This CARe 500 is an independently developed electric Fiat 500 which will soon be available on the Europen car market. The original vehicle has been adapted by Swedish company EVadapt and will be distributed by MK Group Holding GmbH. While Fiat likely has plans to develop an electric or hybrid 500 in the future, the CARe is getting a head start, but as a pricey option. This 500 electric version starts at 23,900 euros, excluding batteries which are included as a hired option at 150 euros a month.

If you want the whole thing with the battery pack included the CARe will cost you 36,990 euros. Incentives mean these prices could be reduced but frankly, with the bottom having falling out of the European car market last month and many Europeans struggling with low wages in the middle of the ongoing financial crisis, we can’t see this kind of a solution taking off. For technical sake, the CARe has a 120-km range with a top speed of 120 km/hr. Recharge time is between six and eight hours with a standard 230 Volt outlet.

The Fiat 500 EV model developed by Fiat itself should appear in 2012 and will be presented in the US. It will have batteries produced by a Bosch-Samsung joint venture (SB LiMotive) and will be built at the Chrysler Auburn Hills facility. There’s no knowing how much it will cost either, and it could probably be destined for some kind of fleet hire scheme at the beginning. At least, let’s hope so because even a person with the greenest spirit might baulk at these figures for such a small electric vehicle.

Source | Autoblog.it

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The Fiat 500 has already reached the production figure of 500,000 with the successful city car being produced at the Tychy plant in Poland. About half of that production has all been sold in Italy, followed by France, England and Germany. The car is sold in 83 countries around the world and will form a key part of the Fiat-Chrysler relationship, marking the first Fiat model to appear on the US market under the new partnership.

The Fiat 500 electric version will likely remain a special model for the US, without appearing in Europe. In the meantime, Sergio Marchionne is planning a positive recovery for the Chrysler brand, stating that it should reach break-even point already in 2010. Despite all the intricate strategy of how to deal with the various Chrysler brands and what will happen to each of the models, this is the first real indication we have of the benchmark stages of a more global Chrysler recovery strategy. It will be interesting to see in the future how much involvement Fiat will have had in that achievement and what might happen for Fiat and Chrysler in the US and European markets respectively, off the back of this recovery.

The Fiat 500 electric US version will be produced by Chrysler at its Auburn Hills facility, while a standard model 500 is on display at the Chrsyler stand at the New York auto show. Fiat 500 US sales will start in December in what is hoped will be a successful move in the new Fiat-Chrsyler partnership, with the retro style appealing to anyone wanting 60’s cool in their car.

Source | Autoblog.it

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Swedish company AutoAdpat has created a Fiat 500 electric version, with Alelion batteries. Plans for production are underway, with 100 models assembled this year, to increase to 300 models in 2010.

The Fiat 500’s provided to AutoAdapt come directly from Fiat, with AutoAdapt then installing the electric engine and battery pack. Three versions of the 500 electric will be available, with ranges of 100, 150 and 200 km. The batteries can apparently be recharged up to 22,000 times, and are appropriate for use in the cold climate of Sweden.

The 100 km range Fiat 500 electric price, however, is about 400,000 Swedish krona, equivalent to 37,000 euros. The Fiat-AutoAdapt collaboration is likely to continue, with electric versions in development for the Panda, Punto Classic and Grande Punto.

Source | Autoblog.nl

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