Smart ForTwo Electric Drive
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The 2016 Smart ForTwo is the first entirely new version of the European two-seat minicar since that vehicle was launched in the late 1990s. And it's a much better car, with more power, a choice of manual or automated transmissions, modern comfort and interior features, and fuel economy that's stayed at the same level even given its added equipment and higher power. That said, the main reason to buy a Smart ForTwo isn't to save gasoline. It's to park in impossibly tiny spaces. DON'T MISS: 2016 Smart ForTwo - full review We spent parts of two days driving a couple of different 2016 Smart coupes...
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New 2016 Smart ForTwo Will Keep Older Electric Drive Model In Lineup
Attracted by the new look, much-improved feature set, and better fuel economy ratings of the all-new 2016 Smart Fortwo? You’ll have to wait another six to eight months before you’ll find it at U.S. dealerships. On the other hand, if it’s the next generation of the all-electric...
Bengt Halvorson -
'Quietest, Slowest' Comparison Ever: 6 Electric Cars Tested By Car And Driver
Oh, to have the resources available to Car and Driver, which published in its March issue a lengthy comparison test among six battery-electric cars. They are the Chevrolet Spark EV, Fiat 500e, Ford Focus Electric, Honda Fit EV, Nissan Leaf, and Smart Electric Drive Cabrio. MORE: Electric Cars'...
John Voelcker -
Six New Plug-In Electric Cars Coming For 2014
This is an exciting time for electric car enthusiasts. From just a handful of choices only a few years ago, buyers in some states now have access to as many as a dozen different plug-in vehicles. It's set to get even better--over the course of the next few years, another six electric vehicles are...
Antony Ingram -
2015 Smart Electric Drive: Both ForTwo & ForFour Models
Smart is doubling up on electric vehicles with its next generation small cars--as its Electric Drive will come in both two- and four-seat formats. It's been known for a while that Smart would revive the ForFour name with its next city car. The company previously sold a car with this name in Europe...
Antony Ingram -
Renault Twin'Z: Rear-Drive Electric Car Hints At Next Smart Fortwo
Renault didn't endear itself to the U.S. back in the 1980s, with products like the Alliance and Le Car. It's almost a shame they aren't in the States today though, with a range of excellent performance hatchbacks to entice thrill-seeking buyers, and a burgeoning range of electric vehicles at...
Antony Ingram -
Just how do electric car owners use their cars? It's the question everyone is trying to answer, as it could shape how electric cars of the future are developed. Virtually every manufacturer with an electric car runs its own field trials or keeps data on its users' driving habits, but the EV Project aggregates data from different makes and models, and thousands of owners, who use the charging stations that are monitored by the program. Most recently, the EV Project has revealed its fourth quarter 2012 results, and with over 60 million miles logged it's building an increasingly thorough picture...
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Driving An Electric Car? You'll See So Much More Stuff!
If you were to pick a vehicle in which to do a road trip, an electric car may not be your first choice. Particularly one as small as the 2013 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive. For some, the frequent stops to recharge would get tiring, and the ForTwo isn't a natural highway car even when burning...
Antony Ingram -
Portlandia Steps Up For Electric-Car Sharing: We're Not Surprised
You've probably heard about what a model green city Portland, Oregon is, or how Portlanders shy away from car ownership—and, perhaps, how they can be a little uncomfortably earnest and politically correct. Is that how it really is? In short, yes. Now Portland, Oregon residents have another...
Bengt Halvorson -
Electric Mercedes Galore Competing In Austrian E-Car Rally
Daimler might only have one full production electric car at the moment, in the shape of the 2013 smart fortwo electric drive, but the company has been experimenting with several other electric vehicles over the past few years. Many of these are set to compete in the third Silvretta E-Car Rallye, a...
Antony Ingram -
Smart Electric Bike On Sale In Europe, Due In U.S. Soon
Smart's ebike electric bicycle is now available to order across Europe, before the first bikes hit retailers in late May, going on sale in the U.S. soon after. The bike reinforces the brand's stance on urban mobility, providing consumers with another option for city commutes beyond the regular...
