The 2012 Auto Show circuit has given us a glimpse into the future of automobiles. New technologies and concepts, that could change the face of the industry, could make it into tomorrow’s vehicles. The latest advancements in vehicle design and rechargeable battery technology have led to the development of more electrified vehicles by more automakers this year, including offerings by Fiat and Honda.
Fiat 500e
The first-ever electrified vehicle from Fiat, the Fiat 500e electric vehicle [EV] was just released for public viewing at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show this weekend, and should be available in California by the second-half of 2013. Built on the Fiat 500 platform, it features an all-electric drive and a range of up to 80 miles.
Tim Kuniskis, head of Fiat North America, mentioned marketing the 500e to a bigger segment than just electric vehicle [EV] enthusiasts. “We are not going to build a car for the guy who says, ‘I’ve got to have an electric car,’ because that customer is a tiny, tiny, tiny segment. The bigger segment is the guy who says, ‘I want a Fiat 500, but I am open to considering new technology.’”
Honda Accord Plug-In
We’ll also be seeing the Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid electric vehicle [PHEV] at the Auto Show, which looks to be released with its sister vehicle, the Honda Accord Hybrid, in 2014. The new PHEV is to be priced around $40,000 and will find it’s way to showrooms as early as January 15. It has an EV-only range of 13 miles, and charges in under an hour on an LII [240V] charger.
