Fiat's CEO hasn't ranted about that in quite awhile (hopefully someone got him to stop as it was bad PR). But Fiat did announce that they are not going to make anymore effort than the existing 500e model http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-We-are-not-going-to-do-any-electrified-better-a-Fiat-500e-tp4664751.html Mitsu also announced same, thus the only iMiev EV one can get is the 2012 model.
Automakers make their profit producing large quantities which reduce costs. When they can't, they lose money (that's business 101). I do not know this as fact, but there must be something stopping automakers from getting together and having one manufacturing plant for all their EVs. Since Asia is known for mimicry, perhaps a couple of base models with adapted body panels to look like an automakers existing ice models. In this beginning/birth of non-petroleum powered vehicles, small production runs of compliance-cars by each automaker, would be replaced by much larger production runs (with less loss) of adapted base models sold by their dealers. This idea would be a variation of what was done for the Ford Fiesta (made by a German company), or the Chevy Luv Truck (made by a Japanese company). Funny how, on the other side of the coin, the media can pick a sales numbers and make the announcement like the 500e is a super seller http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-Fiat-500e-Takes-All-Time-First-Month-Scorecard-Lead-r-87mi-tp4664843.html Everyone should take these sales numbers over the long haul (several months) to avoid flash in the pants/knee-jerk reactions. The automaker is going to do what it takes to garner the profitable ice sales. As far as I know (and please correct me if wrong), Europe does not have a requirement like the California CARB mandate, that a quantity of credits be obtained by selling EVs, and partial credit for pih/phev). So it makes sense to that businessman to only have loses where he 'has-to' (thus not making much 500e sales effort outside CA). There is much more to selling a 500e EV that just the production of factory conversion for a compliance-car EV. There is the logistics of support, and all the certifications, approved requirements, etc. (its a hassle). So, minimizing that would be a wise business choice, especially if their company is not committed to selling EVs. As for selling 500e EVs in the U.S., take a look at http://www.fiatusa.com/en/2013/500e/ A slightly larger pack than a Leaf (24kW), recharged @L2 in 4hrs is spec'd, so that means the on-board charger is a 6kW. But no mention of L3 capability. That is a sales deterrent. A driver may not use the L3 often (perhaps less than once a year) but it adds to the selling and resale value of the EV. I posted this piece as it was another flavor of newswire on the Fiat 500e EV. Those with long term memories will remember the to-the-point 500e review that called it as they saw it (not so flattering, but not anti-EV) http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-Smart-ForTwo-ED-isn-t-one-of-Cars-com-s-favorite-cars-td4664765.html After also reading http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-Spark-EV-Made-in-S-Korea-using-U-S-made-drivetrain-tp4665696.html The back seat's a joke, with less space than a picnic basket, so cramped even the kids will yowl It is pretty clear that the back seat in both EVs is just for show, not for actual use (perhaps a way to market the vehicle as a four seater when it is actually a two seater, eh?). The sad part about compliance cars is the automakers' non-committal effort to the CARB requirement. The good part about the automaker's token efforts, are more Production EV choices (albeit halfhearted/minimalistic). {brucedp.150m.com} - On Thu, Oct 17, 2013, at 03:43 AM, rustybkts wrote: > I think Fiat are missing out on a lot of sales over here in Europe with > this > car. > > I read that the CEO of Fiat thinks he is losing money on each one. > > Since when has any new model been cost effective until large numbers have > been sold? > > Development costs can be rolled over years and many new EV's. > > The 500 is very sought after by younger drivers as well as the school run > mums so come on Fiat, try offering them elsewhere. - -- http://www.fastmail.fm - The professional email service _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
