AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com AutoblogGreen http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif AutoblogGreen http://green.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Chris Shunk, Sam Abuelsamid and Dan RothThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry.<![CDATA[Smart Fortwo ED will have battery rental option in US, price not yet disclosed]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/12/smart-fortwo-ed-battery-rental-us-price-unknown/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/12/smart-fortwo-ed-battery-rental-us-price-unknown/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/12/smart-fortwo-ed-battery-rental-us-price-unknown/#commentsFiled under: ,

Smart Fortwo ED Electric Vehicle Third Generation

Next month, Smart USA will launch the first US market electric vehicle with a separate rental program for the battery pack. Those buying or leasing the Smart Fortwo Electric Drive will have the option of renting the lithium ion battery for a monthly fee.

The US base price for the Smart Fortwo ED is $25,750, including shipping. The battery is covered under Smart's four-year/50,000 mile warranty, but once the warranty expires, owners and lessees must pay for battery maintenance and/or replacement. The rental price continues to cover the battery even after the warranty expires. When under warranty, if the battery drops below 80 percent efficiency, Smart will replace it.

In Europe, the purchase price starts at the equivalent of $30,398 with battery included, and around $23,680 when the battery is rented. Since its debut in Europe last fall, about 97 percent of buyers and lessees have opted to rent the battery, said Tracey Matura, head of Smart USA. Matura is hopeful the battery rental could "minimize the anxiety" that the battery would die out before the car. It went over so well in Europe that, "We thought, why not offer the same in the US?" she said.

In Europe, the monthly battery rental is 65 euros, or about $83, for as long as 10 years. Smart USA has not yet set a monthly US battery rental price.

In January, Matura told AutoblogGreen about the introduction of the Smart ForTwo ED in the US market. There is a Tailor Made by Brabus version coming out, and Smart USA will be able to wrap the new ForTwo ED for more personalization. Maura said there up to 6,200 combinations in the "standard" lineup. While the Smart ED is an impressive two-seater, there's no word yet on when the four-seater Smart Forfour might make it to America. An all-new Fortwo is coming in 2015.

After starting production in June 2012, Smart built more than 1,000 Fortwo EDs last year. Smart USA expects to sell or lease about 2,000 of them this year. Supplies will be tight due to high demand in Europe, the company said. Smart expects to make 6,000 Fortwo EDs in 2013, and predicts global production number will rise to a five-digit figure by 2014.

Smart Fortwo ED will have battery rental option in US, price not yet disclosed originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battery leasebattery packelectric vehicleeuropeevsmart fortwosmart fortwo edFri, 12 Apr 2013 18:15:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20538743/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20538743/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/12/smart-fortwo-ed-battery-rental-us-price-unknown/20538743/article-detail.xml 20538743 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/smart-ed-electric-vehicle-third-gen-coupe-cabriolet_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/smart-ed-electric-vehicle-third-gen-coupe-cabriolet.jpg <![CDATA[Car2go adds airport parking to carsharing deal in Austin]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/10/car2go-adds-airport-parking-to-carsharing-deal-in-austin/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/10/car2go-adds-airport-parking-to-carsharing-deal-in-austin/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/10/car2go-adds-airport-parking-to-carsharing-deal-in-austin/#commentsFiled under: ,



A carsharing company has started up a new service designed to take some of the hassles out of air travel. Daimler subsidiary Car2go has added a partnership in Austin, TX, with The Parking Spot, a leading near-airport parking company.

The new partnership allows Car2go members to park their Smart Fortwo vehicles at The Parking Sport, located next to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. There are eight designated parking spaces reserved for Car2go at The Parking Spot. An additional $5 charge is billed to the member's account for each trip taken to or from The Parking Spot. If the "Lot Full" sign is displayed or the Car2go spots are occupied, members are directed to end their trip in Car2go-designated overflow parking spaces.

More than 32,000 members in the Austin area have used Car2go since the company opened to the public three years ago. The Austin network of 318 Car2go edition Smart Fortwo vehicles, comprised of 300 gasoline-powered and 18 electric-drive versions, travel an average distance of three to five miles per trip within the 46-square-mile Car2go Home Area in Austin.

