Smart ForTwo ED coming in 2010

[Amethyste]

Originally Posted by curtis

Electric Cars are for chicks

What is your deal dude?

STFU.

[DHurt]

Electric cars are for intelligent, forward thinking patriots; chicks or otherwise.

I am a 32 yo male veteran and dammit I want one!

[SuperGeek]

The internal combusion engine in a car has a naturally inefficient design; if we can switch energy sources to electric which I believe has 80% efficiency vs 25-40%, we'll be better off. Industry has to be careful about this... people are vultures and when we see something new and hot, we all have to have one. Look at the SUV craze. Battery disposal is a major concern of mine... I plan to live long enough for those batteries' metals to leach into the water, so I'd rather that risk be taken into consideration now rather than later. That, along with cost, is one reason I didn't get a hybrid this time around.

Address the full life cycle and range issues with either larger battery or a gas engine to run a generator at peak efficiency, and I'll be in a showroom checking out whatever's produced. The fact that smart made the car 90-95% recyclable tells me they're thinking ahead 50 years.

[p1nball]

Just remember, "ELECTRIC CARS WERE THE FIRST CARS MADE!!!!!!!!"

[Smart Enuf]

Can they come up with a name other than "smart car ED"? I can't read "ED" without thinking of Bob Dole and his (ahem) problem. And Bob Dole is not the person I want to think of when looking at an electric smart car, whether it's driven by a chick or chick-magnet-wannabe.

In other news, electric cars rock and are most definitely for anyone who is forward thinking. I've driven a number of them at work (including the EV-1, Daimler and Think!), and they blow all concepts of acceleration and performance out the window. Electric cars have maximum torque from the start, so acceleration from a dead stop is like nothing else outside of a sports car (top speed is another matter, as well as the drain on batteries with full acceleration). But new advances by battery manufacturers may moot the drainage and range issue.

I'm excited about an electric smart because I think it will make the smart lineup even more desirable for consumers.

[slowpoke]

Originally Posted by p1nball

Just remember, "ELECTRIC CARS WERE THE FIRST CARS MADE!!!!!!!!"

Do you think "steem" has a chance of a come back.




Stanly where are you

[Smart Enuf]

Originally Posted by slowpoke

Do you think "steem" has a chance of a come back.

Stanly where are you

Ooh, now that would be smart -- a car that drives you to work, takes the wrinkles out of your clothes, and feeds you steamed dumplings all at the same time.

[24-42]

Originally Posted by slowpoke

Do you think "steem" has a chance of a come back.
Stanly where are you

DON'T underestimate 'steam'. The last steam cars, Doble, Stanley, etc. were very practical. They became practical with the advent of the 'Flash boiler'. There is no transmission to complain about it's shifting. Quiet as an electric.The only thing coming out of the exhaust is water (Gee where have I heard that lately ?).

Something to ponder;

In 1905, there were many more electric than gasoline automobiles. Ponder how different the world would be if Gasoline had NOT taken over the number one spot.

I'm thinking politics, economy, technology, wars etc. not just 'Eco' 'Green'.

COMMENTS ??
Donald LaFavor

[BobDiaz]

Originally Posted by curtis

Electric Cars are for chicks

There is some truth to that comment. Back in the early days of cars, electric cars were marketed as the car for the woman. Back then you had to hand crank the gas engine to get it started and many women didn't like that.

Pity the batteries back then weren't very good and about 50 miles was the maximum range. We still lack a really good battery to extend the range of the electrical car.


Bob Diaz

[ronstaug]

My Smart Car arrived in port & I should get in few days (10 or more). re: the all electric Mercedes. 100 miles on a charge won't cut it for us as wife drives more than that when visiting daughter & her family. But...... "If" they get it to minimum of 150 miles, I shall order a.s.a.p. Ron