Fiat 500e from 2015
MSRP $32,300.00
“Adding electric power to the FIAT 500 changed the car from a retro homage to a compelling, charismatic and perfect city car.”
Average
-
fast electric acceleration
-
adorable style
-
A fun handshake
Against
-
Bad behavior on the road.
-
limited range
-
For sale only in California and Oregon
The FIAT 500e EV is a strange car, not only that its architects didn’t want to build it, but they really would rather no one buy it. Unfortunately for Sergio Marchionne, CEO of FIAT, any automaker that wants to sell cars in California must offer a zero-emissions vehicle. So the 500e must exist.
Why FIAT? No Do you want someone to buy a twee EV? Marchionne claims that every 500e is losing money to FIAT Chrysler Automobiles… $10,000 per car, to be exact. If that’s your case, you really should have told your engineers to dig a little harder because despite some serious flaws, the 500e is a charismatic and good-looking small car.
Better than the original?
While the brawny little 500 Abarth gives the Cinquecento (500 in Italian) line significant performance, the standard gas-powered car is definitely underpowered. Compared to a standard car, the electric 500 is a true revelation. The 500e may not meet some Abarth performance standards, but it has 111 electric horsepower to its name, as well as 146 pound-feet of torque.
It might not sound like much, but this is electric power, which means everything is available from zero rpm. The practical result of this is that the little FIAT runs and runs like a thoroughbred racehorse. Acceleration is especially punchy from zero to about 40 mph. From there, acceleration drops off thanks to the electric motor’s lack of gearing.
Peter Braun/Digital Trends
Peter Braun/Digital Trends
Dynamically, all that momentum can cause some real drama. With stability control turned off, it’s easy to lose traction on the front wheels. But it’s not just fun to burn; Full throttle produces understeer, torque, and various other types of steering, making it difficult to drive in a straight line. Consequently, it’s not exactly what I’d call composite… but it’s a lot of fun.
In fact, with its small wheels, short wheelbase and extremely low weight, the electric FIAT drives like a racing kart. The added power allows you to take advantage of the 500’s dynamic suspension in a way that simply isn’t possible in a stock car.
urban professional
The little FIAT is the perfect city car, designed to get around congested urban centers. The addition of electricity helped this further.
With its electric torque, it is able to weave its way through traffic and into tight gaps. Its extremely small footprint also allows you to make the most of congested roads, not to mention tight parking spaces. Despite the big pillars and kitschy styling, the 500e also has good visibility for maneuvering in tight parking lots. Its small overhangs also allow the driver a view around otherwise blind corners.
With its small wheels, short wheelbase and extremely low weight, the electric FIAT drives like a racing kart.
Take the 500e out onto the open road, however, and a few flaws will emerge. On the highway, the FIAT’s small tires and short wheelbase find bumps and potholes in the pavement, requiring constant adjustment to keep the car straight. It’s not dangerous, but it’s not reassuring either.
Fortunately, FIAT has added additional sound deadening material to make up for the lack of badging on the engine. That really helps keep the 500e quiet in most conditions, but my press demonstrator had noticeable wind noise coming from the windows at highway speeds.
Of course, there is the big killer: range. This is where the relatively unplanned nature of the 500e rears its ugly head on it. Based on its official range and my experience over the week, I’d say it should get about 60-80 miles on a full charge. That’s more than enough for average daily driving, but presents complications for something more ambitious.
Of course, even most dedicated EVs can’t go more than 100 miles on a charge, but even 20 more miles of range can make a world of difference.
During my time with it, I was forced to charge the 500e off a standard 120 volt wall outlet, which lasts a lifetime and a half. Anyone who actually had a car would use a level two charger. According to FIAT, the 220 volt level two charger will fully charge the car in less than four hours, which is reasonable.
eco-chic
I drive a lot of cars and the reactions are not always what I expect. That said, I wasn’t at all surprised that the sweet little 500e garnered more female attention than anything else I’ve driven in the past year.
In short, the 500e is cute, and thanks to its endearing environmental features, it will make polar bears just as happy as socially responsible ladies.
The physical changes to the car in its electric form are minimal, but enough to breathe new life into the older exterior. The 500e has a new grille, electronic badging, digital instrument panel, and new wheels. From a distance, it will be difficult for the average observer to see the difference. But the grille and new instrument panel give the car a nice retro-futuristic feel.
It also helps disguise the fact that the 500 is an old car. The interior is nice and well designed, but, thanks to a lack of infotainment and a wide variety of hard black plastics, it begins to lag far behind its competitors.
However, none of that mattered to the people who saw and admired this car.
Conclusion
My press demonstrator was priced at $32,300. A $7,500 federal tax credit is available to help, and in California, one of only two states where the 500e is sold, including Oregon, an additional $2,500 is available from the state government. That’s a good thing because, frankly, at $32,300, it’s hard to justify a little FIAT. However, when the price drops, it is quite easy to make a car box as a second vehicle.
For a family with two cars, a small FIAT makes a lot of sense. It can handle daily commutes and errands, but it won’t go into service like something it’s not. In some ways, it’s not unlike a gas-powered car which, despite its limitless range, isn’t a road vehicle and doesn’t have room for many tasks.
While FIAT may not like the idea, for people interested in a polar bear-friendly 500, the 500e is almost certainly the way to go.
High
- fast electric acceleration
- adorable style
- A fun handshake
falls
- Bad behavior on the road.
- limited range
- For sale only in California and Oregon
editor’s recommendations
Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn