Fiat 500’s Electric Future: From Pure EV to Mild Hybrid by 2025 Amidst Production and Regulation Challenges

It's likely that by 2025, the Fiat 500 Electric will also have a mild hybrid option. The current model doesn't meet the standard anymore, so a replacement is needed. There have been whispers about this possibility for some time. The fully electric version of the Fiat 500 is expected to be upgraded to a hybrid. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares confirmed this unique strategy during a union meeting. This move is intended to significantly boost production at the Mirafiori plant in Turin, which is currently not meeting production targets.

The idea of converting a purely electric Fiat 500e into a hybrid may seem odd at first. However, a closer look at the sales and manufacturing figures justifies the decision. The hybrid version of the Fiat 500 surpassed 100,000 sales in Europe last year, in contrast to the 500e's plateau at around 62,000 units.

Fiat 500 with Hybrid

The electric version of the Fiat

Electric vehicles (EVs) are still struggling to gain traction in Europe, including in Italy. Supporting the Fiat 500e is a financial move aimed at boosting not just sales figures but also invigorating the Mirafiori manufacturing plant.

The Turin factory has been a hot topic in political discussions for quite some time. In 2023, the facility rolled out 77,260 vehicles, which is significantly lower than Fiat's forecast of 90,000 units. Unions are worried that this figure could plummet to 40,000 by 2024, posing a risk to employee job security. However, introducing a new engine that's favored by the market could boost the factory's output to over 100,000, potentially reaching a total annual production of 175,000 vehicles.

Photo Gallery: Testing the 2021 Fiat 500e

Transforming an electric vehicle into one with a combustion engine? That would be a first in the car industry. Indeed, models like the Jeep Avenger, Fiat 600, or Opel Mokka offer both alternatives. However, that was the intent from the outset.

The Fiat 500 is already available as a mild hybrid version on the market. However, the older model with a gasoline engine will no longer be permitted for sale in Europe starting from July 2024. There are no plans to completely phase out the battery electric vehicles either. It is likely that the traditional 500 model will not undergo any updates. This is similar to what happened with the Fiat Panda, which was succeeded by the Pandina.

In summary, the current model is no longer viable due to regulatory restrictions. Therefore, a replacement that complies with these regulations is necessary. The electric Fiat 500 is expected to serve as the foundation for this new model. Even though the discontinued 500 model will still be available in markets outside of Europe and will be manufactured in Algeria for that purpose.

Fiat 500 with Hybrid

Fiat 500 Electric Model

Following the launch of the new engine options, prices are expected to drop significantly after the European cutoff: the electric Fiat 500 starts at 29,490 Euros (but there's an additional discount of 5,000 Euros), while the hybrid is currently priced from 17,490 Euros – for now. With the shift from purely electric to hybrid, a new base price around 20,000 Euros could become a reality. Although this is more expensive than the current price, it's competitive with other options in the market.

Switching from battery electric vehicles to hybrids will certainly incur research and development expenses. Nevertheless, these costs are expected to be quickly offset by the retail price and increased volume of production. But the question remains: How can a hybrid engine be incorporated into the electric architecture of the Fiat 500e?

The engine compartment of the electric Fiat 500

During the unveiling of the 500e in 2020, Olivier Francois, the CEO of Fiat and Abarth, provided an answer regarding the vehicle's capabilities: "From a technical standpoint, the platform allows for it, but our current focus is on electric propulsion." This indicates that alternative propulsion methods were considered during the design phase of the compact car. The 500e, which was developed before the formation of Stellantis, does not utilize the Common Modular Platform (CMP), but rather, it is a variation of the traditional 500.

Further Information on Fiat

Significant changes are anticipated under the front hood as Fiat is poised to redesign various components to accommodate the space required for the electrified engine. From within the Stellantis group, the most likely candidate to power the vehicle is the 1.2-liter engine from the latest Lancia Ypsilon model. A 6-speed automatic dual-clutch transmission, which would drive the front wheels, is the favored option. This choice is also influenced by the desire to avoid the complex task of modifying the center console for gear shifting.

Tavares did not specify a timeline. However, a new hybrid Fiat 500 is expected to be released in 2025.

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