The Fiat electric range may be in its infancy, but with expert engineering and inimitable style, there’s every reason to choose an EV or hybrid from the Italian manufacturer. Whether you’re a seasoned EV driver or making the first steps towards a greener future, Fiat has a model to suit your needs.
If you’d like to know more about electric cars and how they work, we’ve answered some frequently asked questions here. If you still have a query, please don’t hesitate to contact your nearest BS Marson branch.
Unlike a regular car or even a hybrid, an electric car’s drivetrain consists solely of an electric motor (or sometimes two), which is what propels the vehicle. This in turn is powered by a high-capacity rechargeable battery.
Your electric car can be charged at home using a standard three-pin power outlet or fast-charging wallbox, or you can connect to one of more than 59,000 public connectors located around the UK. Many places of work also have dedicated charging points now.
This depends on the size of the battery and how you decide to charge it. The slowest option is a domestic three-pin power source, which allows the Fiat 500 Electric, for example, to be fully charged in about 14 hours. A dedicated wallbox will reduce this time to approximately six hours. If you use a rapid-charging public connector, it’ll take about 48 minutes to charge from 10% to 80%.
Some public charge points allow you to top up your battery for free, but charging at home or using a rapid charger incurs a fee. Even so, electric cars are cheaper to run than regular cars – or even hybrid vehicles.
If charged at home with a 3kW power supply, it costs roughly £14 for the Fiat 500 Electric’s battery to achieve a full charge.
This depends on the size of the car, the capacity of the battery (and its heating efficiency) and external temperatures. The Fiat 500 Electric offers a maximum 199-mile range.
Whenever braking occurs, it allows an electric vehicle to recover energy that would otherwise be lost. It’s then converted into kinetic energy, which is stored within the battery.
Electric vehicles drive the same as automatic cars, but they only have no need for a clutch or gears, as they deliver constant and instant power. Most have an accelerator and brake pedal just like an automatic vehicle.
An electric vehicle uses a single-gear system, as there’s no need for conventional gears and a clutch.