Continue reading Car2go adds airport parking to carsharing deal in Austin

Car2go adds airport parking to carsharing deal in Austin originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airport parkingaustincar2gocarsharingelectric carsmart fortwoWed, 10 Apr 2013 10:01:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20535665/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20535665/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/10/car2go-adds-airport-parking-to-carsharing-deal-in-austin/20535665/article-detail.xml 20535665 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/car2go-and-the-parking-spot_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/car2go-and-the-parking-spot.jpg <![CDATA[Smart, BoConcept offer tiny solution to crowded streets, tight living spaces]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/27/smart-boconcept-offer-tiny-solution-to-crowded-streets-tight-l/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/27/smart-boconcept-offer-tiny-solution-to-crowded-streets-tight-l/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/27/smart-boconcept-offer-tiny-solution-to-crowded-streets-tight-l/#commentsFiled under: ,

smart fortwo boconcept

Urban life is getting trickier all the time. In almost ever city, usable space gets more and more limited even as the amount of cars and traffic congestion grows. Ever the poster child for urban personal transportation, Daimler's Smart brand is one again thinking up a solution, this time working with Danish urban interior design specialist BoConcept to combine "form" and "functionality." Plus, furniture.

Smart and BoConcept will show off a collection of furniture and accessories that go with the Smart Fortwo Cabriolet. The collaboration will be shown off at the BoConcept Friedrichstrabe Store in Berlin tomorrow, in two displays - "Smart Fortwo BoConcept signature style," and "Smartville collection." How do these brands go together? Making the best use of limited space, whether that's parking or living. Plus, both manufacturers offer their customers options for individualizing their products.

A Smart Brabus Cabrio was used as the starting point for the joint venture. The exterior design uses matte oriental brown metallic, showing the wood colors of furniture and an elegant look for the car. The interior carries the signature of the Danish designers: tobacco brown leather covers the seats, the interior door trim, the indicating instruments and the sporty Brabus three-spoke steering wheel. Starting in March 2013, BoConcept Stores in various cities around the world will be using the Smart Fortwo BoConcept signature style as what they're referring to as an "agile brand ambassador."

Continue reading Smart, BoConcept offer tiny solution to crowded streets, tight living spaces

Smart, BoConcept offer tiny solution to crowded streets, tight living spaces originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boconceptdaimlerdesign furnitureelectric vehiclefortwosmarttrafficurbanWed, 27 Feb 2013 16:08:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20473492/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20473492/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/27/smart-boconcept-offer-tiny-solution-to-crowded-streets-tight-l/20473492/article-detail.xml 20473492 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/smart-boconcept-urban-mobility-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/smart-boconcept-urban-mobility-628.jpg <![CDATA[Smart ForFour, Renault Twingo going rear-wheel drive on same platform]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/15/smart-forfour-renault-twingo-going-rear-wheel-drive-on-same-pla/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/15/smart-forfour-renault-twingo-going-rear-wheel-drive-on-same-pla/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/02/15/smart-forfour-renault-twingo-going-rear-wheel-drive-on-same-pla/#commentsFiled under: ,

2015 Smart ForFour / Renault Twingo prototype caught winter testing

The alliance between Smart parent Daimler and Renault-Nissan is getting stronger with word that the companies' ForFour and Twingo urban minicars will share a rear-wheel drive platform.

A three-year-old collaboration agreement has Renault-Nissan producing gasoline and electric versions of the ForFour alongside the similarly sized Twingo at the factory in Novo Mesto, Slovenia.

The agreement is designed to cut production costs. The bad news is that the new models won't launch until 2014, instead of in 2013 as both companies previously announced. The delay could be due to switching the Twingo from front- to rear-wheel drive, but neither manufacturer is confirming or denying this development. The two companies also are collaborating on a common electric powertrain and battery for EV versions of both models.

