Top gear drives the Smart ED, isn't terribly impressed — Autoblog Green

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Top gear drives the Smart ED, isn't terribly impressed

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) on Apr 4th 2008 at 8:04AM

We can think of a few electric cars which have gotten less-than-stellar reviews, probably deservedly so. The first reviewer that we know of to tackle the smart ED, though, was rather in favor of the diminutive electric machine, enjoying the 60 mile-per-hour top speed and 72-mile range. Top Gear, though, was less than impressed, citing a distinct lack of range and suggesting that "the Smart looks less appealing than a bike." Granted, smart thinks that the review unit provided to Top Gear must have had some ailments, but perhaps the system still has some growing-pains to overcome before it's truly ready for the mainstream market. It's likely that the Zebra battery would be replaced with lithium ion's in any real production version, in any case. Still, we remain wanting to get a crack at the smart ED ourselves. Thanks for the tip, Forrest!

[Source: Top Gear]

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, SMART, UK

Tags: electric smart, electric-smart, ElectricSmart, smart, smart ed, smart fortwo, smart fortwo ed, smart-ed, smart-fortwo, smart-fortwo-ed, SmartEd, SmartFortwo, SmartFortwoEd, top gear, top-gear, TopGear

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

1

Dave 8:34AM (4/04/2008)

A Zebra battery? Smart clearly wants to sell all the gassers they can. Once that market has peaked, then MAYBE they'll think about selling a real EV. That pisses me off. Boycott Smart now!

2

Tim 8:38AM (4/04/2008)

It’s all about the intended purpose. Top gear likes sports cars which this is not. This is a tool for commuting and according to the US DOT research:

78% of ALL trips are less than 40 miles
85% are less than 50 miles
90% are less than 60miles
93% are less than 70 miles!

http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/12/06/how-did-gm-determine-that-78-of-commuters-drive-less-than-40-miles-per-day/

These cars would be recharged at night just like a cell phone which is another tool! Most owners will also keep one of their old ICE “smokers” for those occasional long trips. They will also quickly realize that it’s foolish to pay property tax, insurance and maintenance on an ICE car that they almost never drive and it would be far cheaper to just rent an ICE car or a “hybrid” or take public transportation for those occasional trips to see grandma and rent an electric car at their destination.

3

phil easler 8:45AM (4/04/2008)

I would still like to have one here in the good old U.S. of A. I'm not sure the author of "Top Gear" is a EV fan. If you dog-it you will get less miles then maximum range( maximum range = batteries that are broken in, 63.5 F temp, flat newly surface hardtop, 12% humidity, variable light wends from the west, etc), get real. He should of plugged it up midway, break out the laptop, have lunch, and chill with a beer. He went 20+ miles without gasoline or pedals and he's complaining? Your equivalent gas mileage my vary.

4

Luke 9:24AM (4/04/2008)

That sounds like an intriguing little commuter-car! I've been tinkering with the idea of doing an electric conversion on my pickup, so this news is timely for me.

However, in a world where Viagra spam is rampant, though, having an "ED" version of a cute little car isn't going to make anyone want it... Could they please, please call it the "Smart EV"?

5

rar 9:30AM (4/04/2008)

Luke, that was funny. I think a EV version of this car would be better than the gas version.

6

Luke 9:42AM (4/04/2008)

rar,

Me too -- I think the limitations of an electric drivetrain wouldn't be a problem for the uses I would have for this car. I'd be inclined to use the little smart-car for work and everyday errands, and with a 70-odd mile range, it would be a great fit.

7

josh 9:59AM (4/04/2008)

Why on earth would any manufacturer name a model of car "ED". This car is the Smart Erectile Dysfunction. It can't be that great by virtue of the name.

8

Throwback 10:10AM (4/04/2008)

The average daily miles driven data that everyone uses is based on 1,000 randomly selected households. My questions is, how many of these households drive every day? How many are in rural America? How many included people who never drive, or use public transportation? As a rural resident I can tell you 70 miles a day is nothing.

9

Tim 10:31AM (4/04/2008)

Throwback, an electric car may not be your best choice at this time. Perhaps a small airplane?

10

brn 11:01AM (4/04/2008)

EV still don't make sense for the average commuter. That will change over time.

Top Gear reviews are meaningless ratings grabs. That likely won't change.

Thankfully, those are two very separate issues.

11

Whopper 11:21AM (4/04/2008)

Forget the small airplane. I just sold my 165 HP single engine Beech. At 9 gallons per hour fuel burn and a cruise speed of 110 mph you can see the mileage. AV gas is running around $4.50 or $5 per gallon too and may soon become unavailable due to regulations regarding how it is transported etc. Insurance and maintenance are going through the roof too.

