Fiat Palio Elétrico

The Fiat Palio Elétrico is an electric version of the Brazilian Fiat Palio Weekend estate, presented in 2009. It was designed and built in Brazil with the electric utility Itaipu Binational and the Swiss company KWO, after a study that began in 2006. At its official presentation, in front of Brazil's president Lula, the 21 cars built were already in service with the utility in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba and Foz do Iguacu. A direct-current motor of 15 kilowatts nominal power and 72 volts drove the front wheels to 85 kilometres an hour, with a range of 150 kilometres loaded, from twelve 6 volt nickel-cadmium modules of 200 amp-hours that recharge fully in eight hours. It was meant only for professional use by the staff of Itaipu Binational.