Fiat just pulled the wraps off its new electric car, the 2013 Fiat 500e at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show! The 2013 Fiat 500e is largely based on the standard Fiat 500, but its gas engine has been swapped out for an electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack. Fiat is quick to point out that even with the Fiat 500e’s focus on efficiency and zero-emission transportation, it still places an emphasis on sporty driving.
The Fiat 500e is powered by an 111 horsepower electric motor and a 24 kWh lithium-ion battery, which Fiat calls its “e-Drive” system. The Fiat 500e will be able to travel approximately 80 miles between charges and delivers an estimated 116 MPGe city and 100 MPGe highway. According to Fiat it will take less than 4 hours to recharge the 500e using a 240 volt outlet and up to 24 hours on a 120 volt outlet.
Fiat was careful to not make any significant changes to the exterior of the Fiat 500, which means that the 500e looks almost identical to the gas-powered version. The small changes to the exterior are supposed to make the 500e more aerodynamic. Fiat’s designers used a wind-tunnel to re-sculpt the front and rear fascias, exterior mirror caps, side sills, and added a liftgate-mounted aero spoiler that extends the vehicle’s roofline.
Fiat hasn’t announced pricing for the 2013 Fiat 500e, but it will arrive by next summer.
+ Fiat