Antony Ingram -
2013 Smart ForTwo: Fresh Styling, New Electric Drive Model
The Smart ForTwo minicar has had a rough ride in the U.S. of late. After debuting to stupendous sales in 2008, as gas prices soared, its sales have plummeted to just a few thousand a year. But the little Franco-German two-seater is being lightly refreshed for 2013, under new distribution through...
John Voelcker -
Rinspeed's latest concept would add both range and functionality to the Smart Electric Drive.
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Smart For-Us Pickup Concept: Detroit Auto Show Preview
It's not easy being small. You go unnoticed in crowds and have to ask taller people to reach objects on high shelves for you. With cars though it's not always a bad thing, or at least that's what Smart will tell you. When your business is making small cars, you extol the virtues inherent in lack of...
Antony Ingram -
San Diego: Car2Go's Choice For First All-Electric Car Share Service
The City of San Diego has become the first city in North America to offer an all-electric car sharing network, thanks to Car2Go. A fleet of more than 300 all-electric Smart ForTwo Electric Drives were present at the November 18 launch event. A subsiduary of Daimler North America Corporation, the...
Antony Ingram -
Hertz Says 'We Need More Electric Cars' After Year Of Rentals
Hertz has now been renting electric and plug-in cars for almost a year, and the company has learned some lessons along the way. Among them: "We need more electric cars!" Specifically, "We've got about 50 electric cars in our fleets now, and we could use another 2,000 to 3,000 if we could just get...
John Voelcker -
2012 Smart Fortwo Electric Drive: Frankfurt Auto Show
The problems with the old Smart Fortwo Electric Drive were fairly easy to work out. It was too slow, had only an average range, took too long to charge and it was too expensive - even when leasing. Smart has taken the car back to the drawing board and fixed all these issues - and given the car a...
Antony Ingram -
2011 Frankfurt Auto Show: Full Electric Car Preview
We thought the 2011 Geneva Motor Show was one of the best ever for electric cars and green vehicles, but the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show, starting in less than a week, is shaping up to be even better. We'll be covering the show in-depth next week, but in the meantime we've rounded up all the electric...
Antony Ingram -
The 2011 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive may be the smallest, most compact highway-capable electric car on the market, but its pathetic top speed, sluggish acceleration, limited range and expensive price tag haven’t gained it many fans. But that may all change in a little under a month as Mercedes Benz unveils a new, improved 2012 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. Quicker acceleration, higher top speed The third-generation 2012 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive features an all-new drivetrain by Bosch, increasing overall peak power from 30 kilowatts to 55 kilowatts. For...
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2011 Smart Electric Drive On The Streets Of London: Driven
What makes the perfect city car? Compact dimensions are a good place to start, so you can sneak into small parking spaces on a crowded street and squeeze through gaps that would leave other traffic impatiently waiting. Nippy acceleration is useful too, so you aren't left lagging at the lights...
Antony Ingram -
Five Reasons Why Mercedes Should Make an All-Electric S-Class
Earlier this week Motor Authority reported that bosses at German automaker Mercedes-Benz were unwilling to confirm or deny the rumors that it was considering an all-electric version of its luxury S-Class sedan. The automaker has confirmed that a facelifted 2013 S-Class will hit the streets late in...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield -
Tough To Be Wheego: Germany Crushes Electric Car From 'Hand-To-Mouth' Startup
It's hard to start a car company. Really, really, really, really, really hard. Which is why little Wheego Electric Cars is having a tough time of it at the moment. Last week, CEO Mike McQuary told industry trade journal Automotive News that the company was "living hand-to-mouth" and that its first...
John Voelcker -
Renting an Electric Car: When Is It Smart, When Is It Dumb?
One way for potential buyers to get familiar with electric cars is to rent one. Several rental companies, among them Enterprise, have announced plans to rent 2011 Nissan Leaf and other electric models at selected locations. Renting an electric car lets you spend far more time in one than the...
George Parrott -
Report: Smart ForTwo Electric Drive Available For Sale In 2012
The Smart brand has enjoyed modest success in the U.S. since its launch here back in 2007 but with a lack of any new models or updates, the oddly-designed minicar brand has fallen largely off the radar of late. Furthermore, even with all the hoopla surrounding electric vehicles at the moment...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran