You already know the Fiat 500e, the electric version of the italian mini, due to be launched at this year Los Angeles Auto Show. Unfortunately Fiat will not sell its 500e electric car in Europe. It is official. Olivier Francois, Fiat global chief, said it.
The 500e will launch in California in the second quarter next year. Sales will follow in other U.S. states that mandate sales of zero emission vehicles, Francois said.
This eco version is expected to have somewhere around 100 hp and over 200 Nm. The electric engine will be fed by a lithium-ion battery, rechargeable at every house socket in almost 8 hours.
To accommodate the changes operated under the hood, the Italian manufacturer decided to also use an aerodinamic package for lowering the drag coefficient. This is why we can see a different lower white front fascia, new wheels, aero underbody lip, lower side sills and possibly low-rolling tires in these first images of the car.
Chrysler, which builds the 500 range for North America in Mexico, will lose between $8,000 and $10,000 on every Fiat 500e sold, Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne has said.
Source: Fiat
