Automotive

Better than advertised: Fiat 500e rated at 116 mpg-e

Better than advertised: Fiat 500e rated at 116 mpg-e
The 500e gets 116 mpg-e
The 500e gets 116 mpg-e
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The 500e gets 116 mpg-e
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The 500e gets 116 mpg-e
Fiat calls the 500e's 108 mpg-e highway rating the best in its class
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Fiat calls the 500e's 108 mpg-e highway rating the best in its class
The 500e can travel up to 87 miles (140 km) per charge
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The 500e can travel up to 87 miles (140 km) per charge
The 500e becomes Fiat/Chrysler's first electric vehicle in the U.S.
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The 500e becomes Fiat/Chrysler's first electric vehicle in the U.S.
The Fiat 500e is powered by a 111-hp electric motor
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The Fiat 500e is powered by a 111-hp electric motor
122 mpg-e in the city
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122 mpg-e in the city
The Fiat 500e is powered by a 111-hp electric motor
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The Fiat 500e is powered by a 111-hp electric motor
Inside the 500e
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Inside the 500e
Fiat calls the interior "retro futuristic"
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Fiat calls the interior "retro futuristic"
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When Fiat revealed the 500e at the L.A. Auto Show, it estimated that its first U.S. electric car would score a miles per gallon gasoline equivalent fuel economy of 116 mpg-e city, 100 mpg-e highway and 108 mpg-e. The official Environmental Protection Agency rating is in, and it's significantly better than estimated.

The EPA rates the 2013 500e at 122 mpg-e city, 108 mpg-e highway and 116 mpg-e combined. Fiat says that the 108 mpg-e highway figure is the best among U.S.-market electric vehicles. The combined figure falls short of a couple competitors, including the Honda Fit EV (118 mpg-e) and Scion iQ (121 mpg-e).

The 500e's range also gets a boost from the EPA. The agency's testing indicates the car will travel 87 miles (140 km) per charge, which bests Fiat's estimated 80 miles (129 km). Fiat is also happy to report that the annual fuel costs are estimated at an even $500. The mini-EV's consumption is 29 kilowatt hours (kWh) per 100 miles.

The 500e is powered by a 111-hp electric motor. Fiat added a series of eight aerodynamic improvements to the car to boost aerodynamics by 13 percent.

The 500e will go on sale in California in the second quarter.

Source: Fiat/Chrysler

View gallery - 9 images
13 comments
13 comments
matter13
Kilowatt hours?
Bill Bennett
get it to 300 miles at 80mph it will be in my driveway
JBar
Raise the price of gas to $8 a gallon so the $11,217 in lower fuel costs will justify the $11,216 higher price than its internal combustion counterpart and I'll put one in my driveway.
Max Kennedy
At what price and when can the rest of us bloody well get one?
3Deuce27
Finally... An EV that looks good and is fun to drive. Wanted a 500 anyway, this just sweetens the pot.
Available in California ...Only
Gregory Gannotti
I travel 135 miles in a day---only 2 charging stations at my company with 500+ employees...I agree with Bill...needs to go another 200 miles further per charge to be considered.
Rudy
It's about freakin' time Fiat...!!! Way to go! When can I get one?!?
Haliburton
"Raise the price of gas to $8 a gallon so the $11,217 in lower fuel costs will justify the $11,216 higher price than its internal combustion counterpart and I'll put one in my driveway."
The $7,500 available tax credit may do it for yah.
Rick Perez
Ugly, but somewhat economical... Let's hope this FIAT doen't live up to its old acronymn: "Fix It All the Time."
Doug Liser
We have a Leaf and it reports 4.3m/kwh in mixed mild-weather driving. That translates to 143mpg. We normally charge about 2 hours/night (7kwh) and drive 30 miles on it. The EPA tests must be more hostile to the mileage.
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