You will note the battery capacity is identical, but the motor is more powerful. The newer model is also about 270 lbs. heavier. But the most amazing stat is that the turning radius shrank from an already remarkable 28.7' down to 22.8'!
EPA ranges are not given (maybe not available when the article was written?), but EPA range on the ED model was 62 miles but only 58 miles for the newer EQ model.
The difference of the EPA ranges are not accurate, because the testing method changed between the 451 and the 453. So you cannot compare them reliably. This certainly did not help the sales of the 453, most people did not know that EPA rules changed, and M/B never explained this successfully in their marketing efforts.
https://www.smartusa.com/ The 58 mile EPA range is concerning :( It includes configuration options, trims, pricing, and just about everything else. It looks really nice though I really hope that given the battery is the same size, that it can still reach the high double digits in city...
Thanks for the link to the old thread. Sounds like this was talked to death back in the day. Thanks also for the fueleconomy.gov link, I also did some digging and wound up at that site. They offer lots of technical details about testing, over my head a bit. The article you linked to refers only to 2012 standards, but I did find this one:
This article says the displayed ranges on the current website have all been corrected to the same new standard.
I guess my problem is believing that a car with wider tires, 300 lbs. more weight, and a more powerful motor but with the same battery size as before, can get better range than the old car. Although Tesla is pulling this kind of rabbit out of a hat all the time nowadays.
When my 2013 cabriolet wears out I will go get one of these newer models and find out for myself! There don't seem to be any other convertible EVs on the horizon, unless Fiat decides to share their new 500e with us. I don't have much hope for the Tesla "25,000 dollar" car. I envision that being some sort of glorified Tercel with a nice motor and battery.
I love that back in the day the original Fiat 500 came as a sedan, a convertible and a panel van. sigh I think they had more fun back then.
…hey…there’s only one Geezer in this asylum and he’s on leave down in Florida..
jetfuel….not white hair…just adding chrome…
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