Fiat introduces the Palio Elétrico in Brazil
Demetrio tips us again on another new Fiat, this time the Palio Elétrico. This electric Fiat uses nickel metal hydride batteries to support the electric motor which is capable of producing 15 kW (about 20 hp) of power with 50 Nm (less than 40 lb. ft) of torque. That is not very much power, but it is enough to propel the machine to 65 miles per hour or so. The batteries reside near the spare tire under the floor of the trunk. The vehicle is a collaboration between Fiat Automóveis and Itaipu Hidrelétrica, which operates the largest hydroelectric dam in the world. The batteries for the vehicle were provided by the Swiss company KWO. The range of the car stands between 110 and 120 kilometers, plus up to 20 extra kilometers when regenerative braking is added in, for a total of a possible 85 miles or so. Thirty examples of the all-electric vehicle will be used by the electric plants in an effort to prove that the electric vehicles are a viable option in Brazil.
How about this: cut a cylinder off the 1.4 liter engine in the Siena Tetrafuel, which was just mentioned on our site, to be used as a flex-fuel range extender for a Chevy Volt like Fiat? Now that would be worth talking about!
Gallery: Electric Fiat
Related:
[Source: Italiaspeed]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Joseph 6:56PM (8/29/2007)
?
20 hp? 65mph? Do you mean km/h because those kind of specs make more sense for a motorcycle, not a car.
And I wonder how they got large-format NiMH cells because of the patent problem between Panasonic and Chevron. Unless they parelled small cells, although I've heard that paralleling small NiMH cell is almost impossible.
Reply
Domenick 6:16PM (8/29/2007)
How about NOT putting a gas engine in it and sell it with a solar package for your home/garage. The time for half measures was 20 years ago. Wake up.
Thank you.
Reply
Chris M 9:40PM (8/29/2007)
It's nice that they could achieve a reasonable speed even with low power. The range is short and the power low due to using a relatively small NiMH battery pack, no doubt trying to keep the price low. If it does make it into production, they may offer a variety of pack sizes to suit various budgets and driving needs.
"Large Format" NiMH cells are already used in many different hybrid cars. Panasonic has a license from Cobasys to produce them, and the Swiss company KWO might also have such a license. Although Cobasys is now a division of Chevron, they cannot legally prevent their licensees from making automotive NiMH batteries, as those license were drawn up during the ZEV mandate era and were specifically for making EV battery packs!
Reply