring. Further, a smart-meter also allows the batteries to be topped-up with very cheap off-peak electricity if needed. The Dacia Spring is projected to have a sub-£20,000 price (and maybe quite a bit lower) and a range of around 140 miles. I think that I could manage with that because apart from holidays, I rarely exceed that ....

David
 
The forthcoming Dacia Spring is a very interesting model and I'll have a think about purchasing one next year. I've been very happy with my Dacia Sandero Bi-fuel. I really didn't think that there's a more economic car to drive but I've realised that the Spring can be re-fueled for free! I'm about to have a 14 panel solar array installed together with an inverter and 2 x 5kW batteries. That should provide adequate power to re-charge the Spring. Further, a smart-meter also allows the batteries to be topped-up with very cheap off-peak electricity if needed. The Dacia Spring is projected to have a sub-£20,000 price (and maybe quite a bit lower) and a range of around 140 miles. I think that I could manage with that because apart from holidays, I rarely exceed that ....

David
Sounds like you’re having a similar setup installed to mine. I’m awaiting my first electric bill since commissioning with baited breath - before I was spending £400 a month on electricity, I’m hoping for sub-£100 in the summer now.
 
Sounds like you’re having a similar setup installed to mine. I’m awaiting my first electric bill since commissioning with baited breath - before I was spending £400 a month on electricity, I’m hoping for sub-£100 in the summer now.
No heat-pump but a separate 150 litre hot-water cylinder powered from the batteries. Obviously, surplus energy goes back to the grid.Central heating via an efficient LPG boiler.

David
 
No heat-pump but a separate 150 litre hot-water cylinder powered from the batteries. Obviously, surplus energy goes back to the grid.Central heating via an efficient LPG boiler.

David
You need an iBoost! This redirects unused surplus power to your immersion heater, rather than sending it to the grid.


RAB
 
The forthcoming Dacia Spring is a very interesting model and I'll have a think about purchasing one next year. I've been very happy with my Dacia Sandero Bi-fuel. I really didn't think that there's a more economic car to drive but I've realised that the Spring can be re-fueled for free! I'm about to have a 14 panel solar array installed together with an inverter and 2 x 5kW batteries. That should provide adequate power to re-charge the Spring. Further, a smart-meter also allows the batteries to be topped-up with very cheap off-peak electricity if needed. The Dacia Spring is projected to have a sub-£20,000 price (and maybe quite a bit lower) and a range of around 140 miles. I think that I could manage with that because apart from holidays, I rarely exceed that ....
You should investigate buying a Spring from Europe. It will be cheaper and the UK Spring will be LHD anyway, as I understand it.

RAB
 
You need an iBoost! This redirects unused surplus power to your immersion heater, rather than sending it to the grid.


RAB
I have no immersion heater at the moment. Hot water is supplied on demand from an LPG boiler. The water to the boiler is via a separate tank which has its contents pre-heated by a solar panel. The idea of another tank with an immersion heater was to use surplus power from the 10 kW batteries. I see that the iBoost does operate in conjunction with batteries, so I'll see about incorporating it, too. Thanks!

David
 
I have no immersion heater at the moment. Hot water is supplied on demand from an LPG boiler. The water to the boiler is via a separate tank which has its contents pre-heated by a solar panel. The idea of another tank with an immersion heater was to use surplus power from the 10 kW batteries. I see that the iBoost does operate in conjunction with batteries, so I'll see about incorporating it, too. Thanks!

David
Most (all?) hot water tanks will have any entry point for an immersion heater. An iBoost is designed to detect current flowing from your house to the grid and automatically re-directs that power to your immersion heater. It won't work and is not designed to work from a battery. Because of inverter inefficiencies, it wouldn't be the best way of using it even if it did. The reference to battery systems is about priority; whether the iBoost has priority over the battery or vice versa, nothing more.

RAB
 
You should investigate buying a Spring from Europe. It will be cheaper and the UK Spring will be LHD anyway, as I understand it.

RAB
I have purchased a vehicle from Europe in the past. I wonder if it has become more difficult now that we are out of the EU? I'm surprised that it will be LHD when available in the U.K.? I haven't seen that in print, yet. Purchasing from France would mean that certain aspects of the car would be incorrect for U.K. use (e.g. speedometer) but I've read that the price would be very attractive ....

David
 
I did read somewhere that the UK edition would be LHD but can't find anything to confirm it. You'd have to check with Dacia. Prices in France include a €5k grant from the government so prices probably aren't so very different.

RAB
 
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