FIAT 500e

[johnqh]

The third gen isn't, but Car2Go has been using the 2nd gen for over a year now very successfully. The 3rd gen. is cheaper with better performance and range, so should be even more successful.

Not true. It appears only San Diego has the electric ones. All the other cities use ICE Smart.

 

[GRA]

The third gen isn't, but Car2Go has been using the 2nd gen for over a year now very successfully. The 3rd gen. is cheaper with better performance and range, so should be even more successful.

Not true. It appears only San Diego has the electric ones. All the other cities use ICE Smart.

Uh huh, and in my first post I specifically referenced San Diego, as in "Someone needs to tell Car2Go in San Diego that their 2nd gen. Smart EVs don't work for car-sharing." Where is there any room for confusion here?

 

[johnqh]

The third gen isn't, but Car2Go has been using the 2nd gen for over a year now very successfully. The 3rd gen. is cheaper with better performance and range, so should be even more successful.

Not true. It appears only San Diego has the electric ones. All the other cities use ICE Smart.

Uh huh, and in my first post I specifically referenced San Diego, as in "Someone needs to tell Car2Go in San Diego that their 2nd gen. Smart EVs don't work for car-sharing." Where is there any room for confusion here?

OK, I thought you were referring that all Car2Go are electric.

I wasn't correct either. A few cities use Smart electric.

However, the cities roll-out in 2012 are mostly gas Smart. Before 2011, almost half of the fleet are electric. That tells you something.

 

[KeiJidosha]

.

 

[GRA]

From Insideevs.com:

"Top Gear Drives the Fiat 500e; Falls in Love"

http://insideevs.com/top-gear-drives-the-fiat-500e-falls-in-love/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Lease price is the same $199/month as the Spark EV, and I still haven't seen any performance test drives of that. Things are definitely getting interesting.

 

[Nubo]

From Insideevs.com:

"Top Gear Drives the Fiat 500e; Falls in Love"

http://insideevs.com/top-gear-drives-the-fiat-500e-falls-in-love/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[cwerdna]

TTAC has a guy "living" with a Fiat 500e for a week. You should be able to follow via http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/tag/fiat-500e/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

I guess some sort of media embargo was lifted and/or press review cars are floating around now. I haven't had time to read the LA Times comparo yet.

 

[cwerdna]

^^^
The above guy is clearly driving around the Bay Area. Too bad I don't know where he's going to be otherwise I'd like to check out the car.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2013/06/living-with-an-ev-for-a-week-day-four-can-we-get-a-charging-standard-please/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; is titled "Living With an EV for a Week – Day Four (can we get a charging standard please?)" Interesting that he only barely touches on Frankenplug. I don't follow this writer but it seems he's reasonably well informed (compared to many journalists) about EVs.

I wonder if he realizes that Fiat is essentially in the Frankenplug camp along w/a bunch of others who don't seem to have a serious EV program (except for BMW).

 

[Valdemar]

From Insideevs.com:

"Top Gear Drives the Fiat 500e; Falls in Love"

http://insideevs.com/top-gear-drives-the-fiat-500e-falls-in-love/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Lease price is the same $199/month as the Spark EV, and I still haven't seen any performance test drives of that. Things are definitely getting interesting.

Is it known how many annual miles will be included with this lease? I couldn't find any information, $199/mo figure is not very informative by itself.

 

[Glenn]

Is it known how many annual miles will be included with this lease? I couldn't find any information, $199/mo figure is not very informative by itself.

Local Fiat dealer confirmed that the 500e lease mileage allowance is the same 12,000 per year as the standard 500 lease.

 

[GRA]

^^^
The above guy is clearly driving around the Bay Area. Too bad I don't know where he's going to be otherwise I'd like to check out the car.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2013/06/living-with-an-ev-for-a-week-day-four-can-we-get-a-charging-standard-please/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; is titled "Living With an EV for a Week – Day Four (can we get a charging standard please?)" Interesting that he only barely touches on Frankenplug. I don't follow this writer but it seems he's reasonably well informed (compared to many journalists) about EVs.

