Video: Test Driving an Electric Smart Car

Michael Graham Richard
Transportation / Cars
July 25, 2008

Electric Smart Car on GuernseyThe limited range of an electric car might seem less limiting if you live on a 30 square miles island. That's the case for Mark Parr, an engineer who founded The Electric Vehicle Company with his brother to convert Smart cars to electric propulsion. They live on the island of Guernsey in the channel between France and England, and below you can see a video test-drive of their latest model.

Electric Smart Car SpecificationsAt first, they used lead acid batteries that gave the Smart EV a range of about 20 to 35 miles and a conversion cost of about £6,000 (though they say it would be cheaper with more volume), but the newest model uses lithium-ion batteries, has a range of about 60 miles, and can do 60 mph. How much does on of these babies cost? £15,000 ($30,000), or about twice what a regular Smart car would cost there. They estimate operating costs at about 1 penny a mile.Official Smart EV Coming in 2010We're reported that Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche has announced an electric version of the Smart for 2010, and there are already 100 Smart EVs being tested in London.