A recent drive in Manhattan in a Hyundai Sonata Hybrid with my buddy Sekou. At SimplyRides.com!

By HOLLY REICH
Special to Bumper to Bumper

In 2007, the first smart electric drive pilot project used 100 cars that were tested in downtown London. It was the perfect place to try out this miniature vehicle. London has tons of traffic, limited parking, lots of noise and pollution. The pilot cars were equipped with high-temperature sodium-nickel-chloride batteries that work at about 600°F degrees, providing a range of about 60 miles. The batteries required pre-heating, and were housed in insulated cases similar to large double-wall thermos bottles.

The next generation, which started in 2009, expanded to 2,000 cars in 18 markets around the world. That included 250 electric drive vehicles for the United States. These cars used lithium-ion batteries, which were more efficient and operated at normal temperatures, with a range of about 63 miles on a full charge.

For 2013 the game has changed—considerably! While the smart has stayed the same size and shape (five feet tall and wide and a smidgen under nine feet long) the view has improved. The coupe has an expansive panoramic see-through panel of high-strength polycarbonate; the cabriolet has an automatic soft top that can be opened to any position and at any speed. Plus, the cabriolet has a heated glass rear window.

The third generation smart electric drive’s 55-kilowatt electric motor provides 35 kilowatts of continuous power (130 Nm of torque). Essentially, it boils down to this: the power provides acceleration from zero to 60 mph in less than 12 seconds, and a top speed of more than 78 mph. In other words it zooms…but quietly!

And charging is a no-brainer. The electric smart can be charged from any 110-volt household wall socket with the provided standard cable or a 240-volt socket (like the ones used for electric clothes dryers and kitchen ranges). Charging time can run as little as 3 ½ hours to charge from 20 to 80 percent and six hours to reach full charge from a depleted battery.

As for the cabin, because of its impressive headroom, sloping windshield, floating dash and open roof, even people well over six feet don’t feel cramped. Yes, it’s true! I drove with a tall Texan a few years back and he fit just fine.

There’s an offering of over 6,000 combos for customizing the smart with everything from personalized wraps and brilliant paint choices to AMG cladding or bespoke tailored interiors.

As to be expected, the smart electric drive is techno savvy. The vehicle can communicate with the smart vehicle homepage whenever the car is being charged. Real-time data provides information to owners about usage patterns, power draw and vehicle performance.

There is also a smart phone app that gives the user charging information, charge time remaining and expected completion time. When you are driving, the app’s map also highlights nearby charging connections with estimated distance.

Mercedes-Benz took over smart in July of 2011 and has added new muscle to the marketing campaigns. Expect to see more quirky ads on everything from twitter to TV. More importantly, it’s working. Tracey Matura, smart General Manager, explained, “The company has been riding high since last year. Sales have increased 120% month over month, and 95% year to date.”

And as for those rumors of a smartforfour? Matura quipped, “Stay tuned!”

PRICING: The 2013 smart electric drive will retail at $25,000. The cabriolet model will retail at $28,000 when both vehicles hit the U.S. market in the spring of 2013.

Customers may also be eligible for federal tax credits (which run up to $7,500) or state/local tax credits, further reducing the cost. Plus, some states offer a 50% parking discount.

~ holly reich

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