Smart fortwo goes electric
Author: Tracy Wilkinson
Published: 13 July 2006
The smart fortwo will be available in the UK as an electric version, it has been revealed. Britain has been selected to run a market trial for the introduction of a fully electric version of the iconic two seater car.
And if you want to get a good look at it, you won´t have long to wait. The smart ev (electric vehicle) will be on show at the British Motorshow at ExCel on the 18th July.
The car will be available to specially selected UK corporate customers with deliveries starting in November.
The smart ev will set a new benchmark in the electric vehicle sector. With 30k output and a top speed of 70mph, it offers a better in-town performance than its petrol powered sibling with 0-30mph in 6.5 seconds. The range is 72 miles and the smart ev is exempt from road tax and the congestion charge.
Dermot Kelly, Managing Director Mercedes Car Group, said: "A market trial of the smart ev is a significant step for the Mercedes Car Group as it is an important part of our commitment to sustainable mobility."
Kelly continued: "We expect to deliver up to 200 units in this market trial phase and will work with corporate partners, to find suitable applications for the ev, and with green energy suppliers to deliver zero emissions from well to wheel."
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When I found out about the Smart e.v. I thought Fantastic, finally a car that can go the distance. The main issue here is the battery storage issue. In London, and many cities, Charging the car can be a problem - Being on the top floor of a block of flats can mean a really long extension lead, so the longer you can go without having to charge the car is a bonus. You rarely need to go in the city more than 40mph, so a limit on speed wouldn´t bother me, but being able to go for almost a week without "Having" to charge the car would be a bonus. 72miles is certainly a step in the right direction, when currently, competition is only offering 42 miles distance between charges, but when you have the likes of the Riva producing cars like the G-Wiz for people to order (albeit slowly) I wonder if Smart are not getting left behind, by making only 200 for a trial period, and then possibly a release 18 months later. I for one am about to order a G-Wiz, and there is something like a 4 month waiting period. I would certainly be prepared to wait 4-6 months for a car, but 18 months for one that may be obsolete by then if other companies battery life improves - The world may be under 6m of water by then!! We need them available now, even if it is to special order!
i dont understand smart we are all told to save the planet,yet they have an all electric cars which we cannot buy.seems strange to me.
Make it available NOW
18 months? Make it available NOW!
...money talks :) petrol is big money
Make it available also in Germany.
Yea, and havent you seen the raise in Electricity? Or maybe this was forseen by the power companies? Theyll be raking it in when we all have to charge our cars up
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Before I retired, I worked tirelesly to introduce and encourage green motoring. In my opinion the minimum specification for an electric car to have mass appeal is 60mph and a 60 mile per charge range. The Smart e.v. easily exceeds this. I would certainly buy one if the price was right.