Fiat's electric Fiat Palio Weekend in production in Brazil; estimated cost $70,000 (U.S.)
Fiat has been working on an electric version of its Fiat Palio Weekend in Brazil for about three years. Back in 2007, Fiat was testing 30 Palio Electricos (converted versions of the standard Palio) that were nearly full-feature vehicles: they could go 85 miles or so on a charge and could reach 65 mph. Now, Treehugger is saying that Fiat's Brazilian subsidiary will produce the EV with similar specs at its Foz do Iguazu factory in the state of Parana. The cost will be an estimated $70,000 U.S. Ouch. Currently, the car is being targeted at fleet sales, but could be made available to individuals in the future. As far as we and Treehugger know, this is the first electric vehicle made in South America.
Gallery: Fiat Palio Weekend Electrico
[Source: Treehugger]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
nrb 12:53PM (7/15/2009)
Damn! The Volt keeps looking better and better.
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andrichrose 1:32PM (7/15/2009)
total rubbish ! makes the model S from Tesla look a steal !
It is amazing the lengths that this company will go to to make
the Electric Car look downright unattractive , 4km from my home
here in Italy they are assembling Fiat Panda electrics in semi-secret
for the bargain basement price of 38000 euro , however they
do not seem to want to sell to the public !
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darius 1:45PM (7/15/2009)
patience, patience all with time. Companies have to be careful and deliver a a solid save product with good specs and good price. This takes time. Also the battery technology is still not there. Yes, there are 'wonder' batteries like Alternano with its super quick recharge time and extrime live time (cycle count is been quoted anywhere between 9,000 and 25,000) but at what cost? At $2/Wh is simply way too expansive and there is no production capacity. Its a chicken and egg situation. The tech is there at super high cost. The cost will not come down until we get quantity production but how do you get quantity production at the existing prices? It will all take time. Yes I would love to be able to buy a small car with ~ 40 mile range and a battery with specs like Altairnano but it will be a few more years of waiting before I can get one mess produced at affordable levels (under $30k).
Felipe Rodrigues 2:34PM (7/15/2009)
Hi everyone,
FIAT doesn't have a plant in Foz do Iguaçu. The Itaupu binational riverdam and hydroeletric powerplant does. What they have there is a facility to manage and mantain the prototypes.
I've had a chance to check one of thouse and they seem good examples of criativity and novel research in Brazil.
As we pay a lot of taxes in our cars (40% worth of the retail price), it is natural that it would cost so much as 70 thousand USD, needless to say that it is not commercially feasible.
However, it is a good proof that R&D can be done elsewhere and that innovation may come from unnusual places... who knows Brazil may have an Ethanol/Gasoline flex fuel car with eletric hybrid drive? What would that mean in terms of consumer choice?
Best regards from south the equator!
Felipe Rodrigues
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andrichrose 2:41PM (7/15/2009)
Felipe,
I think that a little digging would reveal that the drivechain
and battery for this car is the tried and trusted Mes-Dea unit , which
has now been in production for over four years !
Felipe Rodrigues 3:24PM (7/15/2009)
Hi andrichrose,
You may be right. Nevertheless, their plans are focused in bringing electric drive knowledge to Brazil and further develop automotive aplications.... who knows a flexfuel / relectric hybrid?
Best regards,
tonesmoke 2:31PM (7/15/2009)
Just FYI a fully optioned out ICE Fiat Palio Weekend in Brazil comes out to about US $ 28,000 at current exchange rate.
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Rick 5:19PM (7/16/2009)
This is a perfect car for those wanting to avoid paying the gas tax! They can just buy this $70k car, just like those who support the gas tax recommend.
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