Fiat 500e is pretty cool but cramped

Price as tested: $34,890

Powertrain: 83 kWh electric motor

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Horsepower: 111

Torque: 147 pound-feet

Zero to 60 mph: 9.1 seconds

EPA fuel economy rating: 121 mpg city/103 highway/ 112 combined

Recharge time: 120v 24 hrs; 240v 6hrs.

Despite the growing appeal of the Tesla Models S and X, and excitement about a coming 200-mile-range Chevy Bolt, plug-in electric vehicles still account for a scant fraction of U.S. auto sales.

Though March marked the biggest electric vehicle sales month in history, according to industry publication InsideEVs, those sales accounted for far less than 1 percent of all new vehicle sales — if you don’t count plug-in hybrids that also have gasoline engines under the hood.

So pity the poor Fiat 500e, which placed eighth on InsideEVs sales chart and had its fair share of recalls in its first couple of years.

That’s not necessarily a reflection of the electric sedan’s appeal. Still a “compliance” vehicle, manufactured and sold by Fiat Chrysler largely to meet emissions standards, the 500e is sold domestically only in Oregon and California.

And it’s actually a pretty cool car.

Like almost all electric-motor cars, the 500e is zippy and quick. With no valves, pistons, cams, flywheels or clutches to push, the battery-powered motor sends all its juice directly to the wheels.

With a claimed 111 horsepower and 147 pound-feet of torque, the 500e rips away from red lights and hops up hills with ease — and, being electric, does it silently and with no vibration.

The 500e’s chassis is short and square, so the car feels planted and nimble on the ground. It corners pretty well and doesn’t tip up on sharp turns.

Because it’s so small, it’s easy to park, even in spaces that would be too tight for a full-size car.

Around town or on the highway, it gets pretty good mileage. The EPA-estimated range on this electric is 103 miles on the highway and 121 miles around town.

Owners I’ve spoken with tell me they average about 90 miles between charges. As for me, a leadfoot who lives at the top of a series of steep hills, I seemed to be getting a little less than that. But even at the low end, a single “tank” full of electricity in the 500e easily bought me an entire week of commuting.

A full recharge requires about eight hours on a household plug, or half that long on a 240-volt system. The EPA estimates the average owner will save $6,000 in fuel costs, over five years, compared with driving the average gasoline-powered vehicle.

The 500e looks pert and perky too. The shape and color of a throat lozenge, it comes in an array of tropical tones that seem more suited to a line of kitchen appliances or frozen desserts. You can have one in Luce Blu, Celeste Blu or Electric Orange Tri-Coat Pearl. (The electric version can’t be had in the Olive Green or Modern Pearl Yellow available on other Fiat 500s.)

On the inside, the design theme is old-school minimalist. The dashboard is made of a hard plastic that shines like painted metal. The dash is simple and uncluttered, featuring a push-button gear selector, a cluster of climate control knobs and very little else.

For a small car, the 500s all offer fair legroom and headroom in the driver and passenger seats.

There’s considerably less space, in all dimensions, in the back seat. You could probably fit two full-size adults back there, but you might have trouble getting them out.

As for the trunk, that might cramp your style too. There’s room for your tennis togs or a picnic basket or an overnight bag. But the trunk does contain the 500e’s 6-6kW on-board charging module, which with the use of a Level 2 fast charger is said to be capable of bringing the electric charge from empty to full in less than four hours.

Other aspects of the ergonomics proved challenging. I bumped into the armrest every time I plugged in the seat belt, and finally elected to fold it up and forget about it. No matter how I adjusted the seat and the steering wheel, I couldn’t see the ignition switch and had to fumble blindly with the key when I started the car.

The plug-in electric models are also pricier than their non-electric siblings. Although the most basic gasoline-powered Fiat 500 starts at less than $18,000, the lowest 500e MSRP is $32,795. The one I tested went out the door at $34,890.

But as one analyst told me, price isn’t the big determiner of electric vehicle sales anyway.

“The biggest selling point for EVs continues to be time, because they get you into the carpool lane and you don’t have to stop at the gas station,” said Rebecca Lind- land, senior analyst at Kelley Blue Book. “It’s a side benefit that you can claim you are saving the world.”