Here in the United States, Fiat cars are not as common as the Italian manufacturer would like, but the company's new electric shift will make them harder to hear, too.

Starting in 2025, Fiat will begin phasing out internal combustion engine-powered vehicles from its global lineup; by 2030, it will be a fully electric carmaker. As part of the transformation, Fiat plans to improve its EV charging infrastructure, making electric vehicles more accessible and helping to improve air quality.

Fiat will officially join the list of automakers switching to a full EV lineup in the coming years.

According to Autocar, Fiat's ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles will disappear from its global portfolio in 2025. Over the next five years, the company will transition to an EV-only company by 2030.

This is not entirely surprising. Fiat has been producing an electric version of the 500 hatchback known as the 500e for several years; at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show, the company unveiled the Fiat Concept Centoventi. It was a customizable cube-on-wheels with a modular battery architecture that allowed the range to be adjusted between 60 and 300 miles to suit different lifestyle needs, such as city driving or a trip to the beach.

Fiat gave us a glimpse into its future as a company last March with the debut of the new 500. Instead of a small gas engine, it had an 85 kW charging capability, a 42 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, and an output of 87 kW (117 hp).

Such a city-oriented small car should have no problem charging in metropolitan areas, many of which have charging infrastructure that can accommodate EVs. In other areas, however, charging may be problematic. Fiat seems to be aware of this; according to the Autocar article, Fiat plans to make charging available in areas where charging facilities are not available, such as for people living in apartment buildings.

Fiat is even partnering with architect Stefano Boeri to reimagine urban environments as EV-friendly places. Ultimately, the partnership aims to cover the roof of Fiat's Lingotto building in Turin, Italy, with 28,000 plants to improve air quality.

When Fiat issued a press release last year about the new EV 500, it said it was not certain that the model would be sold in the U.S. and that it was "evaluating its potential in the North American market." While the new 500 is larger than its successor and has decades of name recognition, it is still on the small side, especially for U.S. consumers who tend to prefer crossovers, SUVs, and trucks. Whether or not Fiat brings the 500 to the U.S., one thing is certain: the company will need to make its EV presence felt in the U.S. over the next few years if it is to have any chance of entering this highly competitive and profitable market.