This iconic car saw again the sunlight in 2007 when Fiat decided to bring it back from ashes. As you probably know, the idea has been a huge success and for many years this cool but cheap city car drove the company’s sales by itself (together with Panda). Now, it’s time to evolve once more.

The challenge is tough. You know that Italians don’t like cars that don’t burn fuel, but their nostalgia for the good old 500 might turn the tables.

By looking at it, you can immediately recognize the same iconic style that made the original Fiat 500 famous. Round lines, compact body, squared lights. Nevertheless, this is a completely new car, from the outside to the inside. It’s 3630mm long, so don’t expect to be comfortable if you’re going to sit behind, but you’ll be absolutely able to chill in the front seats. Of course, the boot is particularly small, with just 185l of capacity.

The biggest leap forward is to find into the quality of the plastics. Sure, some of them are still rigid, but they feel a lot better than before and the new 10” display helps to deliver a better cabin overall.

The car is equipped with a centrally-mounted 42 kWh battery made by Samsung which should guarantee about 300km (186 miles) and it supports fast charge (30 mins for 75%). Maybe it’s not an outstanding result, but it should be more than enough for an ultra-compact city car. The battery produces 118 hp and 220 Nm of torque.

As mentioned, everything has been renewed. For example, now the suspensions are more comfortable to use in the traffic and the seats are softer, too.

You’ll get to choose between two models: Passion and Icon. The former will cost about €30,000 while the latter will be €31,400. The versions are quite similar, it’s just a matter of optional equipment.

The post Fiat 500 – an Italian legend has evolved to full-electric appeared first on EVGLOBE - News on Electric Vehicles and Hybrids.

Today, the Japanese automaker is preparing to enter a new era in the field of zero emissions. It does so by presenting the Nissan Ariya, the first model resulting from the so-called Nissan NEXT strategy, which aims to introduce 12 new electrified models in the next 18 months.

The Nissan Ariya is based on a new platform, created specifically to host electric drivetrains. It can host different size of batteries. As a proof of this, the Ariya will be offered with two battery capacities: 63 kWh and 87 kWh.

The new Nissan Ariya will be available in a single motor, FWD powertrain and in a dual motor, AWD configuration. The all-wheel drive traction is obtained by putting a motor on each axle, making them completely independent one from another.

There will be five versions available.

• Ariya 2WD (63 kWh) – 218 HP and 300 Nm of torque
  • Expected range: 360 km (223 miles)
• Ariya 2WD (87 kWh) – 242 HP and 300 Nm of torque
  • Expected range: 500 km (310 miles)
• Ariya e-4orce (62kWh) – 279 HP and 560 Nm of torque
  • Expected range: 340 km (211 miles)
• Ariya e-4orce (87 kWh) – 306 HP and 600 Nm of torque
  • Expected range: 460 km (285 miles)
• Ariya e-4orce Performance (87 kWh) – 394 HP and 600 Nm of torque
  • Expected range: 400 km (248 miles)

The adoption of the new platform has allowed designers to take advantage of greater freedom in defining spaces and volumes. The car has a crossover body with a coupe-like shape, similar to what German car makers keep pulling out these years.

Among the most identifying elements of the car we find the new “grilles”, which now have a glossy finish and a geometric pattern instead on the dark surface.

A lot of effort has been put inside, too. The Nissan Ariya uses two 12.3″ display, one for the digital instrument panel and one for the infotainment system. The car also makes use of a big new-generation head-up display.

Last but not least, the Nissan Ariya has got tons of technology in it, like the new virtual assistant which is activated by saying “Hi Nissan”, 360° radar and sensors, adaptive cruise control, and much more.

The base price for the new Ariya is going to be $40,000. Considering that the Nissan Leaf S starts from $32,000, that’s not bad at all.

The post Nissan Ariya: 500 km of range for this new all-electric SUV appeared first on EVGLOBE - News on Electric Vehicles and Hybrids.

Kia spoke about it, Citroën already proposed its new Ami and now the Turin designer Umberto Palermo presented its project called “Mole Urbana”, an electric quadricycle which will be available in three sizes that differ in the configuration of the cabin and in dimensions. But they all share the same style and mechanical settings.

The first thing that grabs the viewer’s attention is its looks. Designed by reinterpreting in a modern and personal key the typical setting of nineteenth-century carriages, the Mole Urbana has a squared interior with large glass surfaces. The boots are actually made by two chests which are kept closed by some leather straps closure: the front one houses the batteries, the rear one is what you need to carry your shopping bags.

The car will be available in three versions: small, medium and large. The small one is 1.74 meters (5.7 ft) long and has just two seats, the medium one is 2.95 meters (9,6 ft) long and has three seats side by side (Fiat Multipla style) and the biggest one is 3.2 meters (10,5) long but it still has three seats. The third one is located back, in a central position.

