Smart wants you to load your electric bikes in its For-Us pickup concept and hit the hills.
Tim Hornyak
Crave freelancer Tim Hornyak is the author of "Loving the Machine: The Art and Science of Japanese Robots." He has been writing about Japanese culture and technology for a decade. E-mail Tim.
DETROIT--At the 2012 North American International Auto Show here, Smart unveiled its For-us concept, a "pickup" that can carry cargo such as bicycles. At only 140 inches long, it's practically small enough to fit in the bed of a typical U.S. pickup.
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The all-electric For-us is powered by a 55-kilowatt magneto-electric motor, with a top speed over 80 mph. Its lithium-ion battery can be recharged from 20 to 80 percent in about three and a half hours, according to the company.
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The bold silver, yellow, and orange interior in the For-us does away with a rear-view mirror in favor of a camera video feed displayed on a dash-mounted smartphone.
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With the power tailgate down, the cargo floor moves back 11 inches, allowing easy access to the payload. Two slits in the cargo bed can hold two e-bikes, which charge off the vehicle's power.
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Smart also debuted this ebike, which can be charged on the For-us cargo bed. It has a 250-watt Bionx rear-wheel hub motor that assists with pedaling and a battery that can last for more than 60 miles.
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The For-us rolls on Michelin 235/55 R18 tires on three-spoke wheels. It has a 97.7-inch wheel base, two feet longer than the Smart ForTwo.
