Electric ForTwo smart

[chieftmc]

Check it out here:
http://tinyurl.com/56xob2

[jwight]

I like it! 70 mile range compares well with the 40 or so Chevy is touting for the Volt plug-in.

[wahi]

After reading the link, my immediate response is, why couldn't they put that 41 hp electric motor to power the front wheels, with the regular 71 hp gas at the back. When the car moves on gas, it charges the Zebra batteries and when fully charged, the front wheels can take over (and disengage and shut-off the rear engine) until the batteries needed charged again. That should give that hybrid, twin engine smart REAL gas mileage...

My two sen..

[SmartPassion]

Its a start. Maybe they'll send some to the States for testing.

[Karl Roth]

Originally Posted by wahi

After reading the link, my immediate response is, why couldn't they put that 41 hp electric motor to power the front wheels, with the regular 71 hp gas at the back. When the car moves on gas, it charges the Zebra batteries and when fully charged, the front wheels can take over (and disengage and shut-off the rear engine) until the batteries needed charged again. That should give that hybrid, twin engine smart REAL gas mileage...

My two sen..

My car wife a full tank of gas and me weigh less than the typical battery for a fork truck that may make it through an 8 hour shift shift at an average of 5 mph. Weight comes to mind first, battery technology is still the sticking point for these. $'s drive the train.
karl

[jonnysan]

Originally Posted by wahi

After reading the link, my immediate response is, why couldn't they put that 41 hp electric motor to power the front wheels, with the regular 71 hp gas at the back. When the car moves on gas, it charges the Zebra batteries and when fully charged, the front wheels can take over (and disengage and shut-off the rear engine) until the batteries needed charged again. That should give that hybrid, twin engine smart REAL gas mileage...

My two sen..

I wholeheartedly believe that some independent firm like A123 (Hymotion) or some other company will make an add on kit for the Smart that will work exactly like you just described.
Leave all the rear drive stuff alone and just add the electric necessities for electric front drive hubs. Maybe weight would be too excessive ...carrying around 2 energy sources (batts and ICE) might be just too much for the size of the smart without further frame beefing up....10-4 on the real gas mileage!

John

[curtis]

electricity is for my blender..

[Big Panda]

Originally Posted by jwight

I like it! 70 mile range compares well with the 40 or so Chevy is touting for the Volt plug-in.

absolutely.....i REALLY like this one!

Originally Posted by wahi

After reading the link, my immediate response is, why couldn't they put that 41 hp electric motor to power the front wheels, with the regular 71 hp gas at the back. When the car moves on gas, it charges the Zebra batteries and when fully charged, the front wheels can take over (and disengage and shut-off the rear engine) until the batteries needed charged again. That should give that hybrid, twin engine smart REAL gas mileage...

My two sen..

while it would give the smart better MPG's, it's still using GAS. i think the whole idea is to STOP using fossil all together......at least thats the 'best case scenario'. My two sen....

[Karl Roth]

Originally Posted by curtis

electricity is for my blender..

http://www.gasblender.com
don't limit your thinking
karl

[knutliott]

Originally Posted by Jeepster55

while it would give the smart better MPG's, it's still using GAS. i think the whole idea is to STOP using fossil all together......at least thats the 'best case scenario'. My two sen....

50% of the electricity in the United States is generated by burning coal... so those plug-in electric vehicles aren't as "green" as people think they are.

Reducing our use of gas is a good thing, but we need to do it in a way that doesn't simply switch the problem to some other fossil fuel. Think in terms of full-cycle carbon emissions, not mpg.