European sales of the Twingo fell 31 percent last year to less than 100,000 units, dropping the car to fourth in the segment behind the No. 1 Fiat Panda, Fiat 500 and Volkswagen Up!, according to data from market researcher JATO Dynamics. At the same time, Smart's global sales rose 2 percent to just over 100,000 vehicles, says Green Car Congress. Renault hopes that by moving the Twingo to rear-wheel drive, it will give them a unique talking point in sales. Us? We hope it will lead to higher-performance hot hatch, of which Renault has a strong history.

Smart ForFour, Renault Twingo going rear-wheel drive on same platform originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Fri, 15 Feb 2013 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehicleforfourfortworenaultsmartsmart cartwingoFri, 15 Feb 2013 10:15:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20454638/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20454638/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/15/smart-forfour-renault-twingo-going-rear-wheel-drive-on-same-pla/20454638/article-detail.xml 20454638 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/smart-forfour-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/smart-forfour-628.jpg <![CDATA[Smart ED could be first with battery lease in US; electric scooter, bike under discussion, too]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/28/smart-ed-battery-lease-electric-scooter-bike-us/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/28/smart-ed-battery-lease-electric-scooter-bike-us/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/28/smart-ed-battery-lease-electric-scooter-bike-us/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Smart Cityflame: Detroit 2013

Smart made a splash last fall with the announcement that the base price of the all-electric Fortwo Electric Drive would be $25,000, making it the cheapest EV in the US. After getting a lot of attention with that number, Smart has been communicating with potential customers to make sure that the launch this spring (no date has yet been set) will be exactly what people want. Smart USA General Manager Tracey Matura is certainly planning for success.

Matura recently told AutoblogGreen that initial response to the price announcement was "all very positive." Around 2,500 people have registered so far, with around 40 percent making a reservation with their local dealer and 60 percent just asking for more information. "We've heard anecdotally that people are very pleased that there will be a cabriolet version as well," she said.

The trick, of course, is figuring out how best to sell and lease a car like the Fortwo ED. While no lease price has yet been announced, Matura did say Smart USA might soon be the only automaker in the US to offer an electric vehicle with a battery lease program. This option is available for Fortwo EDs (and EVs like the Renault Twizy) in Europe. "We haven't ruled it out," she said. "I don't know that it has to be exactly the way they do it in Europe, but there might be some reason to bring something similar to customers here. That's part of the reason I'm asking some of those questions of the people who are interested. I want to understand why they're buying the vehicle, why they're leasing the vehicle. You can't do that by looking at what the Prius did or what Nissan did, because the Smart customer is different.

"Mercedes-Benz has never had an issue introducing a new concept. Smart certainly doesn't."

"Mercedes-Benz has never had an issue introducing a new concept. Smart certainly doesn't," she added. Still, battery leasing isn't just a matter of figuring out the right price. It's full of legal challenges. "In Europe, every country operates different, but if you're in the European Union, they all kind of operate the same," Matura said. "Not so in the United States. So there are just a lot of little things to look at. What I never want to do is launch something that has good intentions but because of some things that are outside of our control it might not be how we envisioned it and might not be a positive for our customer."

Continue reading Smart ED could be first with battery lease in US; electric scooter, bike under discussion, too

Smart ED could be first with battery lease in US; electric scooter, bike under discussion, too originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 28 Jan 2013 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battery leaseelectric vehiclefortwofortwo edsmarttracey maturaMon, 28 Jan 2013 19:27:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20441182/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20441182/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/28/smart-ed-battery-lease-electric-scooter-bike-us/20441182/article-detail.xml 20441182 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/smart-cityfire-detroit-2013-02-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/smart-cityfire-detroit-2013-02-628.jpg <![CDATA[Smart readies Fortwo Cityflame special edition for Detroit]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/13/smart-readies-fortwo-cityflame-special-edition-for-detroit/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/13/smart-readies-fortwo-cityflame-special-edition-for-detroit/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/13/smart-readies-fortwo-cityflame-special-edition-for-detroit/#commentsFiled under:

Smart Fortwo Cityflame

There's nothing cowardly about the yellow Smart Fortwo being introduced at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show. Why the bright color? Daimler says it's in response to both trends in car colors and customer demand for more personalization on the city car's higher-end Passion trim level. The newest Smart edition has been christened Cityflame. It features eye-popping pearlescent flame yellow side body panels and black safety panels and roof and 15-inch black alloy wheels.