I wonder if he realizes that Fiat is essentially in the Frankenplug camp along w/a bunch of others who don't seem to have a serious EV program (except for BMW).

The week is over, and I especially like his reasoning for why EVs weren't ready for primetime 15 years ago, i.e. no conspiracies needed:

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2013/06/living-with-an-ev-for-a-week-day-seven/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[TomT]

I get to drive one for a few days in two weeks and I'm really looking forward to it! (I got called out of the blue to test it and give my thoughts and results... I said hell yes!)

 

[GRA]

I get to drive one for a few days in two weeks and I'm really looking forward to it! (I got called out of the blue to test it and give my thoughts and results... I said hell yes!)

I'm really looking forward to your report

 

[DaveinOlyWA]

^^^
The above guy is clearly driving around the Bay Area. Too bad I don't know where he's going to be otherwise I'd like to check out the car.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2013/06/living-with-an-ev-for-a-week-day-four-can-we-get-a-charging-standard-please/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; is titled "Living With an EV for a Week – Day Four (can we get a charging standard please?)" Interesting that he only barely touches on Frankenplug. I don't follow this writer but it seems he's reasonably well informed (compared to many journalists) about EVs.

I wonder if he realizes that Fiat is essentially in the Frankenplug camp along w/a bunch of others who don't seem to have a serious EV program (except for BMW).

The week is over, and I especially like his reasoning for why EVs weren't ready for primetime 15 years ago, i.e. no conspiracies needed:

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2013/06/living-with-an-ev-for-a-week-day-seven/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I also agree with everything he said although I don't agree with the attitude of "if its broke, abandon it instead of trying to fix the problem" cooling issues might have been an issue but they were hardly insurmountable and the end result is several years of lost research and product development

 

[redLEAF]

Some don't like this guy from Cnet but as always, it's opinions that they provide so you can take them or leave them ...

decent review overall ... would still love to see these in the Midwest, he compares the ride quality to our LEAF which he considers one of the better EV's with a decent ride ...

http://reviews.cnet.com/coupe-hatchback/2013-fiat-500e/4505-10867_7-35791987.html

 

[SanDust]

I agree with the CNet reviewer that the Fiat 500 seems like it should have been an electric car in the first place. Too bad we can't put the e-technology found in the Spark, which is awesome, into this car. If you did that you'd have a huge seller.

 

[redLEAF]

Monroney sticker from a Fiat 500e:

 

[redLEAF]

But the Fiat dealer's have 'ordered' as many as Fiat planned to build so ... hopefully this is enough demand to consider shipping to other zero emissions states as well as the rest of the U.S. ...

http://wardsauto.com/north-america/fiat-500e-sold-out

 

[TomT]

The three dealers around here that I have talked to have told me that their allotments are already spoken for with buyer deposits... They told me that they could sell many more than they have been allocated if they were available...

But the Fiat dealer's have 'ordered' as many as Fiat planned to build so ... hopefully this is enough demand to consider shipping to other zero emissions states as well as the rest of the U.S. ...

 

[redLEAF]

The three dealers around here that I have talked to have told me that their allotments are already spoken for with buyer deposits... They told me that they could sell many more than they have been allocated if they were available...

But the Fiat dealer's have 'ordered' as many as Fiat planned to build so ... hopefully this is enough demand to consider shipping to other zero emissions states as well as the rest of the U.S. ...

Yep, sounds accurate, not sure how many Fiat had planned to build but remember that this was a 'compliance' car for CA so whatever that magical number was (a % of total cars sold or some such) that would allow them to continue selling their ICE versions in CA; this number may be for other Fiat's or for Chrysler Group in general (the latter I would think). Had also heard that Tesla sold some of their 'credit's' but not sure if this is something different; could almost be like carbon credits but CA style but would make sense for those mfg. who don't offer or plan to offer a 'zero emission' car in the near future.