dacia hipster concept car aims to reduce carbon footprint of current electric vehicles by half

Limited material use for dacia hipster concept car

Dacia introduces the Hipster Concept car, an automobile that hopes to cut the carbon footprint of current electric vehicles by 50 percent. The company plans to make it happen by lowering the vehicle’s weight up to 20 percent compared to its recent model (the Spring), giving it smaller dimensions, making it modular, and limiting the materials used in production with recycled Starkle panels and mass-dyed elements to avoid layers of manufacturing. Fewer painted parts and lighter materials mean less energy consumption, from production to daily use. 

Dacia Hipster Concept car’s compact design entails less battery capacity, which can lessen the environmental cost of battery production, dubbed one of the largest sources of carbon emissions in electric vehicles. Instead of larger, heavier, and more expensive vehicles, the automobile focuses on modular structure, recyclable materials, and use of personal devices in hopes of making it affordable to produce and maintain. The company hopes that by making small-scale design choices, using recycled materials, reducing painted parts, and simplifying interior systems, it can collectively cut carbon emissions in half, at least for the Dacia Hipster Concept car.

all images courtesy of Dacia

single body color saves on the electric vehicle’s paint materials

Outside, the vehicle’s shape is a compact block with four wheels placed at each corner, removing front and rear overhangs. The front end is flat and horizontal, fitted with narrow headlights that align with the company’s design language. The tailgate covers the car’s full width and opens in two sections for easy loading, and the rear lights are placed behind the tailgate window, removing the need for separate glass panels and helping reduce cost and material use. The Dacia Hipster Concept car uses a single body color, with only three painted elements to save on paint materials and energy used in manufacturing. The front and rear protective parts, called skis, are dyed in the mass, meaning the color is integrated into the material instead of applied as paint.

For the interior, the cubic body of the vehicle maximizes the space. The upright windshield and vertical side windows increase usable room, and a transparent front section on the roof lets light into the cabin. The side windows slide instead of rolling down to reduce mechanical parts and overall weight. The car seats four passengers, and the rear seat access is simple due to a wide door opening and a front seat that folds forward. The front seats are merged into a single bench-style unit, which saves parts and simplifies production. The seat frames are visible, paired with a technical mesh fabric, while the openwork headrests help further reduce weight. The rear seat also folds to adjust storage. When four passengers are seated, the boot holds 70 liters, and when the rear seat is folded, the space expands to 500 liters. This modular system allows the car to adapt from passenger use to cargo use easily.

Dacia introduces the Hipster Concept car

Modular designs inside the concept automobile

The Hipster Concept interior integrates Dacia’s YouClip system, a modular accessory feature. The interior includes 11 YouClip anchor points placed on the dashboard, door panels, and boot area, so users can attach different accessories such as cup holders, armrests, storage modules, or portable lights. The system allows drivers to adapt the car to their specific needs without extra built-in components. This modular setup also reduces waste since owners can add or remove parts instead of replacing full interior sections and keeps production simpler and cost-efficient.

The company also brings over its Bring Your Own Device policy, meaning instead of installing an in-built multimedia system, the Dacia Hipster Concept car uses the driver’s smartphone as the central control tool. The smartphone connects through a docking station on the dashboard. Once docked, it acts as a digital screen showing navigation apps and media. The smartphone also functions as a digital key, unlocking and starting the vehicle through secure connectivity. The audio system is a portable Bluetooth speaker that can be removed and used outside the car, and it connects directly through the YouClip system to cut electronic waste. At the present time, the company has yet to announce the production date of the Dacia Hipster Concept car.

the automobile hopes to cut the carbon footprint of current electric vehicles by 50 percent

when the rear seat is folded, the space expands to 500 liters

outside, the vehicle’s shape is a compact block with four wheels placed at each corner

the tailgate covers the car’s full width and opens in two sections for easy loading

the rear seat also folds to adjust storage

the vehicle’s interior integrates Dacia’s YouClip system, a modular accessory feature

a transparent front section on the roof lets light into the cabin

the front seats are merged into a single bench-style unit

project info:

name: Dacia Hipster Concept

company: Dacia | @dacia_uk

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