Concept Study Dacia Hipster: Affordable Lightweight Electric Car

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After the Bigster comes the Hipster: With the new concept car, Dacia shows what affordable mobility in rural areas could look like: inexpensive, lightweight, electric—and no frills.

Life in the countryside can be quite exhausting. When the bus stops in the village only once a day, the nearest supermarket is miles away, and doctors are only found in the district town, mobility becomes essential. However, many older people with a modest pension can barely afford their own car. Or they are simply overwhelmed by the technology of modern vehicles.

The automotive industry provides few answers to the question of affordable individual mobility. According to Dacia, new cars in Europe have become 77 percent more expensive on average since 2010. Even small cars now cost so much due to the numerous legally mandated electronic driving aids that they exceed the budget of many people.

Competition for Stellantis Minis

Affordable small electric vehicles like the Opel Rocks from the Stellantis group, the Citroën Ami, or the Fiat Topolino offered as two-seaters are more of stopgap solutions. As shopping aids for the city, the barely 8 feet-long and approximately $10,600 e-cars may suffice. But crawling along country roads at 28 mph while trucks loom behind is not everyone's cup of tea.

Now Dacia wants to tackle the issue. Renault's Romanian budget brand has developed a concept study for an electric car. The French call their little 10 feet-long vehicle "Hipster," and it is described as "the newly reinvented car for everyone."

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L7e Approval Planned

Whether everyone will like it remains to be seen. Somehow, the Hipster looks like a rolling box, with wheels at the edges and minimal overhang. It offers space for four and can even transport a refrigerator in the rear when the back seat is folded down.

The highlight: The vehicle is set to receive an L7e classification. For this, it must weigh a maximum of 1,000 pounds without the battery but can reach a speed of 50 mph. Apart from ABS, such a vehicle, legally considered a heavy road quad, does not require expensive driver assistance systems. To ensure buyers still feel secure, chief designer David Durand gave the Hipster a rugged off-road vehicle look. The boxy design also has practical advantages, the designer explains. "It's the same idea found in the original Mini: nothing utilizes space better than a cube."

Sneaker Look And Bluetooth Speakers

The Hipster actually surprises with a generous sense of space and excellent all-round visibility. The front part of the roof is made of glass, which, for example, makes it easier to see traffic lights. Instead of sitting on thick cushions, you sit on a thin mesh fabric. The material resembles sneakers and is extremely lightweight, just like the straps on the doors that replace the usual handles. And in the cockpit, you only find what is truly necessary for driving: controls for the fan, lights, indicators, and sliding windows. If you want to listen to the radio via a mobile Bluetooth speaker or navigate, you need to connect your smartphone using a special mount.

While the space in the front might resemble that of a Smart Fortwo, the rear is naturally tight. However, as an emergency solution for shorter distances, the rear seat is certainly sufficient. And when the backrests are folded down, the Hipster turns into a mini truck.

How much the car will ultimately cost if it goes into production is something the French don’t want to reveal. The fact is: with the Spring, Dacia already has a highly successful small electric car in its lineup. The 12 feet-long four-seater starts at $18,000  and is one of the cheapest and best-selling electric cars in Europe. An L7e vehicle like the Hipster is likely to be significantly cheaper, especially since the Romanians are only planning a small battery for about 50 miles of range.

Charging At A Household Socket

Whether in the countryside or the city, this would be completely sufficient for normal daily use. According to a mobility study by the Federal Ministry of Transport, 57 percent of people living in rural areas rely on their car daily, more than in cities and metropolitan regions. At the same time, charging infrastructure is particularly lacking in these areas. However, the Hipster doesn't require a wallbox or fast charger: it can be charged using a standard household socket. Nowhere is electricity cheaper than at home, which also saves costs.

While politicians argue about expanding public transportation and society debates car-sharing and micro-mobility concepts, rural areas risk being forgotten. According to the study "Rural Mobility 2024," 77 percent of Germans currently live in and around large cities with over 100,000 inhabitants—an upward trend. On the other hand, 44 percent would prefer to move to the countryside. Intelligent vehicle concepts like the Hipster could at least help keep people affordably mobile in those areas.