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The smart car is set to go even more green, as Daimler makes plans to bring out an electric version sometime around 2010. Before this, though, London will get its hands on 100 prototypes for use in a huge four year trial.
The smart car is already a favourite of ours; it's stylish, fun and small in both engine and body size. This means it takes up less room in the city, reducing congestion, and pollutes less. Sure, it won't break any speed records, but neither will all those Lamborghinis and Ferraris stuck in London traffic jams.
The electric smart cars will get 65 miles from their nickel metal hydride batteries, which take only three and a half hours to charge from empty. No performance figures have been released yet, although the car has a very light-weight chassis, which should mean it's no slouch.
"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," says Dermot Kelly, managing director of the Mercedes Car Group.
"We expect to deliver up to 100 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."
It won't be easy to get hold of one though; the police will get some of the prototypes, with the rest going to lease fleets. Perhaps the only way to get one at the moment is to convince your boss that your company should take part in the trial. Failing that, you'll just have to be patient and wait a few years...or become a policeman.
27 November 2007 06:34pm
I won't hold my breath on us EVER getting these in the USA. The gas-powered smarts are supposed to be here in January. Even that is a major "thought I'd never see it" happening. If an electric version shows up before global climate change wipes out our species, I will be SO pleasantly surprised!
27 November 2007 06:53pm
P.S. Note (and this is being picky, BUT...), you have erroneously capitalized "Smart" in your article. The brand actually is all lowercase, "smart". The name takes the first two letters of the companies that created it--Swatch and Mercedes--and adds the word "art", so it is short for "Swatch and Mercedes Art", a.k.a. "smart". Just a little tidbit-o-info for anyone who cares...
28 November 2007 07:21am
I believe they also need to do some testing in the harsh hot Australian weather as well as the cold climate of London. (I have my hand up to be part of an Australian trial :-D )
21 January 2008 10:13pm
Electric Cars NOW !
A lot of them !
And the batteries ? What polution ?
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Discover the brilliant experienced people who are helping SmartPlanet through the green and ethical minefield.
