BETTER PARTSThere will be an electric version of the original Fiat 500 (for a favorable price?)
Admit it: this is a lot more fun than a Birò
As cute as the current Fiat 500E may be, it doesn't come close to the original 500. But then you have to accept the old technology and all the associated hassle. Or maybe not. The Real Italian Car Company (TRICC) is working on an electric version of the original Fiat 500 from the 1950s. A serious counterpart to the Fiat Topolino or the Opel Rocks-e?
The Real Italian Car Company is already working with the Fiat 500. You can buy a restored example there for 9,000 euros. They haven't said anything about prices yet, but with a bit of luck the electric 500 won't cost that much either. In general, conversions are quite expensive, even if the base is cheap. London Electric Cars asks around 40,000 euros for an electric classic Mini.
For environmental zones and city centers
TRICC informs Top Gear that there are plans to electrify the Italian classic, which will allow the car to enter all city centers and environmental zones. The team is currently analyzing a number of proposals from different suppliers and determining the overall vehicle concept. Hopefully they also take air conditioning into account.
According to TRICC, they are not working on the basis of a loose sketch: 'We will determine the parameters such as weight, range and packaging and then see where we go.' The proposals come from the United Kingdom, the United States and Italy, with a range of different options. For example, the battery and motor can be in the front or in the back. Or even divided over the two spaces.
How far should the electric Fiat 500 really drive?
'As with all electric cars, it is a trade-off between weight, range and space. A large number of batteries gives you a lot of range, but that increases the weight. And do you really need 200 miles of range in a car like this? And while the concept of having batteries in the front and rear could balance the car, we have to think about the luggage space,” TRICC believes.
The Real Italian Car Company says the battery and rear-mounted engine is currently the top contender. The plan is to have a working prototype of an electric Fiat 500 early next year. “We have to do it in a sustainable, scalable way,” the company believes.