It just might work
For the right person with right attitude living in the right place
Where’s the other half of your car?”
The next-door neighbor snickered aloud as he watched the Smart fortwo Electric Drive silently whirr into the driveway. Pun very much intended, that’s your typical “Smart” remark.
You can expect similar smirky utterances should you acquire this vehicle. Likewise, comparisons to golf carts, fish bowls, lunch boxes and telephone booths will undoubtedly be made by those who wonder what drives this Smart car as well as what drives anyone to buy it.
Built by a Mercedes-Benz subsidiary in France, the Smart ED is one of a handful of pure electrics available here, including the Ford Focus Electric, Kia Soul EV, Chevrolet Spark EV, Mitsubishi iMiEV and Nissan Leaf.
Of course, the Smart ED’s diminutive size limits purchasers to those living alone in urban jungles with limited parking availability, or those in two-or-more-car households. For some it’s the ideal commuter module for tackling congested city routes. Then there are buyers purchasing the ED as a minimalist-lifestyle choice in support of various environmental factions. Conscience clear? Check.
As with all Smart cars, the mid-engine (in this case, mid-motor) design emphasizes passenger space while minimizing virtually everything else. Two can sit comfortably on chair-like buckets with an unobstructed view of their surroundings. In back, a modest stowage area is accessible through the rear window hatch/tailgate.
Initially, the Smart tricks you into thinking the car is bigger than its 2.7-metre length (it’s 1.4 metres shorter than a Hyundai Accent hatchback). It’s chopped right off at the front and rear, so consequently you tend to turn too early, stop too far away from the vehicle in front and misjudge backing into parking stalls. At least the Smart’s five-foot height makes it visible to surrounding traffic, so you need not fear being inadvertently squashed by larger vehicles.
To get rolling, just insert the key into the floor-console and turn clockwise. Once the gauge lights start glowing, you shift into “D” and press the accelerator pedal. You now command a 74horsepower electric motor producing 96 pound-feet of torque for the rear wheels via a singlespeed transmission. The output numbers are modest, but with just 950 kilograms (the Cabrio convertible weighs slightly more) to push around — 115 kilograms more than a gasoline-powered Smart — drivers will be able to keep up with most traffic situations. The extra weight is due to the lithium-ion battery pack positioned beneath the floor.
As soon as you touch the pedal, 100 per cent of the electric motor’s torque is at your disposal, which makes for impressive spirited stoplight fun. For the first five metres or so there aren’t many “normal” four-cylinder cars that are quicker. Beyond that, it’s a different story. Zero to 100 km-h takes 12 seconds and the ED’s maximum velocity tops out at 125 km-h.
But if jackrabbit starts are your thing, the Smart ED is not for you as they will deplete the batteries in very short order. For everyday city/highway driving, the Smart folks claim you can expect a range of 110 kilometres before recharging. That process takes six hours from empty using a 240-volt connection or 16 hours with a standard 120-volt plug.
The ED’s regenerative brakes feed recovered energy into the batteries. However drivers can enhance the process when coasting downhill by using the paddle shifters to slow the Smart down without touching the brake pedal, much like downshifting a gasoline vehicle.
Otherwise driving a $26,900 (including destination charges, but not including government rebates) Smart ED is much like any other car, except the steering feels sluggish and imprecise. As well, the short distance between the front and rear wheels creates a bouncy ride over rough pavement.
None of these annoyances will likely bother eco-focused Smart ED owners who will delight in their pump-passing, earthfriendly, half-sized transportation module.