smart ED (On the Horizon)

The electric version of the smart fortwo—with a top speed of 60 mph—is unlikely to shake the car’s reputation for being underpowered. However, early reviews indicate that the smooth electric drive is a marked improvement compared to the gas-powered version’s choppy feel. The lack of size, range, and oomph feeds into the perception of electric cars as glorified golf carts. Smart is promising a United States release by 2012.

Make: smart
Model: ED (Electric Drive)
Web site: www.smartusa.com/electricdrive
No. of passengers: 2
Battery size: 16.5 kWh
Range: 80 miles
Max. speed: 62 mph
MSRP: TBD
Availability: 2012