July 13, 2020 - In a world that is constantly on the go with pressing environmental issues to be addressed, one of the greatest challenges for society is to rethink our mobility model. All automakers have a role to play. This transformation needs to address growing demand and changes in customer needs, with an increasing focus on the environmental impacts.

FCA has accepted this challenge and is committed to mobility solutions that are more sustainable and also offer immediate advantages to customers. To meet that objective, FCA has developed a comprehensive, environmentally-friendly ecosystem that is also economically competitive. An ecosystem that brings together partners, products and services across markets to simplify the lives of customers who choose to drive an electrified vehicle.

Potential problems are transformed into opportunities, giving life to a new concept of mobility that meets the needs of both customers and the Planet. This is e-Mobility by FCA.

Advanced Solutions in Electrification

Together with partners who are leaders in their respective fields, FCA has designed and developed a range of electrification technologies – including hybrid, plug-in hybrid and full-electric vehicles — to reduce fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.

These technologies and propulsion systems have already been launched on FCA models in various countries. The first to cross the finish line was the Fiat 500e full-electric, introduced in North America in 2013. This was followed by the Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid, introduced in North America in 2017 and in China the following year. In 2019, Jeep_® launched its first-ever plug-in hybrid, the Jeep Commander, in China. In North America, the patented “e-Torque” hybrid technology was recently introduced on the Jeep Wrangler and RAM 1500.

As FCA continues to introduce electrification across its brand portfolio, the spotlight is also on many “Made in Europe” models: from the Jeep Compass and Jeep Renegade 4xe plug-in hybrids to the all-new, full-electric Fiat 500, the Fiat Professional E-Ducato and the full-electric Maserati models due out in the coming months. Hybrid versions of the Fiat Panda, Fiat 500 and Lancia Ypsilon are already on sale.

To support electrification of the portfolio, FCA is investing over €9 billion in the design, development and production of electrified vehicles. On the production front, investments at plants in Italy and North America that will produce electrified vehicles are already underway. A Battery Hub for battery assembly is also being constructed at the Mirafiori complex in Turin. The aim is to become progressively more independent in the supply of these components, which are expected to become increasingly strategic. All these initiatives – from the launch of new models to investment in plants – will ensure FCA has a diversified offering to meet increasing customer demand for new forms of mobility, driven by strict environmental regulations in Europe.

Easy Charging

The transition to a sustainable mobility goes way beyond the design and production of new models. First, it requires development of a network of public and private charging stations for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. It also requires a rethink of how electricity is produced – focusing on non-fossil fuel sources – and distributed.

FCA is developing solutions that meet every need associated with driving an electrified car, beginning with one of the most basic requirements: charging. Over the next few months, 3,600 charging stations will be installed at dealerships across Europe, and others are being installed at car parks for Group employees.

Agreements with two leading energy suppliers, Enel X and ENGIE, will enable FCA customers to locate, book and pay for public charging points via an app on their smartphones. Customers will also have the option to install a charging point at their home.

The easyWallbox, developed in conjunction with ENGIE Eps, is one of the first fruits of these agreements. It is a simple plug-and-play domestic charging unit that doesn’t require installation by an electrician or modification to the existing electrical system. Once mounted, with a simple Schuko socket, a full-electric vehicle can be charged overnight to a level providing up to 180 kilometers in range.

Through the partnership with Digital Charging Solutions GmbH (DCS), drivers of Jeep Renegade and Jeep Compass 4xe, the all-new, full-electric Fiat 500 and all future plug-in hybrid and electric models will have access to the “My easy Charge” service, backed by the largest public charging network in the world, managed by DCS. Via an app and membership card, customers will have access to more than 130,000 charging points in 21 European countries.

Another major challenge is finding a solution to ensure the electricity grid can cope with the increased demand generated by plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles, and the peaks at certain times of day.

Through its agreement with ENGIE Eps and Terna – the Italian electricity grid operator – FCA is working to build a Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) lab at its Mirafiori complex in Turin, Italy, to test the capacity of electric vehicles to interact with the distribution network and store or return energy based on demand.

The goal of this experimental V2G project is to connect a fleet of electric vehicles via a two-way charging infrastructure to contribute to balancing energy demand during peak periods. Over the course of the project, the fleet will increase from an initial 64 vehicles to 700 vehicles capable of providing up to 25 megawatts of power.

This V2G project is the largest of its kind in the world announced so far.

“These partnerships are included in the e-Mobility strategy announced last year as part of the Group’s five-year plan,” said Mike Manley, CEO of FCA. “We are creating an ecosystem of partners, products and services in various markets to meet and exceed the rapidly evolving expectations of our customers in terms of electrified vehicles.”

Solar panels covering 150,000 m² will also be installed at the Mirafiori complex. These Solar Power Production Units will generate 15 megawatts of power on-site, contributing to a more than 5,000-ton reduction in carbon emissions while supplying renewable energy to charge the electric vehicles produced at the site.

Connectivity, Safety and More

FCA is also developing connectivity, safety and other services as part of its integrated e-Mobility ecosystem. These include services, offered in collaboration with specialist partners, such as access to a public charging network in Europe and insurance coverage based on actual vehicle usage. These services take advantage of the vehicle’s connectivity features enabling, for example, ‘EV routing’ where a trip can be planned based on the availability of charging points. Solutions to make vehicles an integral part of the energy ecosystem are also being tested. In the event of a shortage of energy from renewable sources, vehicle batteries can effectively serve as an energy reservoir via the Vehicle-to-Grid and Vehicle-to-Home networks, contributing to energy savings. The goal of FCA’s e-Mobility ecosystem is to provide a portfolio of options and ease of use for customers who drive one of the Group’s electric or electrified cars, and also help reduce the total cost of ownership of the car.

An additional on-board infotelematic system, fully integrated with the city traffic management infrastructure, is currently being tested in a city in Italy. Once validation of the system has been completed, the system will be offered to other municipal authorities in Italy and elsewhere in Europe. This world-exclusive pilot project – known as ‘geofencing’ – will make it possible for the traffic management infrastructure to immediately identify when a plug-in hybrid vehicle has entered a restricted traffic zone and suggest that the driver switch to electric-only mode. This will allow cities to extend access to restricted traffic zones to also include plug-in hybrids.

The CarCloud project launched by Leasys, the mobility arm of FCA Bank, forms another important part of the e-Mobility system. This is the first car subscription service in Italy, a sustainable model that replaces private ownership with freedom of movement: customers can choose the vehicle most suitable for their requirements at any time anywhere in Italy via the extensive Leasys Mobility Store network. This promotes a sustainable lifestyle from both an economic and environmental point of view. The subscription has a fixed monthly fee, no time limit and customers can sign up or cancel at any time and renew on a monthly basis. The Leasys CarCloud project was also made possible by the significant technological innovations that are enabling the transformation of vehicles into integrated services hubs across the board. 

FCA’s latest generation Uconnect platform was designed to be upgradeable for compatibility with future innovations and, with the arrival of 5G technology, our electric and electrified vehicles will be even safer. In fact, in collaboration with its partners, FCA is developing a range of enhanced driver assistance technologies, including preventive safety systems. These include Forward Collision Warning and Intersection Movement Assist aimed at reducing the risk of accidents at intersections, “Urban Geo-Referenced Alert” to warn drivers of possible obstacles ahead, such as roadworks or traffic jams, and “See-Through Technology” to increase visibility even in heavy mist or fog.

The Roadmap

The full gamut of available technologies and solutions needs to be considered as we address the rapid transformation in mobility. FCA is focused on solutions that are practical, competitive and benefit all of society, from customers to the environment.