I love the Smart- but I'm frustrated with Smart and won't buy one for a long time.

[MDarling]

I've been wanting a Smart car for at least seven years, since right around the time I got my Saab convertible. More than once, I thought I'd just go to Europe and buy one and bring it back -making the mods and all.

At the time I was focused on the Cabrio - but now that Smart has finally made it (almost) to the USA, I must have room for 3 (driver +2). And the Smart for four isn't coming. And can't be cabrio'd.

And now, for the investment, I want hybrid or pure EV. At lest biodieslel. But Smart thinks Americans wot buy that (they're probably right) and the EV Smart isn't coming either.

I'm thinking Aptera*, T-Rex, Mini converted to EV, or even PT Cruiser converted to EV. (*I know the top doesn't come off but it looks so dang cool, I may have to get used to being enclosed.)

Give me a Smart for 4, cabrio, EV or PHEV (biodiesal) with seat heaters and an iPod dock and I'm in.

[jonnysan]

Originally Posted by MDarling

I've been wanting a Smart car for at least seven years, since right around the time I got my Saab convertible. More than once, I thought I'd just go to Europe and buy one and bring it back -making the mods and all.

At the time I was focused on the Cabrio - but now that Smart has finally made it (almost) to the USA, I must have room for 3 (driver +2). And the Smart for four isn't coming. And can't be cabrio'd.

And now, for the investment, I want hybrid or pure EV. At lest biodieslel. But Smart thinks Americans wot buy that (they're probably right) and the EV Smart isn't coming either.

I'm thinking Aptera*, T-Rex, Mini converted to EV, or even PT Cruiser converted to EV. (*I know the top doesn't come off but it looks so dang cool, I may have to get used to being enclosed.)

Give me a Smart for 4, cabrio, EV or PHEV (biodiesal) with seat heaters and an iPod dock and I'm in.

I, too, have your same aspirations as far as my commuting vehicle and see the future as being very strongly in favor of EV or PHEV. Give it time....and alittle more nudging at the gas pump in the upward direction. Once that occurs....and it will most assuredly....the general populace will be clamoring for better gas mileage cars....especially as they watch their hard earned money go in to the gas pump just to get to go to work----kind of a vicious cycle there, wouldn't you say? EVWorld will give you a better insight into just what is going on with electric vehicles and the US is starting to wake up.....just starting.
PS....I ordered heated seats in my Smart due to arrive soon....by the way this Winter is looking so far, they will be a welcomed option. The wife already has them on her Acura and they are nice when the temp gets below 20F outside.

[JanetMermaid]

I absolutely want a car I can plug in at night. But that'll be a while coming to the US market. In the meantime, I'll drive my Smart. If nothing else, seeing Smarts on the road might convince US drivers that small us GOOD.

[08-4-2]

Originally Posted by JanetMermaid

I absolutely want a car I can plug in at night. But that'll be a while coming to the US market. In the meantime, I'll drive my Smart. If nothing else, seeing Smarts on the road might convince US drivers that small us GOOD.

Plug-ins may need to wait for lithium ion or the nano-lithium. There is the Tesla Roadster ... but the Honda Civic GX may be the answer in the meantime.

[forestacademy]

You have got to Love a good Zombie Troll

I think Im going to spend more time in the old stuff and see what I can bring back to life.
Not all will be trolls, Some will just expose how we were all Nubes at one time.
To bad most of the good mmmeat is all locked up

[NukleoN]

The Tesla is hot! Jay Leno test-drives the Tesla on his site as well as the Smart FourTwo. http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/

Electric is coming, but it's gonna take a bit for the infrastructure to support it so we're not stuck with crazily limited range. Imagine you wanna go 100 miles, and your EV has an 60-mile range like the Tesla. What do you do? Plug it in and wait an hour after you travel a paltry 55 miles or so? Where would ye plug it in? Even plugging in at work, for most people, would be highly unlikely unless you work at some EV-friendly company like Apple or something. Seems hugely inconvenient.

The limitation I think really is battery technology and charge time. If charge time (or limited range) weren't an issue, seems EV would be a adopted quickly much more readily and with more manufacturers making them.

Any electric car seems like a commuting luxury, if it falls within range of your commute and/or if you can plug it in at work. Imagine you're plugged in at work and someone just unplugs you, how lame would that be? Someone could make it so you can't even drive home.

EV is awesome, just needs to evolve a bit more.

[SubSlr88]

Talk about resurrecting OLD posts~! LOL - That OP date is over a year and half old... not really in tune with today's news regarding smarts.

[jimvw57]

I always thought some type of solar charger would be the trick. You could charge it while you were at work (or school) without plugging it in to the grid.

[forestacademy]

Originally Posted by jimvw57

I always thought some type of solar charger would be the trick. You could charge it while you were at work (or school) without plugging it in to the grid.

Vegas Maybe, Norther midwest, Not so much

[sheureka]

I have a flexible solar panel for my little '63 Airstream. As soon as my wheelchair trailer comes in I'm going to start figuring out a way to use the panel to charge my wheelchair while I'm traveling. It shouldn't be too difficult - the panel connects directly to the 12V batteries in my trailer now. And I live in southeastern Arizona, so sun isn't a problem. - sheureka