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Fiat launches Topolino mini EV in U.S. with $13,995 price tag (www.reuters.com)
submitted 4 months ago by to c/electricvehicles@slrpnk.net
33 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Car has range up to 46 miles, speed up to 25 mph

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[–] 25 points 4 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

Really tough sell when there are cheap used EVs on the market. Bought my 2013 Nissan Leaf for <$5k, ~60 miles range (given degradation), capable of >80mph. There are only going to be better options out there as time goes on and more used EVs hit the market.

the vehicle will initially be for use in private communities, resorts and golf courses

Oh.

from late summer owners will be able to install a kit upgrading their Topolinos to federally regulated Low-Speed Vehicles (LSVs), allowing a speed of ‌up ⁠to 25 mph and access to certain public roads.

Oh.

Just get an e-bike then.

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  • [–] 3 points 4 months ago

    Just get an e-bike then. and if one has problems with ones balance, ones legs or ones hands. Some people can't operate a two wheeler. Is it a niche vehicle? Yes. However even niche vehicles have their place.

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    • [–] 30 points 4 months ago (10 children)

    Weighing just ⁠over 1,000 pounds and with a length of about 8 feet, the vehicle will initially be for use in private communities, resorts and golf courses, with a top speed of 19 mph.

    It's a big fucking golf cart

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  • [–] 5 points 4 months ago (6 children)

    It's a death trap on US roads. It's going to be run over by a pickup truck on the first day.

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  • [–] 4 points 4 months ago

    I think these actually aren't even street legal in most states.

    owners will be able to install a kit upgrading their Topolinos to federally regulated Low-Speed Vehicles (LSVs), allowing a speed of ‌up ⁠to 25 mph and access to certain public roads

    Yeah so if I understand correctly, it doesn't actually hit the minimum federal requirements to access public roads without that upgrade kit.

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  • [–] 5 points 4 months ago* (1 child)

    Sounds like a problem with US roads having too many poorly designed vehicles that endanger others, not a problem with this vehicle. If the road is too unsafe for this surely it's too unsafe for cyclists and other light vehicles.

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    • [–] 14 points 4 months ago (2 children)

    It's a Stellantis product so it will probably be a gigantic pile of shit.

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    • [–] 10 points 4 months ago (3 children)

    I've driven one (The original, Citroen EV AMi, of which this is a badge engineered version) in Madrid. It's well suited to European cities, and probably to NY, Boston, Pittsburgh, SF, and some others of that type of layout. That thing is a glorified golf cart, as many have said. Naked tubular frame covered by a cheap plastic shell, about as safe as the aforementioned golf cart, but street legal. nearly zero equipment beyond a cigarette lighter power socket. In Europe it costs around 7.000€, and I find that a huge ripoff. I could probably put together such a low tech cart for under 2.000€, not hyperbole. With economies of scale, Stellantis can probably make them for under 1.500€ or less. They want to sell them in the U.S. for 10x the mark-up...

    Well, at least there is the legendary Stellantis reliability.

    /S

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    • [–] 17 points 4 months ago

    Expensive golf cart that won't even fit the clubs. Well done.

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    [–] 6 points 4 months ago (1 child)

    It cost half that price in Europe. It makes no sense to buy something like this if it cost more than $13.000. I don't understand why they would release it at that price, if they couldn't get it any lower they should have just abstained.

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    • [–] 3 points 4 months ago (7 children)

    Is this a joke?

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  • [–] 3 points 4 months ago (5 children)

    Have you seen the Renault Twizy? Top selling plug in electric vehicle in Europe in 2012, and it looks even more like a sci-fi concept car.

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  • [–] 2 points 4 months ago (4 children)

    Yes that's ridiculous too, the thing is kind of cute, but the price of that type of vehicle is insane.
    Here that's not called a car, but a cabin scooter. Like this:
    https://lindebjerg.dk/shop/kabinescooter-country-572p.html

    They are way to expensive, but can be driven legally under different laws than a real car, and that make them cheaper to have.
    IDK why that type of what isn't more than an E-Bike with a tiny cabin are so expensive? 10 years ago you could get an actual ICE car for that price, that could drive 130 km/h on Autobahn, and could take 4 passengers and drive 500 km on a tank.

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  • [–] 2 points 4 months ago (3 children)

    the price of that type of vehicle is insane

    Do the math. With fuel savings and easy parking, it's a free car in 5 years. No, 10 years ago you could not buy an ICE car for €10,000.

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    • [–] 1 point 4 months ago

    Is the conversion kit /addon free or in addition to the 14K USD price?

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