The new Fiat 500e electric car is still an iconic city vehicle

By Electric Cars, 17 October, 2021

The new Fiat 500e, FCA's first completely electric vehicle, made its premiere a few months ago. The latest iteration of the classic city vehicle has a range of up to 320 km (WLTP) and comes equipped with 85kW fast charging. The new Fiat 500e is manufactured in Turin, Italy, where the first model was produced 63 years ago.

The new Fiat 500 electric car draws influence from previous versions. The original version of the Fiat 500 gave independence and movement, quickly becoming a symbol. The classic city vehicle was revived in 2007, bringing flair and beauty to the legendary city automobile that went on to dominate the world. The third generation is more sustainable, networked, and self-sufficient, conforming to more severe rules and inspiring change.

Giorgio Armani, Bvlgari, and Kartell have combined their expertise in elegance, innovation, and workmanship to produce three distinct versions of the new Fiat 500e. Engineers worked meticulously on every part of the electric car, devising solutions for the best possible range, charging, and driving pleasure.

Customers are mostly concerned about range and charging times. The lithium-ion batteries, with a capacity of 42kWh, provide the new 500e with a WLTP cycle range of up to 199 miles. The new Fiat 500e has an 85kW rapid charge system to save charging time. It just takes five minutes to build up enough energy reserves to go 30 miles, which is more than the typical daily commute. A fast charger can also charge the battery to 80 percent in 35 minutes. The Combo 2 plug, situated on the car's rear right side panel, can take both AC and DC charging.

There are also home charging options. The new Fiat 500e's launch edition includes an easyWallbox, a home charging solution that can be easily attached to a standard house outlet. This solution was created especially for FCA by ENGIE EPS. The easyWallbox may be expanded to 7.4kW, allowing for a complete charge in less than six hours at home. In addition, the Fiat 500 electric car comes with a Mode 3 connection for charging at up to 11kW from a public charging station.

The new Fiat 500 electric car features three driving modes: Normal, Range, and Sherpa, which may be customized to your driving style or needs.

Sherpa mode optimizes available resources to minimize fuel use, allowing it to reach the destination selected on the navigation or the closest charging station. "Normal" mode simulates driving a car with a traditional combustion engine, whereas "Range" mode activates the "one-pedal-drive" feature. The new 500 may be operated only with the accelerator pedal by selecting this driving mode. Releasing the accelerator generates a considerably greater deceleration than a standard combustion engine, nearly as if the brake pedal were pressed. To bring the electric car to a full stop, the brake pedal must be used; but, with regular usage and a little practice, it is feasible to drive using only the accelerator pedal.

The electric motor produces 87kW and has a top speed of 150 km/h (self-limited), and runs from 0 to 100 km/h in 9 seconds.

The automobile of the future is more than simply an electric city car; it is the first vehicle in its class to provide level 2 automated driving, bringing all of the advantages of autonomous driving to urban travel.

The new Fiat 500e is the first FCA electric vehicle to have the new UConnect 5 infotainment system, the future-ready linked platform. UConnect 5 was created with the goal of giving consumers an entirely new user experience. It is compatible with the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto operating systems and maybe utilized wirelessly. The Fiat 500 electric city car has a 10.25-inch touchscreen with a 16:9 aspect ratio that fits nicely into the automobile dashboard and allows for a smooth connection with a smartphone. UConnect 5 in conjunction with the telematics box module provides not only the obligatory Emergency Call feature but also a variety of unique connection options. The UConnect 5 technology operates both inside and outside the electric vehicle, allowing the driver to plan the navigation route and pre-condition the temperature. Wireless connectivity allows smartphones to connect in less than five seconds.

The Fiat 500e integrates future mobility in an Italian style, combining the significant heritage of the two preceding generations. The 500e retains the traditional and cool look of the 500, which has a 63-year history and is still an iconic city vehicle with the same stylish proportions and clean appearance.

The latest Fiat 500 electric city car is totally unique on the inside, with unmistakable references to the original model. Centro Stile outfitted the inside by effectively dividing the mass in order to create simplicity, trim aesthetics, and visual clarity. The broad dashboard and flexible storage options between the two front seats, where the gear lever was originally situated, are examples of this. The flat floor stores the lithium batteries without affecting the baggage compartment capacity, which stays constant. As a consequence, the inside is well-thought-out and cleaner, with fewer buttons and sharp, harmonic lines. @via Fiat.

The Fiat 500 "La Prima" is a limited edition created to commemorate the introduction of the new 500, with its own particular style, exclusivity, technology, and connection.