The latest incarnation of the Smart car is the Smart ED. This is the car you may now see advertised since Smart has begun to deliver the first Smart ED cars to the public.
The Chinese auto manufacturer Flybo also has a Smart electric car. The Flybo stats are compared to the Smart ED Car stats on the Next Page.
Smart has been leasing the ED in Europe for several years. The cars can be leased in the USA for around $600 per month in a program that is similar to that for the Mini E, except that the Smart leases run four years instead of one for the Mini.
Reviews
The latest model Smart ED gets pretty good reviews. It is rated as having good acceleration and capable of steady driving at 70mph. Battery efficiency seems good, and the regenerative braking gets good marks.
The model is so well liked that rumors have it the electric version (ED) of the car will replace the gas version at some unspecified time in the future.
The Smart For Us Truck Concept
Lease a Smart
As of December, 2011 people living in Amsterdam can lease one of 300 Smart EVs from the car sharing outfit car2go. Hourly and daily rates will be €12.90 and €39 ($18 and $55 USD) respectively.
Smart Truck Concept
Smart has a new mini pickup called the Smart For Us. The truck is based on the Smart ED platform, but slightly wider, and 140 inches long. The rig can haul two bicycles. Power is provided by a 73 hp electric motor that pushes the rig to a 75 mph top end.
Smart Barabus EV and Upgrade
The Smart Barabus is on the way. The popular and stylish version of the basic Smart For Two trim package (gas powered car) can now be obtained for the Smart electric car.
The 2012/13 model Smart has been upgraded for performance. The motor is increased in power from 40 to 74 hp, with torque upped from from 89 to 96 ft lbs. Zero to 60 mph is reduced to 13 seconds while top end goes to 75 mph.
The Smart EV Barabus trim package
The Smart For Us Truck Concept
big enough for two bikes
The electric Smart car has a somewhat checkered history. Zytez, the company that developed the drivetrain, was into developing electronic engine management systems for Formula One teams. This car is very popular with customizers and the like. There are clubs devoted to the Car. The gas powered Smart cars come in many styles, too many to list here.
Zytek teamed with Lotus and put an electric drivetrain in a small Elise sports car. The power came from 25 NiCad batteries coupled to a 200 hp motor. Next, Zytek put together a system for Smart GmbH.
Then in 2007, they developed the first generation Smart EV, an all-electric version of the Smart Fortwo. This car used a Zytek DC motor powered by a sodium-nickel- chloride battery.
The name Smart is an acronym for Swatch Mercedes ART. Swatch teamed up with Daimler-Benz. A manufacturing plant was established in 1994 as a joint-venture of Daimler-Benz and Swatch.
After producing 750,000 units over some 37 countries, the companies experienced problems. Sales lagged. In 2006, Smart GmbH was sold off and its operations were absorbed within the Mercedes-Benz automobile group. Smart GmbH lost nearly 4 billion euros from 2003 to 2006.
Smart EV cars are invading Berlin. They are not for sale, but for rent by the minute. The company will rent one to you for about 30 cents per minute.
The rental move is part of a larger trend that appears to be headed to 15,000,000 car renters by 2020. There were some 700,000 rigs rented last year with sales hitting 13.6 million units.
