Abarth goes electric: 500e EV super hatch roars to life

The Abarth 500e is a tough looking supermini, and will reach Australia and the US in late-2023. Images: Stellantis

Speaking at the media launch of the Abarth 500e and Fiat 500e for the US, Olivier Francois, FIAT & Abarth Chief Executive Officer and Global Chief Marketing Officer of Stellantis proclaimed that “You may ask ‘why electric?’. Well, basically, performance made us do it: in fact, every change made in the Abarth is about getting the best driving performance.”

Well, no. The current regulatory environment made you do it. Strict emissions standards in Europe, China and North America are becoming legislation, and OEMs are scrambling to source batteries for electric vehicles.

That aside, the Abarth 500e is a cool looking mini EV from a company with serious pedigree. For those unfamiliar with the brand, Abarth started in motor racing, establishing a strong relationship with FIAT in the 1950s. More recently, cars like the Fiat Abarth 124 Roadster and Abarth 500 range have attempted to channel this racing pedigree.

While Stellantis has provided only vague details at this stage, we know the Abarth 500e will be a fun car. The company claims performance that offers “50% faster acceleration from 12 to 25mph (19 to 40 km/h) than its petrol-powered counterpart”, however we can’t find a reference to this data range anywhere for the Abarth 695 petrol.

Abarth claims a more responsive electric motor over the regular 500e, a longer wheelbase, improved support due to widened track widths, and a better balance between the axles to improve dynamics. This should result in quicker response for the driver, and better cornering characteristics.

The Abarth 500e offers a 42kWh battery, with a single motor offering 113.7kW (155PS). Not exactly scintillating numbers, given the 500e is likely to be heavy. Abarth states that the 500e will hit 62mph (100km/h) from zero “before you even realise it”. No, I’m not joking, that’s in the press release.

Abarth 500e Image Gallery

Three driving modes are available, and the 500e car DC fast charge at up to 85kW. As pedestrian warning systems become mandatory around the world, Abarth has opted for a guitar sound; “a “strumming guitar” reflects the transgressive and unconventional soul which is inherent in the genre and in the Scorpion‘s cars”. Righteo.

Finally, if you really want to capture the experience of a petrol Abarth, there’s an optionally available “Sound Generator” that accompanies the engine performance, apparently reproducing the sounds of a petrol engine.

The Abarth 500e Scorpionissima Limited Edition is now on sale in Europe to Abarth community members, and the vehicle is expected to go on general sale early in 2023.

German auto giants Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen accelerate battery production plans

Following news this week that Ford has partnered with Redwood Materials to secure future battery component supply chains, we have an announcement from Daimler that Mercedes-Benz has secured a 33 percent stake in Automotive Cells Company (ACC), a battery cell manufacturer with a presence in France. The stake is estimated to be worth around $1.2 billion USD ($1.65 billion AUD).

Stellantis and French petroleum company TotalEnergies own 33 percent each. Automotive News Europe reports Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kaellenius has said “the purpose of the partnership is to develop cells and battery modules and “help ensure that Europe remains at the heart of the auto industry — even in an electric era.”

Mercedes-Benz will provide technology and production expertise to the ACC partnership, and aims to manufacture at least 120 Gigawatt hours of cell capacity by the end of the decade with its partners. The company is moving towards a modular, standardised battery “kit” that allows battery cells and modules from different manufacturers to easily fit with its range of components and interfaces.

High energy density, performance and charging power are key benchmarks for the project according to Daimler. ACC will primarily use renewable energy for its production facilities, and the batteries themselves will be over 95 percent recyclable.

ACC’s first new factory will be located in Northern France, and plans to be operational by 2023.

A rendering of JAC Volkswagen’s Hefei battery production facility. Image: Volkswagen

Volkswagen powers ahead in China

Meanwhile, Chinese joint venture Jianghuai Automobile Group/Volkswagen (JAC Volkswagen) will also have a new battery factory operational by 2023, located in Hefei city. Automotive News Europe states that the factory's initial capacity will be 150,000 to 180,000 battery systems a year.

