Four-seater electric car Fiat Multiplina faced with excess weight problem

Fiat is preparing the compact electric microcar Multiplina, designed for four people, for possible serial production. The concept develops the idea of the two-seater Topolino, but additional seats, an increased battery, and an extended design create a serious engineering problem: the car needs to be lightened to comply with European regulations for heavy L7e category quadricycles.

Fiat design head François Leboine announced that the project is close to production. The estimated release date for the model is 2028. However, the final decision on launching serial production and the characteristics of the production version have not yet been announced.

The L7e category provides for a maximum unladen mass of 450 kg. This is only 25 kg more than the limit for lighter L6e quadricycles, which include the Topolino. The original design is already close to the limit: installing a more capacious battery, extending the chassis, and accommodating additional passengers increase the mass. Therefore, engineers will have to reduce the weight of body elements and other components without losing the necessary functionality.

Classification also affects the car's characteristics. For L7e, power limits of up to 15 kW and a maximum speed of up to 90 km/h are provided in accordance with European regulations. This allows for the creation of faster and more versatile microcars than two-seater L6e models, whose speed is limited to 45 km/h.

Entering the US market will require a separate solution. The American Low-Speed Vehicle (LSV) category limits speed to 25 mph, or about 40 km/h. If the production Multiplina is designed for European speeds exceeding this limit, Fiat will either have to limit its speed for the American market or comply with stricter safety requirements for regular passenger cars.

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