After showing a “design study” of an electrified Fiat 500 at this year’s Detroit auto show, Chrysler is confirming its plans to develop and market a battery-electric 500 for U.S. consumption beginning in 2012.
Chrysler and Fiat have previously said that the Americans will handle the electric vehicles for the allied partnership, and this 500EV will be the first EV from the companies. Before the two tied up, Chrysler had planned to build a whole roster of electric vehicles, beginning in 2010. Bankruptcy intervened and that plan appears to have changed.
We expect the electric 500 to be much like the slightly larger Mini E, which gains weight and loses some utility in the electric-vehicle transformation—Chrysler says the 500 was chosen for electrification because of its small size and light weight. The 500EV will use a lithium-ion battery but further details are scarce.
Chrysler says to expect a price competitive with similar electric vehicles on the market; since there are none that you can actually buy at this point (the Mini E is only available for lease on the left and right coasts)—we’ll wait to speculate on that number. The gasoline-fueled Fiat 500 will make its North American debut toward the end of this year.
Along with the 500EV announcement, Chrysler said it plans to build a fleet of 140 plug-in hybrid Dodge Rams for deployment with government agencies, utility companies, and universities. The planned non-plug-in hybrid Rams have been cancelled due to a lack of interest from the buying public.
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