Fiat 500e: range, battery & charging
While the smaller battery 500e is really only suitable for driving around town, the larger 42kWh version allows for some longer journeys
|
Battery size |
Range |
Wallbox charge time |
Rapid charge time |
|
24kWh |
118 miles |
2hrs 30mins (0-100%, 11kW) |
30mins (10-80%, 50kW) |
|
42kWh |
199 miles |
4hrs 15mins (0-100%, 11kW) |
35mins (10-80%, 85kW) |
The Fiat 500e is available with two battery sizes: 24kWh and 42kWh. The upside of the bigger unit is a 200-mile range (if you go for the right specification) and if your commute is less than 10 miles each way, you’ll soon discover the benefits of having to charge less frequently.
Fiat 500e range
Entry-level cars feature a 24kWh battery pack, which is smaller than the ones fitted to some larger plug-in hybrid cars like the Range Rover Sport PHEV. Fiat says this will offer a range of up to 118 miles, but in our experience, 100 miles seems more realistic. This short range means the base 500e is really only suitable as a (very expensive) second car – or strictly for pottering around town.
Meanwhile, models fitted with the 42kWh battery will do between 186 and 199 miles on a charge depending on specification and wheel size, according to Fiat. Our time driving the car suggests 150 to 160 miles is what's realistically achievable, but that's still further than the MINI Electric or Honda e can cover on a single charge. A similarly-priced BYD Dolphin or MG4 can travel much further before needing to be plugged in, however.
In case you’re wondering, the Abarth 500e uses the 42kWh unit offered in the regular 500, but because of its sportier nature and more powerful motor range is reduced to 164 miles, although this figure will diminish rapidly if you intend to drive the Abarth like a real hot hatch.
Charge time
Every 500e comes with a Mode 2 charging cable, which makes it easy to top up at home overnight. Using a standard 7kW wallbox, a full charge of the 42kWh battery model will take around six hours, while those with faster three-phase 11kW electricity can do the same in four hours.
As standard, the basic Fiat 500e can charge at speeds of up to 50kW – the same as a MINI Electric or Ora Funky Cat. This entry-level 500e with its smaller battery will recharge from 10-80% (around 90 miles) in 30 minutes. Go for one of the bigger-battery cars, and while they offer substantially more range, and a faster on-board charger (up to 85kW) means they don’t take much longer to charge, getting from 10-80% charge (around 160 miles) in 35 minutes.