What the Electric Fiat 500e Is Like—From a Fiat 500 Owner

It is also good to make use of a automobile with trendy facilities like lane steerage and auto braking when it detects a pedestrian. Heck, even having a reversing digicam is sweet. Nonetheless, the Fiat 500e continually warns me about “emergency vehicles” in entrance on the show (it performs a scarily loud sound, too), but it surely’s sadly incorrect 80 % of the time. Cease giving me a coronary heart assault!

The Previous Vary-and-Charging Downside

You are getting a roughy 150-mile vary on the Fiat 500e, which is OK for the way usually I drive. I do not commute for work, so most of my journeys are for leisure. I did drive the 500e extra usually than I in all probability would in a traditional week, however after 4 days, I went from 96 to 41 % after round 53 miles. This poses an issue once I must make the occasional longer jaunt, like when visiting my in-laws or occurring a highway journey.

{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu

{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu

I’ve a home with a parking spot in New York Metropolis, which makes me very privileged and fortunate to have the ability to cost from home—nevertheless, the charger Fiat consists of was only a smidge too quick to achieve the charging outlet behind my home. Regardless, many people will not be going to have a luxurious like that and must use charging stations. After I tried in search of charging stations close to me, virtually all had been described as “gradual.” Fortunately, there was only one marked as “quick.”

However earlier than that, earlier within the week I discovered myself close to WIRED’s Manhattan workplace, and I figured I would discover a spot to park and cost the automobile whereas I sat within the workplace for 2 hours. The primary parking storage I went to was full, so that they turned me away. The second I went to mentioned it’d price $60 to cost and park for 2 hours as a result of, in New York Metropolis, you are not paying just for electrical energy but additionally actual property. Sixty {dollars} boosted my battery from 41 to 77 %. It is value noting that I commonly pay round $35 each two weeks to refuel my gasoline Fiat 500 (and it takes a couple of minutes).

Discovering the proper fast-charging station is necessary. The one close to my dwelling that had loads of spots out there (on a Thursday night), and I watched many EV drivers passing the time of their automobiles as they charged, watching movies on their telephones. I pulled up, plugged the automobile in, and after roughly 20 minutes I had gained 20 %, which price me roughly $4. Now I can get used to that.

I did not get to check drive the Fiat 500e on an extended journey, although I think about I would must be a bit extra meticulous about ensuring there are quick chargers on my route and time it so {that a} 30-minute recharge may maybe fall proper throughout a lunch or toilet break. It is extra concerned, and that is arguably the largest pause I would have about shopping for an EV if I ceaselessly make lengthy journeys (however I do not).

Let’s Speak Cash

Whereas I used to be researching a automobile to purchase, I ceaselessly noticed the backronym for Fiat: Repair It Once more Tony. These automobiles appear to have earned a poor fame for reliability and upkeep over time. I had the five hundred I purchased inspected, and it was in truthful situation, although the earlier proprietor did inform me they needed to change the automobile’s door handles after they broke off. I’ve by no means heard of a automobile’s door handles simply breaking off, however apparently it is a widespread drawback amongst Fiats. I am unable to say a lot in regards to the reliability of the Fiat 500e within the US, however I am hoping it is improved.

The elephant within the room is the $32,500 beginning worth (the mannequin I examined begins at $36,000). You’ve gotten tons of EV choices with extra room and higher vary, just like the Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Kona Electric, and the Tesla Model 3.

Nonetheless, in the event you’re after a small automobile, there actually aren’t many choices within the US, save the brand new Mini Cooper SE, which has a $30,900 beginning worth. I am constantly envious watching my UK counterparts having fun with a set of tiny and affordable electric cars—we’d like them right here, too. (I’d completely drive the Microlino.)

The Fiat 500e is simply too costly, however we’re starved for selection within the US, particularly for small EVs that look nice. The Fiat 500e is simply that. I would simply select to drive it over my gasoline mannequin; too unhealthy it is out of my price range. It additionally would not are available in yellow (boo!). If Fiat may remedy these two issues, I would fortunately open my pockets.