Calling all Electric 500 owners, wannabe owners, EV enthusiasts and everyone in-between!

[ben]

Hey everyone, it's time for another favour to ask

The New 500 (or 500e as some people call it) is kicking off in the UK now so we need to get in on some of this action!

I created the Electric 500 forum a while ago, but I need your help to get it up and running!

So firstly - if you already have an EV 500, please pop over to the forum and introduce yourself on the drop in thread.

Also, don't assume that just because it's quiet now, that there is no one to available help - post up any problems or questions you might already have, no need to run off to another site to do so! I'm sure we have enough knowledge between us already on the site to get your issues solved

And if you aren't the proud owner of one (yet?), but are interested in them - why not post up a question thread to get some discussion going


Moderators Wanted
We're also going to need a person (or two) to moderate this new forum and also actively promote it - so if you're up for that please let me know!


I'm going to get some external advertising going to try and bring in some outsiders - but people won't stay unless there is something to read, so please help a brother out and let's make the FIAT Forum the place for the Electric 500 owners to be!

Much love!

 

[JeffSmith]

If any readers are seriously considering buying a Hybrid electric Fiat. my strong advice would be don't bother. I have just par exchanged my Mercedes Benz E300 diesel hybrid againt a Fiat 500 105 bhp twinair. Am I mad, you're probably thinking. Teue the Mercedes was a lovely car to drive. the most comfortable car I've ever owned. However, there have been well documented problems problems with the hybrid system on these cars. With owners being quoted between £12,000 and £20,000 for a replacement hybrid battery. Mercedes UK, or the dealer network just don't want to know, and the issues are now well known in the motor trade, so the cars are difficult to sell or even part exchange. I must sress that the system is what is now known as a 'mild hybrid', with the battery only assisting the diesel engine during accelleration. This makes the car quite quick for such a large vehicle (0 to 60 in 7.5 seconds) My car had bever given any problems, and when I purchased it, I imagined that if there was a problem with the hybrid 'assistance', the car would just continue driving as a conventional diesel. How wrong i was! Mercedes have inegrated thw system in such a way, that the vehicle will not drive, or even move off the drive if the hybrid system, or battery fails. I've discussed the issue with a couple of UK based elecrric vehicle specialists. Who have told me that the hybrid battery is not very big in the Mercedes, and should cost a fraction of the prices Mercedes are quoting. Unfortunately Mercedes will not supply independent specialists with any parts or data, and have even written a programme into the vehicles electronic management systems that shuts down the electronics if anyone, other than Mercedes tries to work on it. The specialists told me that this is in direct contrast to the batteries in Toyota's & Lexus vehicles, which are much larger, given their ability to propel the vehicle on battery power only. despite this, the batteries are far cheaper to replace than the prices quoted by Mercedes. Even better, the specialists told me that the can replace individual cells in the Toyata & Lexus batteries, allowing them to offer very reasonable prices to get drivers back on the road. I'm so sorry to post on a Fiat forum to talk about a different manufacturer, but I was very upset to part with the Mercedes, it was everything I wanted in a vehicle, and I hoped it would be the last vehicle i would ever need to buy. Please don't be sucked in by the electric vehicle confidence trick. Engineering break through's like the Twin Air engine are the real way forward. Electric vehicles are a solution that doesn't work, looking for a problem that doesn't exist!!

 

[vexorg]

Engineering break through's like the Twin Air engine are the real way forward. Electric vehicles are a solution that doesn't work, looking for a problem that doesn't exist!!

There is a finite amount of fossil fuel in the world, and eco-warriors claim petrol is bad for the planet (might be some truth in it).
A twin air seems to have it's own issues and I'd avoid it

 

[Panda IIs]

There is a finite amount of fossil fuel in the world, and eco-warriors claim petrol is bad for the planet (might be some truth in it).
A twin air seems to have it's own issues and I'd avoid it

Not £20k's worth though! I'm a TA owner (84k miles now) and love the character, low end torque etc. The one thing I would say is that fuel economy is not its greatest strength but at 105bhp it is upping the stakes in efficiency, and the associated CO2 emissions are significantly low.

 

[John202020]

I see myself/family being priced out of driving, then a job, then our house, there's no way I could ever afford a EV even used, I see the price of used petrol cars going mental in the run up to 2030 and staying high for quite a while after? I bought our 6 year old Mazda 6 in 2013 for only £2400 and 50k miles, you'd be hard pushed to buy a "heap" for similar money today?

 

[vexorg]

but at 105bhp it is upping the stakes in efficiency, and the associated CO2 emissions are significantly low.

Motorbike engines were there 30 years ago, same with any other tiny turbo petrol engine on the market.

The problems EVs are now facing is that the running cost is becoming comparible to petrol/diesel, meaning is it worth it for most people.

 

[JeffSmith]

Not £20k's worth though! I'm a TA owner (84k miles now) and love the character, low end torque etc. The one thing I would say is that fuel economy is not its greatest strength but at 105bhp it is upping the stakes in efficiency, and the associated CO2 emissions are significantly low.

I would agree that fuel consumption s nowhere near as good as Fiat would have us believe. While I realise that all manufacturers tend to exaggerate mpg figures, I feel that Fiat has taken this to ridiculous levels with the 105 twin-air. According to the on-board computer, my low mileage, 105, is only averaging 44 mpg. I live in a very remote, rural area, so tend to actually get close to 'official' overall fuel consumption figures. My last car, Mercedes E300, Diesel- Hybrid estate averaged 50 mpg, while my wifes Volvo D40 (2 litre Diesel) averages 55 mpg. Both the Mercedes, and the Volvo are in the £20.00 per annum road tax bracket. I'm beginning to question the point of the Twin-air 500. I owned a 75bhp Panda Diesel for years, and that really did astound me with its MPG figures (usually averaging 65 mpg). I don't like being conned, and will probably end up moving back to a diesel as soon as possible.

 

[The Panda Nut]

I would agree that fuel consumption s nowhere near as good as Fiat would have us believe. While I realise that all manufacturers tend to exaggerate mpg figures, I feel that Fiat has taken this to ridiculous levels with the 105 twin-air. According to the on-board computer, my low mileage, 105, is only averaging 44 mpg. I live in a very remote, rural area, so tend to actually get close to 'official' overall fuel consumption figures. My last car, Mercedes E300, Diesel- Hybrid estate averaged 50 mpg, while my wifes Volvo D40 (2 litre Diesel) averages 55 mpg. Both the Mercedes, and the Volvo are in the £20.00 per annum road tax bracket. I'm beginning to question the point of the Twin-air 500. I owned a 75bhp Panda Diesel for years, and that really did astound me with its MPG figures (usually averaging 65 mpg). I don't like being conned, and will probably end up moving back to a diesel as soon as possible.

I felt the same way with my first TA. I now have 30,000 miles of TA driving experience. This engine is to say the least odd, but if you persist you can get very good consumption from it, but NOT if you use 105hp! Physics will not go away. Use the full potentalmof that power and ir wil burn fuel big time just like a 100 -120 hp 2 litre car. Its only whe you accept this and really relax into driving smoothly with reduced use of the full power that economy will flow. Commuting and driving for work, no chance! The thing is you have a choice, economy or fun fun fun. Physics rules apply and you CANNOT have both at the same time. Nearest you will get to this is with a top diesel turbo where the base line is simply better. Get the driving style right and you will find the sweet spot but its not without a lot of trial and error. 100hp Panda gave 43mpg with normal driving, 52 wafting along economically and 30 or less when ploughing on hard. Twinair 105 is nearly identical. Physics!