12

RickM 11:03AM (4/04/2008)

Throwback, I too live out in the country, and having recently changed jobs, I work downtown. My commute, depending on the route I choose on a given day, is 22 to 30 miles one way. Any side trips and I'm probably over 70 miles a day. But that's a consequence of my own choices. One of the inconvenient truths you and I face is that to be green, one should live small. Live near the office or work near the home. Shop locally. Learn to economize on mileage. Take only necessary trips, and plan ahead to get the most out of every mile. Use an EV when you can, and a gas burner when you must - and don't blame others for your own lifestyle choices.

13

rgseidl 11:03AM (4/04/2008)

@ Dave -

the smart electric drive version was developed by the UK sales force in collaboration with local investors. They selected a Zebra battery because it was proven automotive technology at the time, whereas Li-ion was not. This special version is not even available to the general public, just investors in the project.

At smart's HQ in Germany, they had bigger problems than producing an EV version - specifically, keeping the brand from going under. Now that the revised model is selling well in the US and Li-ion safety has advanced, there have been noises about an official EV.

As for TopGear's verdict, remember that these are die-hard pistonheads that spend all day drifting super sports cars on abandoned stretches of tarmac while making carefully wordsmithed snide remarks. Entertaining, yes, but not exactly relevant to the issues of how we get off oil or reduce congestion in our cities.

14

Throwback 11:44AM (4/04/2008)

RickM, I blame no one for my choices, nor am I complaining. My point is for EVs to really take off a 70 mile range is not sufficient for most commuters. Living green is not my primary concern, I don't like sending my money to countries that hate me and my fellow countrymen. I don't think being dependent on foreign oil from countries who despise us makes sense. I would love an EV that has a 250 mile range, and seats 4. My next car will probably be the Saturn Flexstream (if built) although I would love a Honda FCX. As for where I live, I moved where I did to be close to work, however my job is now in India. I made a conscious decision to not move near a job which may be out sourced whenever it makes economic sense. I have chosen to work in an industry in which out sourcing is a possibility so moving "close" to a job makes no sense.

15

Tim 11:46AM (4/04/2008)

RickM, I couldn't have said it better myself if by the word "green" you mean being good stewards of all of our resources. We don't have to do without, but we NEED to realize that waste is BAD and a direct consequence of the choices we make. With freedom we have choices which are balanced by PERSONAL responsibility.

Don’t blame others for your life choices and when pointing fingers ALWAYS start with the man in the mirror.

16

Whopper 12:04PM (4/04/2008)

RickM, I don't think Throwback was blaming others for his lifestyle choice. I think he finds himself in that uneviable position, as do I, of having to defend his choice against the attack by others. Some folks who contribute to this site are very passionate about EV's and "green" and can be quite venemous in their feelings about those who don't agree.

My cousin in NYC doesn't understand the need for my Silverado; he neither drives nor owns a car. Sorry, we all can't live like that. He shuffles paper and programs computers; I make "stuff". If I stop making "stuff" he will be out of work too. I don't want to live next door to a manufacturing plant, do you?

17

MetroMPG.com 1:16PM (4/04/2008)

If you haven't seen it, Fifth Gear (Top Gear's competition in the UK) did a review of the Smart EV, comparing it against the petrol version.

Much more positive than the Top Gear review. (Also they got it to go 30 miles in somewhat spirited driving.)

The final word in the 5th Gear review, despite disclaimers: "it starts to make a lot of sense, doesn't it?"

Video of the road/track test:
http://forum.ecomodder.com/showthread.php?t=1270

18

mike 3:29PM (4/04/2008)

How big an electric motor did they put into the ED?
The electric should have smacked the petrol version. Guess those heavy batteries really hurt. Still, the fuel economy is there even with the Zebra battery.

19

Chris M 4:52PM (4/04/2008)

I'd be much more concerned about that 60 mph top speed tnan the 70 mile range, especially for short freeway commutes.

The Zebra battery has good energy density but poor power density, that means slow acceleration and a low top speed. The LiIon version should perform better.

20

Ron Fischer 5:07PM (4/04/2008)

I leased the Th!nk City from Ford here in Los Angeles for three years. Its 35 mile range made it barely acceptable for home to work commuting. Personally I need enough range to allow for lunchtime shopping trips and use of air conditioning during the hot Southern California summers (the City was quite brutal in that regard).

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