Wednesday, 19 July 2006
Smart Car Goes Electric
Now Playing: Tito Puente
Topic: Electric Vehicles
DaimlerChrysler has turned its popular teeny Smart car into an EV. The electric version of the Smartfortwo will be available for lease to 100 customers in Great Britain in November.
DCX claims the vehicle will cost one-third as much as the petrol version to fuel, has the same 0-60 acceleration, and when fully charged will have a maximum range of 68 miles. The batteries are underneath the vehicle, and the electric motor is in the rear.
DaimlerChrysler will at long last roll out the gasoline version of the Smartfortwo in the U.S. later next year, with general availability in early 2008. If that launch is successful, perhaps the company will bring the electric version over shortly after.
I could see these cars making a splash as daily rentals like the Zipcar program. An alternative for a community of city dwellers would be to buy Smart cars for everyday use, and then share the cost of one larger vehicle for hauling or weekend excursions.
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