General I could see my self in a new 500e in the near future.

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General I could see my self in a new 500e in the near future.

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I'm still contemplating a move to the new FIAT 500e (3+1 ??)
I think it's a good looking new design 500, TBH.
The only thing i would add to the car are lowering springs, it will improve the sporty look a lot, IMHO.
H&R Suspension would most likely be the first to offer lowering springs.
If/when not i could always go the custom made route for lowering springs.

EV's will be the future here in Europe with all the strict new future emission rules.

Lowered 500e for illustration purpose.
 

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If city driving was all I did, I'd certainly be interested in the 500e. TBF, 90% of the time I could probably manage with one now......if it wasnt for the cost!
Its certainly the best looking electric city car in my eyes.
 
One thing I always get annoyed about owning a mini is people going “it’s not really mini anymore, all mini’s are huge” yep but mini is a brand name not a description.

In the same vein there is nothing about the latest 500 that carries over from the original fiat 500, it’s not small, it’s certainly not cheap, I won’t be easy for owners to work on and it defiantly doesn’t have a 500cc engine anymore. It’s also not a brand name and over the years they’ve not continued the 500 name throughout, fiat changes car lines and badges more often than most people dine out.

I’m really not really sure why they called this a 500, well I am they’re looking to sell what sells. But I don’t really connect with it and fell not only are there better electric cars options, but there are also cheaper and more practical options, at the moment electric car buyers either want a Tesla, or they are buying with there head and want a practical car that’s a good deal.

This little car might look good by my god it’s expensive and impractical
 
I'll never be able to afford any EV car

Me either, if the 500 EV ever reaches these shores I'd buy one without hesitation if I could afford it, but FIAT's attract premium pricing in this country. Ironic that I can recall when you couldn't give them away.

I don't think it's any more impractical than than my 500C. Actually, for an EV, it's not a bad looking car. It is a shame about the colours - maybe they're trying to be all grown-up:rolleyes:.
 
If city driving was all I did, I'd certainly be interested in the 500e. TBF, 90% of the time I could probably manage with one now......if it wasnt for the cost!
Its certainly the best looking electric city car in my eyes.
Have a look at the microlino, that‘s cute. And small. And affordable...
 
Have a look at the microlino, that‘s cute. And small. And affordable...

It reminds me of the BMW Isetta but with an extra wheel!
I love that LED strip across the front and rear and who doesn’t love headlights built into side mirrors!!???
I think it’s brilliant but not sure my 19st frame will fit inside it too well!!
 
It reminds me of the BMW Isetta but with an extra wheel!
I love that LED strip across the front and rear and who doesn’t love headlights built into side mirrors!!???
I think it’s brilliant but not sure my 19st frame will fit inside it too well!!
It's supposed to look like the Isetta. And it will run 90km/h, so also useable outside of city limits. They are having difficulties getting market ready though.
19st is not exactly small indeed - do you fit into a 500? :confused:
 
It's supposed to look like the Isetta. And it will run 90km/h, so also useable outside of city limits. They are having difficulties getting market ready though.
19st is not exactly small indeed - do you fit into a 500? :confused:

:D Yeah I do! And unlike in a Mini, there is room behind my seat for my 12yr old daughter, making my 500 suitable for me, my wife, and our 2 kids to travel comfortably (and slowly):D:D

Owning my 500 is an itch I have scratched though so it may be time to move it on and have a go at the less practical but supercharged Mini R53 Cooper S!
 
I'm still contemplating a move to the new FIAT 500e (3+1 ??)
I think it's a good looking new design 500, TBH.
I agree, still a bit on the heavy side, but it's the first EV from a mainstream manufacturer that appeals to me.
Have a look at the microlino, that‘s cute. And small. And affordable...
I like that more than I should! And at only 513kg it is at least light. I can only wonder how it'll handle on country roads, though...
 
Batteries are actually lasting far longer than anyone expected, even in the early Leafs, which don't have the battery thermal management that most newer designs have. New EVs typically come with an 8 year battery warranty, and there are increasing numbers of independent EV specialists to carry out repairs. Several early Leaf owners think it worthwhile to have their batteries replaced with newer, larger packs and continue using the cars.

The 500e is quite cheap for an electric car at a starting price of about £20k. I tried to see how this compared to a new hybrid Pop, but Fiat don't seem to put prices on their website any more, you have to apply for a quote. Rubbish!
 
It'll take a while to catch on internationally, but I like Nio's approach to the battery problem.

Of course you can charge at home or at a charging point, but you can also pull in to a "power swap station" and they'll swap the battery out for a fully charged one.

They only sell to the Chinese market at the moment (as they are a Chinese company), but they already have over 190 "power swap stations", some fully automated that can perform a swap in 3 minutes.

As all their batteries are/will be interchangeable and upgradeable, you'd never end up with an old duff battery, they get replaced as and when needed and as batteries get better, so does the one in your car.

With well placed "power swap stations" battery range wouldn't be an issue either. Local trips you can charge at home or at a charging station, longer trips and you just pull in, swap the battery out and carry on faster than filling up with petrol.

It's not beyond imagination to retask petrol stations into power swap stations and if manufacturers started sharing battery technology, you could end up with the same battery systems in lots of different makes and models of cars.


BTW, the Isetta wasn't originally a BMW.
It was originally designed and made by ISO of Italy in 1952 with a split single two stroke engine (anyone remember them?) and made under license in Brasil by Romi. Early cars had 3 wheels, within a couple of years a 4th was added.

It wasn't until 1955 BMW bought the tooling then allowed Velam in France to make a version with a different body and I think they also allowed someone else in South Amercia to knock out copies, but I believe some of these companies had already swapped out the split single two stroke to a BMW sourced engine before BMW's offical involvement.

By the late 50's Brighton Railway Works produced the UK version, it wasn't a hit until they lost the 4th wheel and reverted to the orginal ISO 3 wheeler format so they came under motorcycle taxation.
 
It's not beyond imagination to retask petrol stations into power swap stations and if manufacturers started sharing battery technology, you could end up with the same battery systems in lots of different makes and models of cars.

If this were to happen, I think the whole idea of electric cars would appeal to a considerably greater number of people!
 
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