EPA rates Fiat 500e at 122 MPGe city, 108 MPGe highway, 116 MPGe combined, 87-mile range
04 January 2013
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has rated the battery-electric Fiat 500e’s (earlier post) highway-cycle performance at 108 MPGe (equivalent to 2.18 l/100km)—the highest highway cycle efficiency of any EV currently on the US market. The city-cycle rating is 122 MPGe (1.92 l/100km-equiv.), with 116-MPGe (2.03 l/100km-equiv.) combined.
(Although the 500e takes the lead in highway efficiency, the 2013 Scion iQ EV edges it out in the city and combined cycles, with 138 and 121 MPGe, respectively. Similarly, the 2013 iMiEV carries a 126 MPGe city cycle rating, but the 99 MPGe rating on the highway pulls down the combined rating to 112 MPGe.)
EPA testing also has indicated that, when fully charged, the Fiat 500e has a range of about 87 miles (140 km).
EPA also estimates the annual cost to power the Fiat 500e is $500. The estimate is calculated by factoring electricity price projections into 15,000 miles of travel at a vehicle’s combined city/highway performance rating.
EPA testing estimates the car’s energy-consumption rate at 29 kWh per 100 miles.
The Fiat 500e arrives at FIAT Studios in California in second-quarter 2013.
If we compare 15,000 miles at 50 mpg (costs $900 in gasoline) with the electric results the electric version saves $400 per year. I wonder how much extra the batteries cost.
Posted by: citizen | 05 January 2013 at 10:45 AM
In our area, driving 40 Km/day with an average small ICEV would used 4 l of gasoline per day @ $1.40 = $5.60/day or $2,044/year.
Driving this BEV the same 40 Km/day would use about 7.25 kWh/day @ $0.065/kWh = $0.47/day or $$172.01/year
The net difference in energy cost alone would be ($2.044 - $172) = $1872/year. It is difficult to asses the reduction in repair cost but one could assume another $300/year for a total of about $2172/year.
Assuming that a new battery pack cost about ($8000 installed) and is normally good for 8 years, the yearly battery cost would be about $1000.
Total potential NET yearly savings with this BEV over an equivalent ICEV would be ($2172 - $1000) = $1172.
Pollution cost are not included but could be another $100 to $300/year.
NB: the potential Net savings would depend on the liquid fuel and electricity cost in each region.
Posted by: HarveyD | 06 January 2013 at 08:56 AM
Nice work Harvey.
The savings are potentially very substantial, that's for sure. I ran these figures about 15 months ago with my old Mazda 3 SP25 comparing the quoted figures for the Ford Focus electric. I rounded everything in favour of petrol. I average about 10,000 km per year.
PETROL - I am averaging 10.9L/100 km (say 10L to make petrol look better and avoid any EV bias) and I pay around $1.50 for Caltex 95 ULP. So, to do my 10,000 km costs me $1,500.
ELECTRIC - to do 10,000 km in the e Focus at 120 km per charge will be 84 charges, say 85. At 10c overnight charge cost per kWh, one full 23 kWh charge will cost $2.30. 85 charges will cost the princely sum of $196.
A pretty dramatic saving. Peak tariff for electricity is around 45c/kWh now. Let's say it increases to 50c and you only charge in peak times. That's still 50 x 23 x 85 = $978, so you're still more than $500 better off than petrol. And petrol will likely increase faster than electricity.
I didn't try to factor in battery costs because I'm not sure what they would be in Oz. But if you charge in off peak, save a motza on servicing costs/parts replacement, and buy a new battery in say 7 years when the price should have fallen substantially, that would have to stack up well against an ICEV.
Posted by: Biff | 06 January 2013 at 04:00 PM