An zero-emission electric car that is powered by energy drawn entirely from organic residues, this is the latest environmentally conscious project development from Fiat Automóveis, the autonomous Brazilian arm of Fiat Auto that is busy setting the pace in developing the sustainable transport of the future.

Last summer Fiat Automóveis presented the Fiat Palio Elétrico project to the public, a 100 percent electric-powered car, and an ambitious new project that instantly drew much attention. Now Fiat have taken the whole emission-free project a step further down the environmental path, developing energy sources from organic materials (both animal and vegetable). Partners in the project are Itaipú (the Brazilian-Paraguayan Energy Company) and the Swiss firm KWO. The idea is to develop a vehicle that can be easily used in agricultural situations, where its organic energy source readily available. Brazil has a large, geographically-spread agricultural sector. The organic energy powered Palio Elétrico has made its public debut this month at the biggest agro-business event in the south of Brazil where it has be a star of the show who have been receptive to the suggestion that this vehicle could be considered an answer to the needs of energy by the agricultural producers of the country.

The batteries of the Palio Elétrico's engine have been charged with energy from bio-digestores where the accumulated  organic residues are then used to produce methane gas which generates electricity in small thermal plants. The aim now is to produce energy for an agricultural electric vehicle for varying levels of load transport requirements, and propelled by energy which is generated by the agricultural business itself, thus reducing to the point of elimination, the costs of fuel.

According to Fiat Automòveis, the Palio Elétrico prototype can be considered to be a “100 percent ecological one”, for the absence of pollution emitted and the fact that it runs almost which producing any noise; the car can be easily supplied with fuel for minimum expenditure. The Palio Elétrico can reach a top speed of 110 km/h, and it has a maximum range of 140 kilometers, but at the moment it needs eight hours to recharge the batteries.