Fiat is set to introduce a cool new feature in its upcoming electric vehicles, starting with the Grande Panda next year.
The next-gen EV will have a charging cable built right into the car's body, tucked behind a panel on the front. This cable will automatically retract, making charging easier and more convenient.
Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis (Fiat’s parent company), explained that this design is all about making EVs more user-friendly.
He said. “We are coming up with a solution not to put the charging cable in the mud.
“You have these fantastic cars – full of technology, great materials, nice trims – and the first thing you do is you put the cable on the ground, and it's dirty and you throw it back in your trunk. That's not very high technology. If you look at vacuum cleaners, they found a better solution.”
In the Grande Panda, the built-in AC cable will charge at speeds up to 7.4kW, which can add around 120 miles to the car’s 44kWh battery in about 4 hours and 10 minutes. However, for faster charging, there’s a separate DC charging port on the side of the car that can handle speeds up to 100kW.
When it launches in the UK next year, the Panda—built on the Smart Car platform—will be one of the most affordable EVs available, with prices starting at “less than £22,000”.
