Fiat 500e improved by Scuderia-E
We all remember the Volkswagen e-Golf improved by Kreisel Electric with a 55,7 kWh battery and able to charge from 0 to 80 % in 20 minutes (via 150 kW CCS). Now Scuderia-E gives a similar treatment to the Fiat 500e.
Carlos Noya from the Spanish website FCE wrote an interesting article about the Fiat 500e improved by Scuderia-E and it’s worth reading.
Scuderia-E is a company dedicated to electric car conversions created by Gianfranco Pizzuto (co-founder of Fisker Automotive).
This company imports used Fiat 500e units from the USA, where they are officially sold by Fiat, then sells them in Europe.
There are three variants available:
- Normal Fiat 500e with 24 kWh battery: 17.000 € (VAT exclusive)
- Fiat 500e with CCS capability and 40 kWh battery: 25.000 € (VAT exclusive)
- Fiat 500e with CCS capability and 56 kWh battery: 49.000 € (VAT exclusive) – limited to 49 units
To build the 40 and 56 kWh battery packs, Scuderia-E uses cylindrical 18650 cells from Sony. Furthermore, the Fiat 500e gets fast charging capability with the introduction of a CCS (type 2 variant) socket, which enables it to charge from 0 to 80 % in just 20 minutes.
The original battery pack made with Samsung SDI prismatic cells will be used in energy storage systems in developing countries.
Now my thoughts on this…
Considering that in Europe VAT is around 20 %, this makes the 40 kWh version cost 30.000 €, then you still have to pay for transport and possibly other fees. The new Nissan Leaf offers much better value for the money. However, this project is important to show what’s possible to do with current battery technology.
While I think that Fiat is a lost case, I still have hopes to see this automaker to improve the Fiat 500e and start selling it worldwide. Samsung SDI will introduce 120 Ah battery cells this year and if Fiat decides to use them, it can give a 43 kWh battery to the Fiat 500e for a 164 miles (264 km) EPA range. Complement it with fast charging via a CCS connector and it’ll be a very nice electric car.
The dinosaur Sergio Marchionne, FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) CEO retires at the end of this year. Improving the Fiat 500e before retiring it’s one of the few things that he can still do to leave a positive legacy.
What do you think about this project? Will it push Fiat to release a much improved 2019 Fiat 500e?
More info:
http://forococheselectricos.com/2018/01/scuderia-e-un-fiat-500e-bateria-de-56-kwh.html
Wow! Very Cool. I need a 56kWh Battery for my 2013 Nissan LEAF!
I think it is a good idea, but I think it is way too expensive. I would also be careful buying a car that is not supported by the manufacturer in the part of the world I live in. So I wouldn’t buy a Fiat 500e in Europe, but battery upgrades for cars like the Volkswagen e-Up or der Renault Zoe would be interesting.
I love my stock 500e but of course it would be even better with a fast charge option &/or more range at the same weight (or just a bit more range at even less weight for even better performance & safety). However in America an e500x with competitive range would sell much better.
I have changed my mind about Sergio Marchionne, now that he has publicly admitting that HE has changed his mind and electric is the way to go. He says that by 2019, all Maserati vehicles will be either electric or hybrid. (autonews)
Also FCA is for sale & the most likely buyer is Chinese, which would probably speed up Fiat’s electrification.
Our company, Quick Charge Power, will offer a CHAdeMO compliant quick Charge option for the Fiat 500e in late 2019.
Tony Williams
Quick Charge Power LLC
1780-104 La Costa Meadows Drive
San Marcos, California 92078 USA
sales (((@))) QuickChargePower.com
www . QuickChargePower . com
Twitter: QCPower
1-844-EV-PARTS
1-844-387-2787
1-760-798-0342 Office
That’s awesome! What will be the price range? Would a special shop have to install it?
If it’s like their other models, it’ll be about $3,000 and can be installed by anyone that can do it safely or at their shop in San Marcos, CA.
Are you shipping these batteries around the country? I am in Tennessee and am exploring the possibility of buying a used 500e.
That IS awesome, for those who need it. QCP’s other kits* are $3k & user-installable. They have personal safety warnings about the latter, however it strongly implies that a local auto shop would be able to do it, especially if they do ICE electrical work.
*Tesla Roadster, RAV4 & Mercedes
Oh! They actually specify: “any qualified mechanic or methodical weekend car hobbyist…”
The higher amp-hour batteries Samsung released somewhat recently are the same physical dimension as the older Samsung batteries used in the 500e. If you can find a wrecked new model BMW i3, there are your batteries for an upgrade. I’m currently hunting for both a 500e battery pack and the aforementioned i3 pack. I don’t want to take the 500 off the road while I swap out battery cells. As a weekend project, it’ll likely take me a few months to complete.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/48V-63Ah-BMW-i3-Li-ion-battery-module-Solar-Golf-Cart-2700Wh-/223760735532
I have noticed that the AC significantly shortens the range of the car. I wonder if you could have a smaller portable battery pack that could be plugged into just the AC circuit to get some additional range without getting into the complexities of the powertrain.
In my 2013 500e, moderate A/C doesn’t reduce range at all. Bear with me…
My car’s range-guessing GAUGE drops as much as 16% when I first turn on A/C if it’s been a while since I used it. Then after a few miles it learns how little power it’s actually using & corrects itself to pretty accurately read exactly as it would have without A/C.
Granted, I’m in pretty mild coastal Southern California, so the hottest I’ve ever seen on the car’s display is 113F. Typically I’m setting 78F A/C driving solo, lightly dressed, with an ice-cold drink & the passenger vents off, in no more than about 90F ambient. I tested that & couldn’t see any range difference. When someone else suggested it’s because the battery is more efficient at higher temperatures I looked it up & I think peak efficiency was somewhere around 125F (maybe good for range, although not so good for longevity).
Fiat A/C runs off the 12V starter battery, which is kept fully charged from the HV battery whenever the car is charging or the key is on. I’m pretty sure you won’t gain any range with a higher-capacity 12V battery, because while driving, the HV seems to keep pumping in every electron that’s drawn out.
It’s been reported that after A/C uses about 0.1kWh to cool the small cabin (leave back seats up & hatch shelf in) it then only uses around 0.25-to-0.5kW. You can regain that much lost range just by driving 2 mph slower.
The biggest range increase I’ve seen reported is 16-18% from lowering the car 2″. You might be able to match that by extending the front rubber airdam lip.
Maybe the higher humidity in South Florida has some effect. I definitely see a consistent 10% range penalty no matter what the AC temp is set to. Interesting that the AC runs off the 12v. I wonder if adding a solar panel to charge the 12v would have any effect?