Smart has confirmed that the all-electric Fortwo ED will go on sale in the US.
Priced from $25,000 (approximately £16,500), the Smart will be offered in hatchback and cabriolet body styles.
This means that the Smart Fortwo Electric Drive will be the only electric convertible on sale in the US.
With the electric motor generating 96lb ft instantly, the 0-62mph sprint is dispatched in under 13 seconds.
The Smart's maximum range is claimed to be in the region of 90 miles.
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Flat Dwellers
We live in a flat with undergroung parking and the solution was to drop a cable down the shaft where the sewage pipe is. However, a better solution is to look to installing an external point, if a location can be found on an eternal wall - where parking is allowed. The challenge is to get a coordination with the managing agents and the power supply company. As the EV charger comes with a meter. It should not be too difficult for those readings to be billed to you. In todays market you will have more of a chance with one meter/one car. In the future with demand for multi users, then the charger type and metering requirements will be greater - so will be the cost. Suggest you apply for a survey from one of the companies offer 75% subsidy and get them to make feasible suggestions - the survey is free!
Pure EV no good to me
I live in a first floor flat with a parking space 20m away. How exactly am I supposed to charge my EV at home? Run a cable out the window? I don't think so. As a result, this Smart, Nissan's Leaf and Renault's Zoe & Twizy twins are all hopelessly impactical to me and many people like me. Plus, the nearest charging point from my place of work is 1.5 miles away. Am I expected to walk the remaining distance back and forth each day? Sorry, if it has to be an EV then it has to be a range extender. Pure EVs work in theory, but not in practice. Well, not yet where I live and work anyway.
I've got a diesel fortwo and
I've got a diesel fortwo and use it for work covering all of Scotland, average annual mileage is 25-30k. Copes just fine thank you very much. Not saying that a 5 series bmw would nor make a better companion, but it is a lot more expensive to run compared to my smart!
As for th electric version, I do agree that the smart is a perfect candidate for it. Like the Twizy, however, where would most city dwellers, who live in flats, charge them?