What the Electrical Fiat 500e Is Like—From a Fiat 500 Proprietor

It is also good to make use of a automotive with fashionable facilities like lane steering and auto braking when it detects a pedestrian. Heck, even having a reversing digital camera is good. Nevertheless, the Fiat 500e continually warns me about “emergency vehicles” in entrance on the show (it performs a scarily loud sound, too), however it’s sadly flawed 80 p.c of the time. Cease giving me a coronary heart assault!

The Previous Vary-and-Charging Drawback

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

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 house—nonetheless, the charger Fiat contains was only a smidge too brief to succeed in the charging outlet behind my home. Regardless, many people are usually not going to have a luxurious like that and should use charging stations. After I tried searching for charging stations close to me, virtually all had been described as “slow.” Fortunately, there was only one marked as “fast.”

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 automotive whereas I sat within the workplace for 2 hours. The primary parking storage I went to was full, in order that they turned me away. The second I went to stated it’d value $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 p.c. It is value noting that I usually pay round $35 each two weeks to refuel my fuel Fiat 500 (and it takes a couple of minutes).

Discovering the proper fast-charging station is essential. The one close to my house that had loads of spots out there (on a Thursday night), and I watched many EV drivers passing the time of their vehicles as they charged, watching movies on their telephones. I pulled up, plugged the automotive in, and after roughly 20 minutes I had gained 20 p.c, which value 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 should be a bit extra meticulous about ensuring there are quick chargers on my route and time it so {that a} 30-minute recharge might maybe fall proper throughout a lunch or rest room break. It is extra concerned, and that is arguably the most important pause I would have about shopping for an EV if I regularly make lengthy journeys (however I do not).

Let’s Speak Cash

Whereas I used to be researching a automotive to purchase, I regularly noticed the backronym for Fiat: Repair It Once more Tony. These vehicles appear to have earned a poor fame for reliability and upkeep through the years. I had the five hundred I purchased inspected, and it was in truthful situation, although the earlier proprietor did inform me they needed to substitute the automotive’s door handles after they broke off. I’ve by no means heard of a automotive’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 could have tons of EV choices with extra room and higher vary, just like the Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Kona Electrical, and the Tesla Mannequin 3.

Nevertheless, if you happen to’re after a small automotive, 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 persistently envious watching my UK counterparts having fun with a collection of tiny and inexpensive electrical vehicles—we’d like them right here, too. (I’d completely drive the Microlino.)

The Fiat 500e is just too costly, however we’re starved for alternative 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 fuel mannequin; too unhealthy it is out of my price range. It additionally would not are available yellow (boo!). If Fiat might resolve these two issues, I would fortunately open my pockets.