Although the Smart ForTwo doesn’t use a lot of fuel, Smart has decided to introduce an electric version of the city car. Powered by a 41 horsepower electric motor, the electric Smart is capable of 69 mph and a 70 mile range. Performance is said to be more than acceptable for city driving thanks to the Smart’s low weight.
The electric Smart charges in about 8 hours and would consume less than $3 worth of electricity, according to Smart. The vehicle is certainly not fast, however, with a 0-60 sprint of 19.8 seconds. Still, the electric ForTwo isn’t designed for performance or high speeds, but rather for zero emissions.
Another big news item for Smart is the MHD – Micro Hybrid Drive – model, which features a starter generator that allows the Smart’s gas engine to turn off at a complete stop or when speeds drop below 5 mph. The motor starts instantaneously, according to Smart. Emissions are lower on the MHD model than the Toyota Prius ; the MHD Smart achievs 103g/km carbon dioxide. The cleanest internal combustion Smart is still the CDI diesel, which is rated at just 88g/km.
