Fiat has decided to implement a £3,000 reduction in the price of its 500e models – effectively introducing its own ‘electric car grant'. This move comes nearly a year after the UK government's Plug-in Car Grant, which aimed to incentivise drivers to switch to electric vehicles, came to an end. It's likely that the cost of EV production has dropped significantly due to improved production capacity and supply chain, but if the upshot is a genuine £3,000 saving – then do you really care about how it's funded? At the same time, Fiat is launching an Italian spin on the Ami – with the low-cost Topolino.
The £3,000 grant is applicable to Fiat's 500e and 500e Convertible. Alongside the price reduction, Fiat has penned an open letter to the UK government – urging it to join forces in encouraging British citizens to embrace electric vehicles, believing that every incentive possible should be applied in order to help British drivers make the switch.
Recent data on EV sales indicated a slowdown in the exponential growth experienced previously. Notably, demand for electric cars has fallen by 65% year-on-year – but the market is still growing strong. Although the Plug-in Car Grant was discontinued in the UK, other European countries (including Germany and Spain), continue to subsidise car makers with incentives of up to €9,000.
Back in 2019, one of VW's execs told media that EVs might have up to 40% fewer parts than traditional cars. Sure, batteries are expensive – but the price per kWh has been falling over time – so it's unclear why there is still such a huge disparity between EVs and their fossil fuel equivalents.
Certainly the new models coming from China are showing what can be achieved with zero government help.
Damien Dally, Managing Director of Fiat UK, says that he's grateful for expressed his gratitude for the government's previous Plug-in Car Grant. Those early payments are said to have been instrumental in kickstarting the electric car revolution in the UK. Dally also acknowledged the government's focus on funding public charging infrastructure, a key barrier to electric vehicle adoption. However, he emphasised the importance of doing more to encourage regular drivers to become part of the revolution.
Alongside undeniably cute looks, the small size and relatively limited range of the 500e make it a perfect city car – as we discovered with our in-depth review. You can find out more about the £3k price drop over here.
As well as the price drop, Fiat has also launched a 2023 re-vamp of its popular ‘Mickey Mouse' car from the 1930s. Topolino is an Italian take on the iconic Citroen Ami and this ‘new' electric quadricycle aims to expand electric mobility to youngsters (and the young at heart) across the land. Specifically, rules regarding this kind of product mean that it can be insured and driven in France & Italy from the age of 14. It takes a few more years to become ‘street legal' in the UK.
The Topolino aims to redefine the concept of ‘la dolce vita' on city streets, by offering a refreshing and stylish approach to urban commuting. Given that the folks at Citroen drew inspiration from the early Fiat 500 series to create the Ami – maybe it's only fair that the Italians are allowed to re-spec the ingredients/recipe.
With zero emissions, it offers a sustainable alternative for short-distance commuting and urban exploration. The compact size and manoeuvrability of the vehicle make it ideal for navigating crowded city streets and congested areas. That said, it's easy to speed past the 20mph speed limits in the centre of major cities – so careful with your driving licences: You have been warned!
While further details about the Topolino are yet to be revealed, Fiat's announcement has generated anticipation among car enthusiasts and urban dwellers alike. The Topolino represents a significant step towards a future where electric mobility becomes the norm in cities, promoting cleaner air, reduced noise pollution, and a more sustainable way of life.
We're not sure how the ‘door-less version' sent our from Fiat HQ will work with the UK's vehicle regulations (or rainy climate), so it will be interesting to see how this concept will manifest itself on London's mean streets.
Fiat hopes that the 2023 Topolino signals a new era of accessible and stylish urban transportation.
We hope that the UK Government starts to implement more sensible policies for this and other ‘lite' electric vehicles. The demand is certainly there, but we need a lot less red tape from the hierarchy.