Rumor has it that it will have a 75 kW, 100 hp electric motor powering the front wheels, and will be sold only in limited quantities.
The 2014 Fiat 500E, featuring a fully electric drivetrain, will debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in late November. Neither Fiat nor Chrysler have released any details, but rumor has it that it will have a 75 kW, 100 hp electric motor powering the front wheels, and will be sold only in limited quantities.
The “Italian backpack,” as the diminutive 500 is affectionately known in Europe, is certainly a likely candidate for electrification. However, some in the auto media seem a little skeptical. Chrysler will be the last of the Big Three to produce a plug-in vehicle, and in the past, execs have made dismissive comments about hybrids (never mind pure EVs).
However, when VP Bob Lee announced plans for the 500E in August, he said, “We do believe in electrification, sparingly and for the right kinds of targeted applications. We’re developing technology for commercialization, preparing for the shift when consumers start pulling them into the marketplace.”
Source: Green Car Reports
Image: 2013 Fiat 500
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