ELECTRIC CARS: present or future?
THE THOUGHT OF FIAT
Fiat believes in the future of the electric car and has plans to drastically lower the Fiat average CO2 emissions along the road to zero emissions. That's why at the Geneva Motor Show Fiat presented the new Fiat Centoventi - An electric utility concept car that recalls the design of the most compact crossovers and lays the foundations for what could be the car of the future. A vehicle that focuses on electric and sustainable mobility with zero emissions. A key feature of the design is a platform that allows it to accommodate multiple battery packs. Each pack offering 62 miles of range, with up to 310 miles attainable, via the modular system.
Fiat's electric future is not just with the Fiat Centoventi, above all, it starts with the New Fiat 500 electric, which made its debut in March 2020. This model will run on battery power alone moving on from petrol and diesel engines
TRAVELING TOWARDS THE ELECTRIC
When we talk about electric cars, we are usually also talking about the future. Indeed, many countries seem to increasingly believe in the advantages of this type of car, adopting incentive programmes for the purchase of electric cars. The electric car is one of the major trends in the automotive industry, a key component that is attracting everyone's interest.
But what is an electric car, and why is it so important?
The electric car is, quite simply, a car that uses electricity through charging, and not petrol or other fuels usually employed in cars. Unlike hybrid cars, electric cars have an absent polluting impact. Even the engine noise is absent, but an obligation has been introduced for manufacturers to equip electric cars with sound synthesizers to warn pedestrians of their arrival.
The acronym BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) is also used for the electric car, because the car is refuelled by recharging the batteries using electricity from the mains or other distribution systems. Recharging can take place using the charging stations spread around the country or with a domestic electrical outlet.
Recharging an electric car is easy and can be performed anywhere there is a socket or charging station. Public charging stations are also available at petrol stations, car parks, restaurants, hotels and other locations.
Electric vehicle charging times vary greatly depending on the type of charging, power and capacity of the battery.
ELECTRIC CARS: BETTER FOR YOU AND FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
Electric cars offer several advantages, both personal and environmental, especially in practical terms. Below, we try to summarise them in a few steps.
1. Free access to limited traffic areas.
As a non-polluting vehicle, electric cars may be to access some city centres free of charge.
2. Reduced fuel costs
Electric recharging is much cheaper than any other fuel, which is up to three times less than other fuels.
3. Ease of driving
The electric car is perfect for city driving, providing you with fluid acceleration.
4. Comfort
The electric car produces almost no noise and offers a relaxing environment, which significantly reduces the stress of driving.
5. Maintenance
The mechanics of electric cars, from the engine to the transmission, are much simpler than those of a traditional car, because there are fewer components and fewer liquids to refill. Thanks to regenerative braking, even the brakes are used less than in traditional cars.
COSTS AND TIME FOR RECHARGING
The charging time of electric car batteries varies depending on the battery type and how it is connected to the mains.
One of the main challenges for car manufacturers interested in electric cars is the research and development of batteries allowing for range and quick recharging. The batteries of modern electric cars, mostly lithium (Li) batteries, are quite durable.
Recharging in public can be done via charging stations or if you prefer to recharge from home, this can be done with either a lead directly from your power outlet, or via an installed charging wallbox, with the costs going on your electricity bill. On average, a plug-in hybrid vehicle can travel for about 15 miles following a one and a half hour charge and be at full capacity following an eight hour charge.
RECHARGING AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
Generally, electric car charging times depend on their capacity. And above all on the power (kW) of the recharge and the maximum power of the car charger.
The simplest and commonest way to charge an electric car is to connect it to the normal mains supply, but to obtain faster charging methods, the owner of an electric car need for access to wallboxes and charging stations.
Wallbox refers to the option to install at home, or at one's workplace, a device capable of recharging the car quickly.
Fast charge stations are located in strategic city locations, in the city centre, or near tourist attractions and shopping centres. They have very high power ratings, ranging from 50 to 150 kW.
Electric vehicles can be charged in public areas using alternating current (Modes 2 and 3) or direct current (Mode 4). The Mode 2 cable is usually supplied with the electric vehicle and can be used to connect to some public charging points.
There is no pre-defined time for charging an electric car. It can take half an hour or up to 12 hours depending on the kWh of the vehicle battery and also depends on the power of the charging point and the car charger. Charging times are also affected by the temperature of the external environment and the state/level of degradation of the battery. It is possible that the charging speed is not always constant over time: once the threshold of about 80% has been reached, the charging power may drop.
THE FUTURE IS CLOSER
Fiat's future is increasingly electric. Indeed, electrifying. The year 2020 will be the turning point for the Fiat. The zero-emission variant of the original italian citycar marks the start of a new chapter for the Fiat brand. The company recently announced the extension of the solidarity contracts until the end of 2019 to prepare the production lines for the new car.
The new electric Fiat 500 made its debut in 2020. It will be a totally new model, which will only run on battery power and will not use traditional petrol and diesel engines. The electric Fiat 500 will be produced at the Mirafiori plant in Turin and will be equipped with batteries developed with Samsung.
Discover all the advantages of an electric car with Fiat GOe LIVE app, tracking the driving behavior of any car and comparing it to the New Fiat 500. Estimate the cost of each trip and find out the total savings you could get with the New Fiat 500.
