Fiat 500 EV to be built by Chrysler.

[alfredo]

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/03/chrysler-to-build-fiat-500-ev/

The Standard 500 will come to the US soon.

[Romulox]

1. So...who's bringing the electric expertise to the table here--Chrysler or Fiat?

:shrug:

[Ichingcarpenter]

3. Fiat started building the car in 2006

f you’re going to base a new vehicle on an established design, it may as well be one of the best-sellign cars of recent times. The Fiat 500 has been a phenomenal success and so it is no surprise that its design has been modified with the most advanced electric drive system to produce the NICE/Fiat Micro-Vett e500.

History of the NICE/Fiat Micro-Vett e500

A new Fiat 500 was first announced by the Italian manufacturer in May 2006, before the car was officially launched in July, 2007. The vehicle is produced in Tychy, Poland, with the car appearing almost identical to the concept version originally presented in 2004 known as the Trepiuno – a strictly four-seat, three-door hatchback aimed at city drivers with fashionable good looks.

The success of the model was phenomenal. Within three weeks of the 500’s launch, the entire year’s production of 58,000 vehicles had sold out. To cope with demand Fiat increased production to 200,000 in 2008 and also launched the car in the UK in January of the same year.

What followed was collaboration between Fiat and electric car manufacturer the NICE Car Company. Due to the growing demand for electric vehicles in the UK thanks to the London Congestion Charge and increased fuel prices, it was felt that a city car with the design of the Fiat 500 would be ideal to market as an electric. That is why the NICE/Fiat Micro-Vett e500 was launched at the British International Motor Show in 2008 with an advanced electric-drive system and though it is only available in limited numbers it was made immediately available to order.

[Romulox]

5. If it's that great of a car, where can I buy one?

And the article says that Chrysler is doing all the EV engineering here in the US. :shrug:

[Ichingcarpenter]

6. I'm overseas

so I don't know about the US.

The article came from the UK.
http://www.thegreencarwebsite.co.uk/blog/index.php/nicefiat-micro-vett-e500-electric-cars/

[Romulox]

10. My question was rhetorical; they're not on sale here in the US. nt

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

2. $32,000 for a micro-car... pass.

I'd like my next car to be Smart Fortwo. I'll hold my breath for the Smart EV coming out.
Hopefully it will be much cheaper. The gasoline Smart is only ~$12,000

If I had $32,000... I'd buy a nice little tuner car and dump 10k into the motor.

[alfredo]

9. The gasoline version will be released first.

[xultar]

4. This is the car I've been waiting for, oh and I'm a Chrysler fan. I'm glad they are

surviving.

[alfredo]

13. I'm happy that Fiat has returned to the US. They've had

their ups and downs, but they are on an up now and I think America is ready for a good Italian, French, Polish (and whatever) made auto. The Abarth emblem will become popular with the tuners.

[Stevenmarc]

7. I'll wait for the Abarth

[alfredo]

8. In the late 60's I had an Italian girlfriend with a Fiat 500 Abarth.

She would tear through town in her little red rocket. I loved riding with her. Her dad was a professional auto racer. He taught her how to drive.

You can buy the basic car, then go after market with the Abarth equipment.

[MineralMan]

11. I had a Fiat 600 Abarth back in 1964.

Fun little car. Had an original 1959 Mini, too, but with a MG 1100 engine in it for a bit more oomph. Also a great little car...well...except for the Lucas electrical stuff, anyhow.

[alfredo]

12. The Brits never got that electric thing down.