Fiat 500e electric car may be about to get cheaper in Australia

A new, base-model version of the pint-sized Fiat 500e electric car from Italy has been approved for sale in Australia.

While it promises to cost less than the 500e already in showrooms – which is priced from $52,500 plus on-road costs – initial estimates suggest the new variant will still not be cheap if it comes to showrooms.

Government approval documents seen by Drive list a new 'Base' variant of the Fiat 500e, positioned below the top-of-the-range La Prima edition introduced in Australia last year.

It has the same 87kW/220Nm electric motor and 42kWh battery – for a 311km claimed driving range – but smaller 16-inch wheels (rather than 17s) and no sunroof, among other changes.

Prices are yet to be announced for the new base Fiat 500e grade, as it is yet to be confirmed for showrooms.

However, if prices in Italy – where a full range of Fiat 500e models are available – are a guide, the new base version may be priced from $48,000 to $49,000 plus on-road costs.

It is a modest saving of $3000 to $4000 for a pint-sized electric car which is smaller than a Suzuki Swift, but currently costs $55,000 to $60,000 drive-away – depending on where in Australia it is registered.

In Italy, a model equivalent to Australia's La Prima variant costs €38,450 ($AU63,000), while even the most affordable grade with the 42kWh battery costs €35,200 ($AU57,700).

The cheapest version – with a 28kWh battery offering just 190km of claimed range – is priced from €29,950 ($AU49,000), or the equivalent of $41,000 in Australia once differences in taxes, as well as import costs, are considered.

For context, the cheapest new electric car in Australia is the GWM Ora from China, priced from $35,990 drive-away.

The Fiat 500e – alongside its Abarth 500e electric hot-hatch sibling – will live on locally after the petrol-powered Fiat 500 and Abarth 595 end production for Australia from the middle of this year.

The electric cars will be the only new Fiat passenger vehicles in Australia, sold alongside the Fiat Ducato delivery van.

In the first three months of this year, 148 pint-sized Fiat and Abarth hatchbacks have been reported as sold – but only 84 were electric, the remaining 64 petrol-powered.

Of the 84 electric cars, 38 were Fiats and 46 were Abarths – though at least five of the Abarths were registered by Fiat Australia head office for evaluation by media outlets including Drive.