Is it crazy to drive 130 km / h with an electric city car? We don’t think so. The Fiat 500e has a top speed of 150 km / h, so it is technically capable of it. Moreover, 130 km / h is a legal speed in the Netherlands. So as soon as it is 7:00 pm, we take our chance.
For this test we calculate with a net battery capacity of 37.3 kWh. The 42 kWh that Fiat communicates is gross.
The route starts and ends at the same point to eliminate the influence of wind and elevation changes. That is fair, because we see from the consumption meter that wind force 4, with or against, makes a considerable difference. It is 8 to 10 degrees Celsius.
The average power consumption is shown under the yellow bar: 16.9 and 25.0 kWh / 100 km.
Fiat 500e: range at 100 km / h
If you constantly drive a hundred with the Fiat 500e, is after 220 kilometer the battery is empty. We measure a power consumption of 16.9 kWh / 100 km.
The main competitor of the electric Fiat 500 is the equally charming Honda E. But that only reaches 100 miles on one battery charge. The Honda has a smaller battery (28.5 kWh) and a slightly higher power consumption (17.9 kWh / 100 km). Believe us: with 220 kilometers at your disposal in the Fiat, you turn a lot more relaxed on the highway.
Fiat 500e: range at 130 km / h
The electric 500 surprises us positively: it zooms effortlessly at 130 km / h on the left lane. It then consumes 25 kWh / 100 km and that makes it more economical than the Honda E. The range at 130 km / h is 149 kilometer.
About 2 kWh goes to the heating, so on hot days it can match the Opel Corsa-e (23.0 kWh / 100 km). The power consumption of the 500e is thus quite in line with that of its direct competitors.
Conclusion
The cheapest 500e has a small battery of 24 kWh (net: 21.3 kWh), so you really have to use it for short journeys. The version with 42 kWh (net: 37.3 kWh) gives you a lot more freedom. During the day if you are allowed a hundred, the range is 220 kilometers. If you have to hurry to get home in time for curfew, the battery will be empty after 149 kilometers.
What also contributes to the freedom of movement of the little Fiat is the option to fast charge with 85 kW. Then you go from 15 to 80 percent in 23 minutes (own measurement). In this way, a long drive from Groningen to Maastricht does not become a ridiculously time-consuming undertaking.