Swedes to build electric Fiat 500s
Swedish company AutoAdapt has rolled out its first battery-powered Fiat 500 at its factory near Gothenberg this week. Autoadapt is working with Alelion Batteries and Fiat to do series production of several Fiat models with electric drive. The company plans to build about 100 of the tiny 500s this year and 300 next year. Fiat is providing rolling chassis without any powertrain hardware and Autoadapt is installing the lithium ion batteries, power electronics and electric drive hardware. The company is offering three battery options with 60-, 90- or 120-mile ranges. Following the launch of the 500, Autoadapt will add electric versions of the Punto, Grande Punto and Panda.
Alelion claims its lithium ion batteries have been tested to 22,000 charge cycles without performance degradation. The batteries are also claimed to work well in cold weather, a common condition in Sweden.
[Source: ElectricAid]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tohe 6:12PM (4/15/2009)
This is exactly what Chrysler should be offering in the States. Why invest tons of money on new Viper like Evs, when they could partner with Fiat and introduces these babies to the American market? I just don't get it.
Reply
Chris M 4:21PM (4/16/2009)
The Dodge Circuit EV is much further along in development, and it's high performance means Chrysler can charge a premium and make a higher profit margin.
We could see a Fiat 500 EV, but only if Fiat agrees to produce them, or gliders for EV powertrain installation.. Chrysler is unlikely to bother with an aftermarket conversion.
Brent 10:30PM (4/22/2009)
"high performance means Chrysler can charge a premium and make a higher profit margin"
The profit margin won't be that high the first years of production, as consumers aren't willing to invest as much in the first gen of electric cars, the reliablity doesn't have enough consumer testing.
Also with charging the premium, people right now aren't willing to shell about 40 grand on a dodge.
If you ask me dodge should be an automotive company left behind, their stuck on yesterdays technology. The fact that they started to move ahead was just to join the pack and hope for some government funding/mercy. It's sad but the Big 3 and US manufactures might loose the next gen car battle, too much beuracracy. Their not willing to scrap the old to push the new, and the japanese seem to have a much better formula for progress and organization. Most people don't want a 40 grand US EV with the risk of bugs. The foriegners seem to have better testing or standard cause I don't hear as much about faulty products as the US unless its china. We need to be willing to make huge leaps if we want huge payback. The future will be there, todays investing won't kill you, debts a number. Until you miss the mark.
matthijs 7:00PM (4/15/2009)
"22,000 charge cycles without performance degradation."
So if I choose the 120 miles a charge pack I will have no degradation after 2640000 miles? Where do I sign?
Reply
Speculawyer 1:07PM (4/27/2009)
>>So if I choose the 120 miles a charge pack I will have no degradation after 2640000 miles? Where do I sign?
Ted 7:30PM (4/15/2009)
Surely that should be 2,200? Unless Alelion have made an amazing breakthrough in battery development & forgot to tell the world???????
Reply
Frank N. 8:59PM (4/15/2009)
why can't we have something like this in canada?? disappointed.
Reply
stas peterson 1:09PM (4/16/2009)
An under engineered offering by a tiny maker that has no significance for the worlds population of cars. It has already lost any credibility it had by the outlandish statements about battery cycle longevity. NO battery maker is quoting any such number; but this hand made packager of someone else's battery is presuming to speak for their supplier?
Move on nothing to see here. This sounds like the BYD over-promising in China. BYD sold 80 cars, and now they are being sued for battery problems. If you want to do things right, it takes time . GM is competent in knowing what you have to do to bring any vehicle to market, with a minimum of bugs.
Reply
Mel 3:22PM (4/16/2009)
Typical looser attitude! Just stick with your sucessfull buddies at GM who obviously know what they are doing and please spare the rest of us from your stupid comments. Thank you!
Tohe 3:22PM (4/16/2009)
Right, that is probably why GM is recalling some 1.4 million of its cars right now:
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/13/gm-to-recall-1-4-million-passenger-cars-over-potential-engine-fi/
John Bäckstrand 6:38AM (4/16/2009)
the figure is 2000 cycles according to one of the swedish articles, and that sounds more correct.
Reply
John Bäckstrand 6:47AM (4/16/2009)
Actually, they have tested the batteries for 22000 cycles, but the ones in use in the actualy car will be able to withstand 2000 cycles.
Tohe 7:13AM (4/16/2009)
So is the zero performance degradation based on the 22,000 or the 2,000 battery cycles test? I also looked at some of the articles, but most Swedish commentators thought it was also a misprint (according to google's translator).
Tormod 8:50AM (4/16/2009)
If you allow 6 hours for charging and 6 for discharging for each cycle, 22000 cycles will last for 30 years. When did they start?
Stan Wellaway 5:41AM (4/16/2009)
The fact that this is being done in Sweden - a country with severe winter weather - will demolish those critics who think of battery power as something workable only in warmer climes.
Reply
Speculawyer 6:49PM (4/17/2009)
Well, the Th!nk City and the Buddy Kewett, both from Norway, should have already destroyed such doubt.
JoeKing 11:11AM (4/16/2009)
The way I work it out is you probably charge once a day so that is 60 years of use I think?
Reply
Simon 10:55AM (4/16/2009)
It's possible to be 22,000 cycles if their chemical is nLTO like Altairnano, EnerDel, Toshiba SciB
The nLTO can be charged and discharged very fast even up to 60C
So, it can be tested in 1 min per cycle
To finished 22,000 times will take not so much time
But, I doubt that they used small cell for testing instead of huge pack like whole EV pack because lack of super mega charger to supply such power for testing.
So, 22,000 life cycles maybe in lab. only but not for EV itself
Reply
Ted 3:56PM (4/16/2009)
The way i look at it is, 2000 cycles will be PLENTY if we get to the point where energy density improvements allow an affordable ESU which gives a 300 mile range say. That would last me a week on my mileage, & i think i'm fairly typical, so a 2000 cycle life would give you the best part of 40years charged on a weekly basis, doubt i'll even live that long given i'm in my mid forties now!!
Charge/ discharge cycle life will no doubt continue to improve but i dont think its worth obsessing about, i would find charging a car EVERY night a pain, even if it was some clever wireless induction gizmo you could have in your garage floor or whatever, i would still forget.
Nah, gimme range every time!
Reply
Herm 4:55PM (4/16/2009)
BYD getting sued for battery problems?.. what?.. you mean the problem with the electric toothbrushes and the battery dying after 3 years?
Reply