America’s cheapest new EV is smaller than a ping-pong table and tops out at 19mph

Fiat’s Topolino is positioned as America’s cheapest new EV, but its low price comes with major compromises: a 19mph top speed, 46 miles of range, and extremely small dimensions. The vehicle is closer to micromobility than a conventional car, targeting short urban trips rather than highway driving.

The Topolino highlights how automakers are testing demand for lower-cost EVs by redefining what an “electric vehicle” can be. If consumers accept limited-speed, small-format models, urban mobility could shift toward lighter, cheaper vehicles that sit between e-bikes and full-size cars.