How do I charge this thing?!

There is a plug in charger in the trunk that works off any standard wall plug. It's called an L1 charger, which means it takes more than all night to charge the car. It’s much faster to use an L2 charger - you will find L2 chargers all over the city on the ChargePoint network. Some hotels have L2 chargers you can use. To charge, use the Chargepoint card attached to your key. You wave the card in front of the charger and wait for the card to authorize. You’ll hear a “click” and the handle will be ready to plug in. L2 chargers charge the car in about 3-4 hours.

Where are the chargers I can use?!

There are two ways to find them. You can use the ChargePoint website: https://na.chargepoint.com/charge_point search for "Austin, TX". The Chargepoint app is super helpful if you want to download it. It’s really the best way to navigate the charger network.

Can I make it to (the Magnolia Silos, San Antonio, Dallas, etc)?

Only the truly ambitious and patient can do roadtrips in a Fiat EV. I strongly discourage you from trying. I have some affordable cars with gas engines that would make the trip, but I would recommend a Tesla - I have those too.

Anything I should know about the chargers?

Yes! I learn more about the chargers in Austin every day. Here’s some important things to keep in mind... Some chargers are free, but in paid parking garages. You are not exempt from the parking fees, and you are responsible if you incur parking fees. If you need help understanding a specific charging station just ask and I will help. You can use other chargers - you are not limited to Chargepoint. Some hotels have chargers you can use for free. There is an app called "PlugShare" that I use all the time to find chargers. Fiats cannot use Tesla chargers. In the ChargePoint app Tesla chargers show up differently than standard L2s - they are grey boxes. If you have any questions about a specific charger, feel free to reach out to me and we’ll figure it out together. I am slowly learning all the chargers in Austin and can help.

Are there any quirks to the Fiat EV? Anything I should know?

Yes! To start the car, you turn the key all the way as if you are starting the engine. You’re really not, but I guess Fiat likes you to imagine you are. If you leave the lights on, they will go off when you turn the key off. For some strange reason they will still draw power. Not much, but they do. Very odd. To get the mirrors to move, make sure you hold down the switch and make the adjustment at the same time.

What's a DC Fast Charger?

Well, the important thing is that DC Fast chargers are not compatible with the Fiat 500e. This has never been much of a problem, but now there are more of them. All the chargers at the new Whole Foods @ Plaza Saltillo are DC Fast. DC Fast chargers are the fastest available charger, similar to Tesla Superchargers.

I drove 2 miles and the range went down 10 miles! What's wrong?

The fiat 500e's range is a calculated value. Most 500e fans and owners call it "the guess-o-meter" because it fluctuates so much. Its calculated not on your driving, but on the driving history over the last several trips, so its not very accurate to what you are doing. I drive these cars all the time and I use the % charge to understand the range. Its the green bar on the left of the dash.

I love driving this car - can I drive it anywhere?

If you stay in town you'll almost always be near a charger. Austin Energy and Chargepoint have done a great job of installing chargers. If you drive the car out of town, be aware of the availability of chargers to help you get home. Wimberley is a charger desert :)

Hi hate reading - don't you have a video that explains everything?

Yes! this video comes from fiat and really covers everything: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm8U5V6jrfU The only thing it doesn't cover is how to use ChargePoint. This guy does a good job explaining things (that's not me): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN0Taj9CJ9k

The wall charger in the trunk takes forever. Is there anything I can do to speed it up?

Yes! A particularly smart driver figured this out. There is a yellow adapter in the trunk with the charger. If you can use that adapter to plug into a dryer plug, the car will charge must faster.