Smart Fortwo - Smart City Runner

You can't see the technology just by looking at the Smart but it's bound to attract attention of wherever it goes

Our first date with the Smart Fortwo was ill-fated. A colleague had driven it all day long and then was charging it in an underground parking lot. As we got into the car at 19:30 the range indicator was at 69 kilometers, and the trip which we had measured beforehand with Google Maps came to 61 km through a highway and some country road. During the trip, things started to get a bit shaky: how much range would it cost to keep the headlights on? We were gripped by the anxiety of running out of power even before the drive had begun. When we connected the car to a socket later in the evening, the indicator still showed a capacity of 20 km remaining. Either we turned out to be power-saving experts, or the range Indicator showed really pessimistic calculations about our style of driving.

A colleague had driven it all day long and then was charging it in an underground parking lot.

The Smart is clearly not made for the kind of drive we attempted, especially the part about driving on freeways. The engine delivers a continuous performance of 35 kW (48 PS) and the maximum speed, like other electric cars, is a modest 125 km/h. The Smart shows a completely different character in the city: you get 55kW of power (75 PS) for short bursts, which makes the mere 900kg weight of the Smart run like a demon. It's a real delight to overtake swanky cars at signals, but it is also a bit dangerous: pedestrians who want to cross the road underestimate the speed of this noiseless gnome.

The Smart is clearly not made for the kind of drive we attempted, especially the part about driving on freeways

Our test car was a completely normal Smart. The electric engine has been offered as an option for over ten years, which is why it doesn't feel like a modified car. The trunk is exactly as small as the one in the petrol-based models, and the list of features is also similar: seat heater, air conditioner, cruise control, and radio with an iPhone connection. Charging the battery is a bit fussy, since the provided charging cable and power control are integrated into the trunk lid. Unlike the Twizy or other common devices, you can't just remove a safety cover and take the cable from the car. Instead, you have to lug the heavy (and permanently dirty) component around the rear to connect it to the car from the outside. That is why it is sensible and practical to buy an extra cable and leave it attached to the outlet in your garage at home.

Smart Fortwo side

The power supply must be stable at 10 Amperes. If the voltage drops when charging, the electronic system reduces power consumption and the process takes much longer. In the case of our lower-rated underground parking lot power plug, charging the battery completely took thirteen hours.

Economical only for people who drive long distances often

When it comes to cost. Smart isn't exactly cheap: if you use the car for 30 kilometers a day, then the running costs including taxes and insurance is higher than the Smart Diesel, which by the way is cheaper by $4,506. Like Twizy, the charging cost, which is at least 65 Euros ($79), plays a huge part here. For the Smart, your bill will rise to unmanageable levels if the car travels over 100 kilometers every day. Someone who drives a lot should include the cost of a quick charger in the plan. With this option (priced at a considerable premium), the car can be recharged with a 4,000 V connection within an hour for over a range of over 100 kilometers. Pizza delivery services, couriers and customers with similar needs could actually really save cash with the Smart Fortwo electric car over the course of the car's life, but it's hard to see it working out for most ordinary users who just want to get from point A to point B. We returned the little zipper with considerable reluctance. Judging by our own reaction and the interest shown by friends, colleagues and absolute strangers, this car definitely has a future. Everyone who came in contact with it was at least somewhat impressed. We see this as a positive sign for electric vehicles and for urban commuting habits.

Someone who drives a lot should include the cost of a quick charger in the plan.