This is the fourth battery factory in the works for the Wolfsburg automaker, with plants in Brunswick and Salzgitter Germany coming online in the next couple of years. A battery factory in Chattanooga, TN and at Volkswagen technology partner Northvolt’s Skellefteå plant should also be operational by 2023. Volkswagen plans to produce unified, modular cells like Mercedes-Benz for its scalable MEB platform architecture, and has flagged an annual capacity of up to 180,000 battery systems from its Hefei plant.

“With a significant increase of battery-electric vehicles in the future, we need to focus on keeping key components like battery systems in our own value chain, allowing us to leverage Group-wide synergies and innovations” says Stephan Wöllenstein, CEO of Volkswagen Group China. He goes on to say that “Volkswagen Anhui and VW Anhui Components Company, alongside our two strong Joint Ventures, are crucial to our electrification strategy and to achieving our goal of the Volkswagen Group China fleet reaching over 40% NEVs by 2030”.

Sources: Daimler, Automotive News Europe

Stellantis hosts "EV Day", targeting best-in-class electric vehicles across all 14 brands

Stellantis’ EV Day highlighted the automotive group’s future electrification plans.

Stellantis, the parent company of brands including Fiat, Jeep, Citroën and Opel, has hosted its annual “EV Day”, presenting its electrification and investment roadmap for the coming decade.

Stellantis has committed to offering fully electrified solutions across all 14 major brands, utilising four flexible electric-only vehicle platforms, and a family of three scalable electric drive modules and standardised battery packs.

The company noted that affordability is a priority across the group, as the company is targeting price parity with equivalent internal combustion engine vehicles by 2026. Stellantis’ marketing agency also conjured up a number of just plain puzzling statements which are supposed to express each brand’s electrification approach:

• Abarth – “Heating Up People, But Not the Planet”

• Alfa Romeo – “From 2024, Alfa Becomes Alfa e-Romeo”

• Chrysler – “Clean Technology for a New Generation of Families”

• Citroën – “Citroën Electric: Well-Being for All!”

• Dodge – “Tear Up the Streets… Not the Planet”

• DS Automobiles – “The Art of Travel, Magnified”

• Fiat – “It’s Only Green When It’s Green for All”

• Jeep® – “Zero Emission Freedom”

• Lancia – “The Most Elegant Way to Protect the Planet”

• Maserati – “The Best in Performance Luxury, Electrified”

• Peugeot – “Turning Sustainable Mobility into Quality Time”

• Ram – “Built to Serve a Sustainable Planet”

• Vauxhall/Opel – “Green is the New Cool”

• Commercial Vehicles – “The Global Leader in e-Commercial Vehicles”

Slogans are all well and good (though I’m not sure what, if anything, the above words achieve) but concrete plans and products are what counts.

Stellantis’ four platform EV range

Stellantis is working on four different platforms; STLA Small, STLA Medium, STLA Large, and STLA Frame. As previously mentioned, a completely modular solution allows for key components to be easily shared across platforms, including drive units and body options.

The platforms will use existing liquid-type battery technology, including a premium high energy-density option and a more affordable nickel cobalt-free alternative, and Stellantis plans to then introduce solid-state technology by 2026. While the company will rely heavily on outside battery suppliers initially, it will also build five battery plants across Europe and North America, and is aiming to reduce battery cost by more than 40 per cent over the next 3 years.

Dodge spriuks “emuscle”, but doesn’t reveal what’s under the cover.

Jeep’s new plug in hybrid Grand Cherokee begins the brand’s slow move to electrification.

For what was allegedly an EV day, Stellantis did not go into electrification plans for each brand. We know European brands in the portfolio already have fully electric models, and a firm commitment to ditch internal combustion engines by 2030 in the case of Fiat, but we also saw a commitment from brands such as Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler to accelerate the electrification of their model ranges.

