Fiat reinvents EV charging with vacuum cleaner-inspired cables

Anyone who has handled a plug-in hybrid knows that coiling thick cables can be problematic. Therefore, Fiat proposes a new solution: coiling them like vacuum cleaners.

The idea itself is not new—a similarly coiled cable can be found in an electric Vespa. The battery in the Vespa is not replaceable; you just need to stand close enough to the socket. Here, you will need to stand close to a charging station or a street post.

The first model with such a cable will be the Fiat Grande Panda. However, the cable mounted under the front grille will only allow charging using alternating current, with a maximum power of 7.4 kW. Since the Panda's battery has 44 kWh, charging will take a while. Of course, a direct current cable will also be available.

The Fiat Grande Panda will appear in the US next year.