#Fiat500Ev

The Fiat 500e, which is making its debut at the 2012 LA Auto Show this week, will not be heading to Europe according to the automaker’s global brand head.

At this year’s LA Auto Show, Fiat will reveal two new models, the 500 Abarth Cabriolet and 500E electric car.

According to several reports, Dodge is preparing to announce its withdrawal from NASCAR today …

The Fiat 500 EV will begin production later this year and go on sale in 2013 as Chrysler relaxes its opposition to electric vehicles.

Gas prices are getting higher and Chrysler would like to sell you its Fiat 500 EV that uses no gas for $10,000 below cost.

With the Fiat 500 already on sale in North America (if you can find a dealer), the Italian automaker will expand its lineup with the addition of a convertible model this Spring.

Fiat will bring a fully-electric version of the 500 to market, with production starting in 2012. The result of the Fiat/Chrysler alliance, the Fiat 500 EV will use a high-tech lithium-ion battery pack. It will also be developed and engineered by Chrysler at the company’s headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich.

No information regarding power, acceleration, range or recharging time has been released, but Chrysler has said it will be priced competitively with other vehicles in the market.

“The alliance with Fiat presented new opportunities to merge Chrysler Group engineering knowledge with new platforms and the Fiat 500EV is an outstanding example of our efforts,” says Scott Kunselman, Senior Vice President Engineering—Chrysler Group LLC. “The Fiat 500 is a small, lightweight platform perfect for integrating electric-vehicle technology.”

Chrysler will also look to develop an EV-charging infrastructure and is currently looking for partners.

The Fiat 500 gasoline version will debut later this year for sale starting in 2011.

Official release after the jump: