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In-depth reviews

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

Overall rating

3.5 out of 5

Range, battery & charging rating

3.5 out of 5

Price
£24,995 - £33,995
Fuel Type:
Electric

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.

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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.

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Hello there, I’m Tom Jervis and I have the pleasure of being the Content Editor here at DrivingElectric. Before joining the team in 2023, I spent my time reviewing cars and offering car buying tips and advice on DrivingElectric’s sister site, Carbuyer. I also continue to occasionally contribute to the AutoExpress magazine – another of DrivingElectric’s partner brands. In a past life, I worked for the BBC as a journalist and broadcast assistant for regional services in the east of England – constantly trying to find stories that related to cars!

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