X

Smart ForTwo looks to electrify city driving (photos)

<p> Smart USA this week gave an early look at the the electric version of its ForTwo mini car which it will test in the U.S. this fall. </p>

Martin LaMonica
Martin LaMonica is a senior writer covering green tech and cutting-edge technologies. He joined CNET in 2002 to cover enterprise IT and Web development and was previously executive editor of IT publication InfoWorld.
Martin LaMonica
10C641_013.jpg
1 of 9 Smart USA

City smarts

BROOKLYN--Smart USA is bringing an electric version of the ForTwo mini car to the U.S., starting with a small trial this fall, followed by production manufacturing and sales in 2012. The ForTwo Electric Drive, just like the gasoline version that came to the U.S. two years ago, is a two-seater with a small amount of storage space in the back. The car is geared toward city commuting and aimed at a niche of people who want to make a statement with a small, energy-efficient car.

I got to take it for a spin this week on the streets of New York.

10C641_021.jpg
2 of 9 Smart USA

Highway speeds

The Smart ForTwo Electric Drive will have a range of 83 miles and a top speed of 65 miles per hour. With its pilot testing next fall, the company will lease the car for four years, with most of the minicars going to businesses. Because of its unique looks in the U.S., Smart USA expects that corporations will use the car to convey an image of environmental sustainability.

DSC_0187.JPG
3 of 9 Martin LaMonica/CNET

Smarts in a row

One of the main challenges to bringing an electric vehicle to city drivers is the charging infrastructure, as many apartment dwellers won't have a garage to plug the car into. Smart USA and Daimler, which designs and manufacturers the ForTwo, expect that parking garage owners and businesses will install charging stations. With a 220-volt service, the battery can charge from zero to 100 percent in about eight hours and from 20 percent to 80 percent charge in about three and a half hours. Leasing the cars to business owners does help address the infrastructure question since in many cases, they will have available space for daily charging.

DSC_0169_1.JPG
4 of 9 Martin LaMonica/CNET

Retro charge

The interior is equipped with these dials to tell the driver how much charge is remaining in the battery. The dial on the right indicates how much power is being drawn--the motor maxes out at 30 kilowatts, or about 40 horsepower. The battery is charged when the car is decelerating or the driver brakes, which is also indicated on the power meter.

DSC_0185.JPG
5 of 9 Martin LaMonica/CNET

Mini car comparison

This photo shows how small the ForTwo minicar compares in size to the green minivan behind it and bicycles in front. The two-seater is less than 9 feet long and about 5 feet wide and 5 feet high.

DSC_0195.JPG
6 of 9 Martin LaMonica/CNET

Ample head room

Even though it is a minicar with just room for two passengers, the interior space does not feel cramped at all. Even people more than 6 feet tall report that there is enough head room and leg room. Cargo space, however, is minimal with about enough room to fit a suitcase or a few bags of groceries in the back.

DSC_0175.JPG
7 of 9 Martin LaMonica/CNET

App for charging

Smart USA last week released an iPhone application that will have some features specific to the electric version of the ForTwo. People can see the battery state and calculate how much charging they will need to go a certain distance. There will also be a way to find available charge stations. The iPhone application itself lets people stream Internet radio stations and use maps for navigation.

10C641_026.jpg
8 of 9 Smart USA

EV parking

Because the Smart is small, it's easy to maneuver through city traffic and parking is a breeze. With relatively little space behind the driver's seat, it's easy to see back when parallel parking.

DSC_0158_1.JPG
9 of 9 Martin LaMonica/CNET

Inside an e-mini car

This graphic shows the internal components that make up the Smart ForTwo Electric Drive. It's the same car as the gasoline version but uses an electric powertrain. An electric motor replaces the gasoline engine and a 16.5 kilowatt-hour battery system, made by Tesla Motors, is in the mid-section of the car. The electric version, at about 1,100 pounds, is about 300 pounds heavier than the gasoline one.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos