smart electric drive

Following a UK market trial of 100 cars with fleet customers, which started in December 2007, smart fortwo electric drive is now ready for a small series production with new cars coming to the UK in early 2010. Feedback from the UK trial included the Metropolitan Police, universities, local councils, architects and energy companies and has proved very encouraging, providing Daimler AG (the parent company of smart) the confidence to move forward.

The smart electric drive second generation trials will continue in Rome, Milan and Paris with several cities in the US earmarked as well.  This continuing feeback process will also be incorporated into future production cars.  The second generation smart electric drive will feature a lithium-ion battery power source and will also have a longer range.

smart electric drive

Dermot Kelly, Managing Director Mercedes-Benz; said ” smart have been leading the way in pioneering environmentally friendly, sustainable concepts for future mobility and we’re delighted that the UK trial is proving to be so successful. The smart electric drive is exempt from vehicle excise duty and the London congestion charge and this, underlined with incredibly low operating costs, means that companies taking part in the trial are finding it makes perfect fiscal sense”.

The smart electric drive burns no fossil fuel and drivers can expect to get around 300 mpg from running the vehicle. It also emits no carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, unburned hydro carbons, particulate matter or any harmful substance – in fact it emits nothing at all. Because it has no gearchange, it also reaches 0-30 mph in 6.5 seconds making it nippy around town and has an electronically limited top speed of 60mph.

With its own charger on board you will also be able to plug it directly into any UK mains 3 pin plug socket to re-charge the batteries making this a practical car too. The battery is maintenance free and depending on use, smart estimates it can last up to 10 years. If you don’t want to wait until 2010, full smart car leasing pricing is available on the rest of the range now.

Tags: daimler ag, electric cars, lithium ion battery, smart car leasing, smart fortwo electric drive

Why not try our quote shoppers to lease a vehicle?

This entry was posted on Monday, June 22nd, 2009 at 12:23 pm and is filed under Green news- CO2 emissions and fuel economy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.