Fiat is looking to expand its hold on the natural gas and alternative fuel market in Europe with a trio of new vehicles. The Italian motor company will debut the Ducato and Fiorino dual-fuel vehicles as well as the Fiorino all-electric vehicle at the Hanover International Motor Show (September 25 to October 2, 2008). It is clear that Fiat is looking to ease the transition from gasoline-powered transportation to alternatives like natural gas and electric in Europe.
The Fiat Ducato dual-fuel van features an automatic switch that turns from natural gas to gasoline when the four-gallon natural gas tank is empty. The Ducato has a 136-horesepower engine that allows this mid-sized van to achieve speeds of 95 miles per hour in gasoline mode. Movers and parcel delivery services will be able to use the Ducato for shorter routes due to its maximum range of 249 miles.
While the Fiat Ducato takes control over the fuel source switch out of the driver’s hands, the Fiorino Combi seems to advance the ball further upfield in terms of driver control. Fiat added a manual override button on the dashboard to help Fiorino Combi operators switch fuel sources quickly. The 1.4-liter gas engine produces 73 horsepower and reaches 93 miles per hour when the vehicle is in gasoline mode. The Fiorino Combi has achieved a range of 560 miles with the combination of gasoline and natural gas in preliminary tests.
The future of Fiat and other European motor companies is embodied in the Fiorino all-electric vehicle. The electric version of the Fiorino runs with 30 kilowatts of continuous output and a maximum output of 60 kilowatts during acceleration. Fiat has inserted a lithium ion battery pack in the Fiorino that can be recharged in a standard household outlet after 8 hours. The automaker has added interesting extras like a tire inflating kit rather than a spare tire to reduce vehicle weight.
Fiat’s presentation at Hanover International Motor Show should be interesting for advocates of natural gas vehicles. While motor companies in North America and Asia have been tinkering with natural gas vehicles, Fiat is uniquely situated to take huge steps forward in this sector of the alternative fuel market. The European market is open to alternative fuels and forward-thinking companies like Fiat are looking to make a killing with dual-fuel and all-electric vehicles.
