Having first seen the Fiat 500 Elettra 18 months ago at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, only now has the Fiat 500 EV been spotted on the U.S. streets being put through a few tests. Never mind the EV stickers: a plug for an electric charging cable is in clear show as the fuel filler cap has been strategically left open. Developed at Chrysler's Technical Center in Michigan, the car's power will come from a small 100hp electric motor which should be able to carry it in the range of 80 to 100 miles.

Set to launch late next year, Chrysler assures that the Fiat 500 EV will be priced in line with similar electric cars in the market, meaning it is likely to be a fair bit more than the standard 500's $15,500 price tag.