Inside the cabin there’s a 10” touchscreen which commands the infotainment. The Mole Urbana has an electric powertrain with an engine that can reach 22 HP, while the 48V batteries guarantee a range between 70 and 150 km (43 and 93 miles), depending on the model.

You won’t even need a driving license – if you can drive a Vespa, you’re good to go, because the car can’t go faster than 50 km/h (31 mph).

This car’s production will be very limited, though. The maker “Pretto di Pontedera” aims to reach just 300 units sold before the end of 2023.

You won’t even be able to buy it, because you can only rent it.

The post Mole Urbana: The ultra-compact, Made in Italy electric car appeared first on EVGLOBE - News on Electric Vehicles and Hybrids.

In the last decade that value has been reached or exceeded by many cars, electric and non-electric, and is now pretty much the standard.

Now, however, the new Lucid Air, coming on September 9, marks a new record, with a Cx of 0.21.

The new Californian electric sedan, recently presented in its definitive guise, wins the title as the “normal” car with the best aerodynamics in the world. Some supercars can do some things better, but among the cars in its category none can even get close.

The Model 3, for example, which is the Tesla with the best Cx, stops at 0.23, which it’s not bad at all, to be honest.

Making the necessary proportions, the aerodynamic efficiency of the Lucid Air is 9.5% better than the Tesla Model 3. This ultra-low Cx value improves the car’s range and speed. The Lucid Air can travel more than 650 km on a single 100% charge and can reach a max speed of 378 km/h (one of the fastest cars on the market).

Now, there’s no need to say how important aerodynamics is on a zero-emission car. Aerodynamic coefficient and weight are the two main variables when it comes to increase a car’s autonomy.

It must be said, however, that battery-powered cars are more likely to have a better Cx than cars with classic petrol engines.

Electric cars don’t need any cooling systems, they don’t need grilles on the front and the hood doesn’t have to host a physical engine. These factors allow electric cars to have lower and more aerodynamic hoods that allow the air to flow smoothly.

The post Lucid Air’s Cx sets a new world record appeared first on EVGLOBE - News on Electric Vehicles and Hybrids.

Future owners will have access to the digital service “My Easy Charge” which will allow them to access to a wide network of recharge stations all around the world, managed directly by DCS.

The service will work through a dedicated app and a unique card which will allow the user to recharge his/her vehicle at more than 130,000 charging stations in 21 European countries without having to subscribe to dozens of different services.

By subscribing to the service, the users will have a complete map of the charging stations available on an app for both iOS and Android. This way, you will be able to easier plan your travels.

“The partnership with DCS joins the agreements that FCA has already made with a lot of leading partners in their respective sectors. To make our electric and electrified vehicles more attractive and accessible, we know that they must be environmentally and economically sustainable. And if we want more and more people to choose to drive electrified vehicles, we must guarantee them an experience that is easy and free from charging anxiety. “Roberto Di Stefano, FCA e-Mobility Manager

The post My Easy Charge: one card, more than 130,000 charging stations appeared first on EVGLOBE - News on Electric Vehicles and Hybrids.

The new Citroen C4, and the electric version e-C4, looks more mature with a design geared towards progressive drivetrains. The French house has always tried to offer something different from the rest and that shows in the design of the new e-C4. The previous stylistic course had the so-called air-bumpers as its cornerstone. Citroen, however, decided to throw away everything it created in the past 5 years and start from scratch.

Now that the first photos are here, we can see a car evidently tied to crossover proportions but with a coupeish tail line. Sadly, that’s what we are getting for now, because all the tech specifications will only arrive on June 30, 2020.

The name for what has been a Hatchback, a sedan and a minivan in the past years won’t change, but it will evolve again as it is becoming a coupe-crossover. For what we can see, the LED daylights and the front bumper are going to be redesigned as well.

Citroen focused more on comfort both for the driver and for the passengers, thanks to hydraulic adaptive suspensions, and more comfortable seats. Of course, the infotainment system is going to be updated. This includes the head-up display too.

The new Citroen e-C4 is going to rival with the Mazda MX-30 – hopefully it will get more range – and with the Hyundai Kona.

The post Citroen e-C4: Goodbye air bumps, welcome coupe-like style appeared first on EVGLOBE - News on Electric Vehicles and Hybrids.

The CEO of Fiat Automobiles Brand Global, Olivier Francois: “This award makes me extremely proud of our job and the opinion of a very high profile international jury underlines the importance of design in the Centoventi project.”

The design of Fiat Centoventi is not the only winning aspect of the project. The car immediately proposed itself as an electric car for everyone: versatile and affordable. The car is not only highly customizable, but presents a series of new solutions for modular and switchable batteries.

Fiat Centoventi offers an interesting customization program, called 4U, which will allow you to largely change the aesthetics of the car even after purchasing it. At any time, in fact, the roof, the bumpers, the wheel covers and the external films for the wrapping of the bodywork can be replaced. In addition to this, you can modify the internal accessories, which are “plug and play”, interchangeable and replaceable.

“The success of Centoventi is the result of a great collaboration between the designers of the Fiat Style Center and our engineers in realizing the vision of the brand CEO,” said Klaus Busse , head of Design FCA for the EMEA region. “Receiving this award is an incredible honor for the whole team, especially because it is assigned by a jury made up of internationally renowned design leaders, expert/professional people who live in the present but who focus their projects to the future.”

The post Fiat Centoventi wins Car Design News’s prize as “Best Concept Car 2019” appeared first on EVGLOBE - News on Electric Vehicles and Hybrids.

Talking about range, however, many are wondering how many kilometers (or miles) can the car travel in real driving conditions. This doubt is even more legit in America than in the European Union because of the EPA standard range test (which is less accurate than the European WLTP).

The EPA range test estimates the average consumption of a car tested on a mixed route that includes city and highway. But how far can a car travel if it only needs to travel on the highway? Journalist Tom Moloughney from InsideEVs – who actually owns a Tesla Model 3 – decided to test its car’s overall range once and for all.

His Tesla Model 3 isn’t the standard one, but rather the Long Range version which has two engines and a larger battery. The car has just under 15,000 miles (24,000 km) and the goal is to travel at a constant speed of 70 mph (112 km/h) until the Tesla’s battery dies.

Tom has thought of every detail to properly complete this test.

The car finished the test in Chill mode, with regenerative braking, and used Autopilot 95% of the time. At the time of departure, the tires showed a pressure of 2.8 atmospheres (while in the end, they had reached 3.13). The car managed to travel for 289.1 miles  (465.2 km) before shutting down. Indeed, he reached an absolute 0 percent value.

In the end, the car scored an average distance of 6.84 km per kWh. In equivalent tests, always at 70 constant miles per hour and always on the highway, the Chevrolet Bolt and the Nissan Leaf Plus were both 25% less efficient, being able to travel at an average of 5.5 km per kWh. Tesla rocks, if we talk about efficiency.

Although the comparative tests have not been carried out with scientific equipment, and that variables (wind, traffic, …) can change the final result, it should allow you to know better how much road you can cover in similar conditions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIf0AbeU7H4&feature=emb_title

The post Tesla Model 3 tested by InsideEVs – Is the range real? appeared first on EVGLOBE - News on Electric Vehicles and Hybrids.

We’re talking about the Connect app which manages the interaction with smartphones and without which you can’t use either the Apple Carplay or the Android Auto mirroring technologies.

Moreover, you won’t have access to the Volkswagen’s Digital Store, and to the high-tech augmented reality. The company advertised it a lot, so it’s a shame that it won’t be installed from day one.

The missing software features can’t be installed with an OTA software update, but you will need to bring the car to your dealership in order to update the car’s firmware.

Luckily, the problem will affect only a small part of the first 30,000 ID.3 models that have been sold, which are going to be delivered in September. From now on, you’ll be able to buy the already updated car instead.

This problem is due to the need for Vlokswagen to speed up the delivery times, both to gain time on the competition and to help the company to achieve the goal not to exceed the CO2 emissions values established by the European Union Volkswagen would have to pay some really expensive fines otherwise.

It is not clear whether the shortcomings of the early ID.3s may be a consequence of the software problems that Volkswagen faced last year or are attributable to other causes. What we know is that the German Group will do everything it can to solve these problems and it has planned investments for €33 billion between now and 2024. The Volkswagen brand by its own has planned to spend €11 billion to produce one million of electric cars by 2023.

If you’re interested in the Volkswagen ID.4 or in the little Volkswagen ID.1 (which is going to cost €20-25,000) don’t worry, these problems are going to be solved before the market release.

The post Volkswagen ID.3: first deliveries inSeptember but with a twist appeared first on EVGLOBE - News on Electric Vehicles and Hybrids.

Yet, reality tells us that washing your electric or hybrid car is perfectly safe. Every electric component is isolated and tested over and over again to guarantee that nothing happens. Some of the most common tests for electric cars are indeed the “soak tests”, where the car must face incredibly strong environmental situations, like ultra-high or ultra-low temperatures, rains and even some small floods. If your car can pass these tests, it can survive some shampoo, too.

Here’s an example of a soak test:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9pfYXIDufU

Of course, this means that your car can be driven under heavy rain without any hesitation. By the way, you should try to avoid extreme situations… like this one.

Should I be aware of something particular before washing my EV – PHEV?

Don’t worry, the answer is no. To be more precise, you shouldn’t do anything more that you wouldn’t do to your petrol – diesel car. Every high-voltage component is hidden within the body of your car and the batteries are hyper-protected by some strong armor. Just remember to fold the mirrors, as usual.

The post Can I put an electric car through a car wash? appeared first on EVGLOBE - News on Electric Vehicles and Hybrids.