Stellantis’ first battery-electric vehicle (BEV) in North America, the two-door Fiat 500e, will arrive in Stellantis showrooms in early 2024. The 2024 Fiat 500e is claimed to be the lightest passenger BEV in the market. Here’s a look at the car.

Range and Charging

In the EV world, the two most-asked questions are usually about range and charging, so we’ll answer those questions first. The range of the 500e is said to be up to 149 miles. The car has a 649-pound, 42 kWh, high-voltage lithium-ion battery system. Fiat says that this translates to a charge time of 4 hours and 15 minutes from 0-100 percent using a level 2 (11 kW) charger. When it comes to DC fast charging the 500e has 85 kW of capability. This translates to a charge time of 35 minutes from 0-80 percent. The 500e includes an 11 kW AC-DC on-board charger and a combo 1 socket. The Fiat 500e comes standard with a home L2 Wallbox charger system and access to Free2Move Charge credits, making charging convenient and accessible.

Fiat 500e Performance

The 500e weighs in at a bit over 3,000 pounds. It’s front-wheel drive and has a three-phase motor with permanent magnetic rotor. This motor generates 118 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque. The car has a top speed of 94 mph and can accelerate 0-60 mph in 8.5 seconds. Additionally, there are three drive modes available. Normal mode closely resembles familiar driving characteristics like the coasting experience of an internal combustion engine. Range mode activates the one-pedal-drive function, which optimizes regenerative braking to capture more energy when coasting. Finally, Sherpa mode maximizes energy efficiency. This mode adjusts various parameters, such as limiting the vehicle top speed to 50 mph and reducing power from 87 kW to 57 kW. However, if you need full throttle it’ll be delivered.

Exterior Features

The 500e retains the historic lines of the Fiat 500. However, it has new front and rear LED lighting, e-latch aero door handles, and an updated front grille. These features contribute to improved aerodynamics, which helps to improve electric range. The car rolls on 17-inch wheels.

Updated Interior with Classic Design Cues

Inside the 500e there are design cues that pay homage to the original 1957 Fiat 500. Look for the dashboard insert, rounded cluster, and two-spoke steering wheel. But there’s also the latest tech in the form of a 10.25-inch center screen with Uconnect 5, combined with a 7-inch full digital cluster. Also: a newly designed center console and door panels and newly designed seats with six-way adjustability for the driver. Additionally, cabin preconditioning allows drivers to begin a journey with a climatized cabin while still plugged in. This feature brings the 500e cabin temperature to the selected level without reducing the battery’s state of charge.

One-Pedal Driving

The 500e features one-pedal driving, which is unique to BEVs. This uses the electric motor and regenerative braking to provide stop and go function using only the accelerator pedal. This design maximizes energy capture by recovering what would normally be lost. It uses the electricity later for propulsion, which is ideal for low-speed, urban traffic. The technology pairs with E-coasting and the management of vehicle deceleration to further increase energy efficiency.

More Variants of the 500e are Coming

The introduction of the 500e Red is part of Fiat’s marketing plan. There will be more variants of the car introduced soon. This strategy is called “product drop.” It’s designed to create buzz, cultivate customer loyalty, and appeal. Fiat is the first automotive brand to incorporate this strategy. It involves the creation of different variants of the car. These models will be released at different times in a limited quantity. Fiat notes that this strategy is like those carried out in the fashion apparel industry.

About Fiat’s Electric History

The Fiat 500e may be new to North America, but it’s the best-selling small car in Europe. Green NCAP named it the most environmentally friendly electric car on the market. It has tallied over 1 billion miles driven in Europe. Fiat has a 124-year history known for cars like the 1974 Fiat X 1/23. It was a compact two-seat electric vehicle that was far ahead of its time. Fiat experimented with different battery technologies over the years. This led to production of the Fiat Panda Elettra in 1990. The Elettra was the world’s first mass-produced electric car by a major international carmaker. The Fiat 500e is assembled at the Mirafiori Assembly Plant in Turin, Italy. It will be available in Stellantis North America showrooms starting in early 2024. Including destination charge the 500e Red will cost $34,095