Fiat 500e

Fiat 500e. The Fiat 500e is an electric city car produced by FCA Italy, a subsidiary of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, in collaboration with Chrysler Group LLC and CNH Industrial. It was unveiled at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show and was inspired by the Fiat 500, a city car designed by Roberto Giolito and Frank Stephenson. The Fiat 500e was engineered by FCA Italy and Chrysler Group LLC in partnership with Bosch, Continental AG, and Sias.

Introduction

The Fiat 500e was launched in the United States in 2013, with initial sales limited to California due to the state's zero-emission vehicle mandate, which was implemented by the California Air Resources Board and supported by Governor Jerry Brown and California State Legislature. The Fiat 500e was also sold in Oregon and Hawaii, and was available for lease in Washington and Maryland. The Fiat 500e was designed to compete with other electric vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Bolt, and Tesla Model S, which were produced by Nissan, General Motors, and Tesla, Inc., respectively. The Fiat 500e was also compared to the Smart Fortwo Electric Drive, produced by Daimler AG, and the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, produced by Mitsubishi Motors.

Design and Features

The Fiat 500e was designed by FCA Italy's design team, led by Roberto Giolito, in collaboration with Chrysler Group LLC's design team, led by Ralph Gilles. The Fiat 500e features a unique design, with a front fascia and rear bumper designed to improve aerodynamics and reduce drag. The Fiat 500e also features a regenerative braking system, which was developed in partnership with Bosch and Continental AG. The Fiat 500e has a range of electric vehicle-specific features, including an electric motor and a 24 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which was supplied by Sias and Samsung SDI. The Fiat 500e also features a charging station developed by Leviton and Schneider Electric, which allows for fast charging.

Specifications and Performance

The Fiat 500e has a range of up to 87 miles (140 km) on a single charge, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Fiat 500e has a top speed of 84 mph (135 km/h) and can accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) in 9.1 seconds. The Fiat 500e features a single-speed transmission and a rear-wheel drive layout, which was developed in partnership with Dana Incorporated and GKN. The Fiat 500e also features a MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam rear suspension, which were developed in partnership with ZF Friedrichshafen and Benteler International.

Production and Sales

The Fiat 500e was produced at FCA Italy's Toluca assembly plant in Mexico, which also produced the Fiat 500 and the Dodge Journey. The Fiat 500e was sold in limited quantities, with initial sales limited to California and later expanded to Oregon and Hawaii. The Fiat 500e was also available for lease in Washington and Maryland. The Fiat 500e was priced at around $32,500 in the United States, which was competitive with other electric vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf and the Chevrolet Bolt. The Fiat 500e was also eligible for a federal tax credit of up to $7,500, which was implemented by the United States Congress and supported by President Barack Obama and the United States Department of Energy.

Safety and Reception

The Fiat 500e received positive reviews from critics, with many praising its electric vehicle-specific features and its unique design. The Fiat 500e also received a 5-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and was named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The Fiat 500e was also recognized for its environmental benefits, with the US Environmental Protection Agency estimating that it produces zero tailpipe emissions and has a well-to-wheel emissions rating of 121 g/mi (199 g/km). The Fiat 500e was compared to other electric vehicles such as the Tesla Model S, produced by Tesla, Inc., and the BMW i3, produced by BMW Group.