Stellantis will invest more than 30 billion euros (approximately $35.6 bn USD/$47.5 bn AUD) on vehicle development through the next three years. A lot of this money will be spent on R&D across the group, as well as capital expenditure relating to battery and vehicle manufacturing facilities. Stellantis is also spending big on software, including on its joint venture deal with Foxconn to develop digital cockpits and in-car connected services.

Fiat’s electric only 500 has been a good seller for the brand in Europe.

Jeep reveals plug in hybrid Grand Cherokee 4xe, first of many new EVs in line up by 2025

Jeep’s Grand Cherokee 4xe plug in hybrid has been revealed, the first of many new electrified offerings from the off road brand over the next four years. During the Stellantis EV Day 2021, the company said in a statement “The introduction of the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe is another step toward expanding electrification and strengthening the Jeep brand’s vision of “Zero Emission, 100% Freedom” in a year in which the Jeep brand celebrates 80 years of achievements and innovations.”

The unveiling of the Grand Cherokee 4xe follows the launch of the somewhat underwhelming Wrangler 4xe, and the announcement from the automaker of a 4xe charging network, in partnership with Electrify America.

The Wrangler 4xe is powered by a 270-hp (201 kW) turbocharged inline-four that is sandwiched between a 44-hp (33 kW) motor connected through the accessory belt at the front, and a 134-hp motor taking the place of the transmission's torque converter at the back according to Car and Driver . These are paired with a 14 kWh lithium-ion battery. It is not yet known whether the Grand Cherokee 4xe will retain this setup, or whether the vehicle will be sold outside North America.

Jeep announces 4xe Charging Network to provide EV charging stations

Jeep to partner with Electrify America, providing Level 2 Charging at popular off-road trailheads

Hot on the heels of Rivian’s announcement of the Rivian Adventure Network, Jeep has partnered with Electrify America to roll out level 2 EV charging stations at Jeep Badge of Honor off-road trailheads around the United States.

The launch of these trailhead chargers coincide with the launch of the 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid model, and the company states that they will support future fully electric Jeep models. Jeep 4xe charging stations are initially scheduled to open this spring at three of the most-popular off-road sites and icons for the Jeep brand – Moab, Utah; the Rubicon Trail in Pollock Pines, California; and Big Bear, California.

“Electrification opens a new chapter in the Jeep brand story, and it brings an entirely new level of excitement and enjoyment for our enthusiastic owners,” said Christian Meunier, Jeep Brand Chief Executive Officer – Stellantis. “Key to making Jeep brand the greenest SUV brand is assuring our owners can enjoy the benefits of electric propulsion wherever they go, including the most iconic off-road trails in the country.”

Jeep is working with leading public charging network Electrify America to establish the trailhead charging sites and install the charging equipment. Jeep 4xe owners will be able to login to unlock free charging via a custom mobile app by Electrify America, which also allows drivers to initiate and monitor their charging session.

“It is our goal to provide electric vehicle drivers with the freedom to get to where they want to go – whether it be on a highway or off-road – and we look forward to bringing Jeep enthusiasts along on the journey,” said Giovanni Palazzo, president and chief executive officer of Electrify America. “Through the customizable electric vehicle charging offerings of our Electrify Commercial B2B brand, we were able to work with Jeep to identify where their drivers will need charging access most, and make it a reality.”

The jeep Wrangler and an Electrify America solar charger

The Jeep 4xe Charging Network trailhead chargers will deliver Level 2 (240-volt) charging, meaning the 17 kilowatt-hour battery pack in the Jeep Wrangler 4xe can be fully recharged in about two hours, delivering up to 21 miles (33 km) of electric range.

The 4xe charging stations will be either directly connected to the power grid or use solar power to generate electricity, though the company has not stated exactly how much power will be generated by renewables.

We’re not certain how many hybrid Jeep owners would bother to plug in to charge while they’re off-roading or hiking, but it’s a small gesture towards Jeep’s—and Stellantis’—all electric future.