It’s been a good spring for little electrical vehicles, including three that are likely to be sold in the United States, and a family of Euro-cuties that probably won’t be.
Likely arriving in the U.S.: The Fiat 500e city car and its high-performance sibling, the Abarth 500e, and the Volvo EX30 subcompact SUV.
Unlikely to cross the Atlantic: The tiny Fiat Topolino EV, a cute-as-a-bug, two-seat runabout that is unlikely to have much appeal beyond golf-cart communities.
Volvo EX30: 275-mile range, $35k sticker
Just unveiled and about 5 inches shorter than a Buick Encore GX, Volvo’s EX30 promises a 275-mile range in its 268-horsepower, rear-drive layout. The 422-hp two motor all-wheel-drive model should deliver 265 miles range and a 3.4-second 0-60 mph time.
Equipped with a 69-kilowatt-hour battery, Volvo says the EX30 will charge from 10%-80% in 26.5 minutes at a 150 kWh DC fast charger.
Prices, power and range for the all-wheel-drive model have not been announced.
Volvo promises extensive use of recycled and sustainable materials, including:
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17% of exterior steel and plastic recycled.
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25% of exterior aluminum recycled.
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30% of interior "décor" parts will use recycled plastic and renewable materials.
Key features will include a 12.3-inch tablet-style touch screen in the center stack that replaces the instrument cluster that’s usually in front of the driver, á la Tesla. A wide range of safety and driver assistance features can also be expected.
The EX30’s $34,950 base price does not include destination charges and assumes the Chinese-made SUV will not qualify for federal tax credits.
Volvo dealers are taking reservations with a refundable $500 deposit. Deliveries should begin in mid-2024.
The sting of an electric scorpion
The previous 1.4-liter turbo Abarth 500e's small-dog-with-big-growl exhaust note ranked second only to the brand’s unspeakably cool scorpion badge in reasons to buy the performance version of the first generation of the Fiat’s 500 city car. Engineers spent more than 6,000 hours creating a sound that generates the same frisson of power barely held in check without an internal combustion engine. Engineers studied the current Abarth’s exhaust note with “to extract all the distinctive Abarth frequencies,” according to the company.
In addition to the obsessively curated sound, Abarth’s classic scorpion badge incorporates a lightning bolt to reflect the 500e’s powertrain.
The electric Fiat 500e is expected to arrive in the U.S. early in 2024.
Unlike the previous 500e — a half-hearted attempt former Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne practically begged people not to buy when it debuted in 2013 — the new car is expected to have a competitive price and performance. Car and Driver magazine predicts prices starting around $30,000 and a range below 200 miles.