Fiat's $13,995 EV For America Is Cute, But Barely A Car

Home Fiat News Fiat's $13,995 EV For America Is Cute, But Barely A Car With a top speed of 19 mph and range of 46 miles, the Fiat Topolino isn't even street legal without an optional pack to raise its top speed

What's Happening

Photo by: Fiat Kevin Williams By : Kevin Williams Jul 7, at 3:45pm ET Add InsideEVs as a preferred source in Google Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail copy Share Comment The Fiat Topolino is a tiny two-seat micromobility EV with a range of 46 miles. This car is not street legal without it's forthcoming top speed upgrade, which raises it from 19 mph to 25 mph. It is a twin to the Citroën Ami. We complain that there’s such a huge dearth of cheap EVs on our market, and that no brand has actually tried in earnest to get a truly cheap EV on our roads.

Why This Matters for EV Owners

• Well, I think we can stop complaining, because Fiat’s finally done it
• The two-seat Fiat Topolino can be yours for a miniscule $13,995 (not including its $900 destination fee), a stunning $16,500 cheaper than Fiat’s next cheapest car, the 500e
• There’s just a catch, though: the Topolino technically isn’t even a car
• Heck, unless you equip it with a special kit to raise its top speed, it’s not even street legal

The Bigger Picture

Photo by: Fiat The Fiat Topolino is a restyled version of the Citroën Ami . These vehicles are micromobility products much closer to golf carts and Honda Motocompactos rather than true cars. Power is limited, range is limited, and they lack a lot of features that you’d find in a standard vehicle. Even in Europe, it’s not technically qualified as a car, instead being called a quadricycle making it effectively an enclosed scooter. , the Topolino can be considered a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle or Low Speed Vehicle, although Fiat says it’ll need a “street legal upgrade” to get it there.

Real-World Range Considerations

EVRoutes' route calculations account for real-world conditions. In winter, expect 15-30% range reduction due to battery chemistry and cabin heating. Pro tip: Pre-conditioning the battery before DC fast charging can improve charging speeds by up to 30% in cold weather.

What to Watch Next

Its standard 19 mph top speed isn’t fast enough to hit the 20 mph requirement to be considered a neighborhood electric or low speed vehicle. The good news is that the upgrade is free. So it's not quite a car, and it can't go on highways. But the Topolino is undeniably cute.