Hambach, France – An electric version of the Smart Fortwo will go into series production in 2012, built at the Smart plant in Hambach, France, Daimler AG has announced. The Smart, powered by a lithium-ion battery, will roll off the assembly line in large-scale production and be offered to customers through the Smart sales network. The initial series production will begin with 1,000 vehicles, the first of which will be delivered to customers by the end of 2009. As of 2012, the electric version will then be part of the regular product program of the Smart brand. CanadianDriver Green News Electric Smart will go into volume production
These cars will sell. Personally, I don't see the point in buying the gas Smart Car when you can buy a Prius, but here in S. California, I see a different Smart Car on the road every day. I'm going to estimate that in Orange County there are at least 100 on the streets. Like I said, I don't see the appeal (when you can have a Prius), but people are buying these things. Based on that, I think the electric version will sell. Not to me, but to many people.
I just don't "get" the appeal of the Smart car. When I first saw them in Europe a decade ago, and saw how they would park where no other car could possibly fit, they seemed like a good idea. But to drive one in SoCal? No way would I take one out on the 405.
Fuel efficient, well built, inexpensive and safe www safeandsmart com I've enjoyed mine for a year and a half, so far...
I test drove the Smart and it was a punishment I couldn't inflict upon myself daily, especially not for a pitiful 41mpg. A car like that should get the energy equivalent of 80-90mpg if it's going to be so slow and jerky.
Business Fleet called the gas SF2 one of the ten worst cars of the decade and had this to say about it: Smart ForTwo(2008-present): We don't have a problem with small cars in general (we're big fans of the Mini Cooper), just with ones that don't deliver on the benefits of going small. The pint-sized ForTwo sacrifices a lot of passenger space for a relatively unimpressive 41 mpg on the highway, has an SUV-like propensity to roll over, and is equipped with an aggravating sequential manual transmission. Sure, the ForTwo looks cute, but after you drive it you won't be smiling anymore.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s&feature=fvw"]YouTube - smart car crash[/ame] There's not much of a crumple zone so tests show occupants would die in this scenario. So, would bigger crumple zones in bigger cars help? You decide. Now ... electric? They'be been trying to get it into production for quite a few years now. I hope this time it'll happen. I'm still hoping the 1st EV re-introduced will be a bit larger. .
Too bad we can't get Mini Cooper to do the same thing with an electric Mini. I hope Mini follows their lead. I hope Smart does well ... and I hope MANY more manufacturers follow them.
Err... I had more driver space in the smart than in the Prius. The only thing the Prius wins is width.
Friend at work brings up the smart not being against heavier cars every once in awhile. He and most people are looking at this from the wrong angle. Before getting the Prius, I looked into a scooter. The ones capable of highway speed only got 40 to 45 mpg. Compared to a motorcycle or scooter, the Smart is a big step up. Many magnitudes safer, space for cargo and a passenger, less ease of parking, but still better than a full car.
I duno . . . seems whenever I see a smart going by, the driver's head is nearly against the rear window. Presuming both car's seats are all the way back, I'll bet the driver's seat in the Prius can recline farther back than the smart's seat can. .
Well duh, cause there's no backseat . haha. The passenger seat moves back 14cm farther than the driver's seat. I never had the seat all the way back (I stored the heatshield and the first aid kit behind the seat) and you know how tall I am so heck you could fit in the driver's seat and definitely fit in the passenger seat. You can reach for anything in the trunk from the front seats The Prius' seat can recline farther than the U.S. spec smart, yes. The Euro smarts can fully recline. For whatever reason, the U.S. spec cars have a pin limiting the recline angle.
