The electric car family has welcomed a new member, the Fiat 500e, official pricing information for which has just been released for the US state of California, where it will be exclusively sold and leased. First deliveries of the all-electric 500 will begin in the Golden State this summer, but it is now available for order.
Priced at $32,500 MSRP with no help from the state/federal government, Fiat says that for those who are "eligible", the price can drop as low as $20,500 after federal credits, state incentives and FIAT rebates are included.
Alternatively, Californian residents can lease the car for $199 per month for 36 months. Still, a $999 down payment is required for the latter.
Fiat is keen to stress that it is no more expensive per month than a comparable petrol model, such as the 500 Pop. Furthermore, if you do manage to get the price as low as they say you can, the electric 500 will actually undercut a similarly-specced Lounge trim car with the 1.4-liter petrol engine by a small margin.
The 500e has an EPA-certified range of 87 miles, or 139 km, which Fiat says is "best-in-class and better than all U.S.-market all-electric vehicles produced by high-volume manufacturers."
After signing a partnership with Enterprise Holdings, a company which operates several rent-a-car schemes in the area, Fiat will also be offering buyers and leasers up to 12 days each year ofalternative transportation, for the first three years. They are calling this a "standard feature."
By Andrei Nedelea