The interior repeats the yellow and black color scheme. There's yellow imitation leather inserts and stitching on black leather seats and yellow stitching on the black three-spoke faux leather steering wheel with paddle shifters. There also are special edition black and yellow floor mats embroidered with the word Cityflame.

Daimler is producing just 2,400 Smart Fortwo Cityflame vehicles, available in either coupe or cabrio. All have a five-speed automated manual transmission with a 70-horsepower, 1.0-liter, three-cylinder in-line turbo gas engine which produces 68 lb-ft of torque. Starting price is 14,490 euros ($19,300 US at today's exchange rates) for the coupe and 17,580 ($23,500) euros for the cabrio. Daimler has not announced whether the Smart Fortwo edition cityflame will be imported to North America, but we may learn when the big show starts tomorrow.

Continue reading Smart readies Fortwo Cityflame special edition for Detroit

Smart readies Fortwo Cityflame special edition for Detroit originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 13 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city carscityflamedaimlerdetroitdetroit 2013detroit auto showfortwomercedes-benzsmartSun, 13 Jan 2013 09:00:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20425372/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20425372/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/13/smart-readies-fortwo-cityflame-special-edition-for-detroit/20425372/article-detail.xml 20425372 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/2013-smart-fortwo-cityflame628p_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/2013-smart-fortwo-cityflame628p.jpg <![CDATA[Renault, Smart deal down the drain?]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/08/renault-smart-deal-down-the-drain/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/08/renault-smart-deal-down-the-drain/http://green.autoblog.com/2013/01/08/renault-smart-deal-down-the-drain/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

smart forstars concept

Two years after announcing they would develop a new generation of the Smart Fortwo together, sharing drivetrain and platform technology, Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler and Renault have reportedly cut the cord, and Smart will go it alone.

According to Britain's Car Magazine, the move was prompted by Renault in order to help trim an R&D budget inflated by costs to develop its own small electric cars, including the Twizy, which is comparable in looks and size to the Smart. Renault will continue working with Daimler to produce a larger four-seater Smart, an updated Forfour, for 2014.

Daimler entered the agreement with Renault after an earlier, similar agreement with BMW broke down. Since then, BMW has formed a satellite company, named simply i, to produce electric cars. The subcompact i3 city car is scheduled to go into production in 2013.

The new Smart Fortwo will be slightly longer and wider than the existing model, and also slightly less eco-friendly, since the diesel motor also is biting the dust, replaced by a normally aspirated three-cylinder, 0.9-liter gas engine. So far, the Fortwo has sold moderately well in North America, where models are priced from $12,490. According to Wards Auto, the top sales market for Smart is China.

A significant percentage of Smart cars in North America are part of Daimler's car-sharing program, called Car2go, in cities including Dallas, San Diego, Miami, Portland, Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto.

Renault, Smart deal down the drain? originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 08 Jan 2013 08:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmwelectric vehicleforfourfortwomercedes-benzrenaultsmartTue, 08 Jan 2013 08:03:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20417274/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20417274/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/08/renault-smart-deal-down-the-drain/20417274/article-detail.xml 20417274 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/smart-forstars-concept-press-driving_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/smart-forstars-concept-press-driving.jpg <![CDATA[Car2go comes to Seattle; now operating in eight North American cities]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/10/car2go-seattle/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/10/car2go-seattle/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/10/car2go-seattle/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Car2go North America is continuing to roll out across the US, this time in Seattle, with a network of 330 Smart Fortwo cars available for shared use 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Registration for membership is open now here.

Car2go, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler, bases its carsharing concept on technologies that allow an entire community to use and share cars collaboratively. Members can just swipe a card on any available vehicle - even without having previously made a reservation - then drive the car as long as they choose to, and drop it off somewhere in the local "Home Area," making it instantly ready for the next member to use. Seattle will make the 18th global city to see introduction of Car2go's services. The cost? 38 cents a minute.

For a limited time, all new members who use the promotion code SOUND will receive 30 free minutes of driving time and, for now, the one-time $35 membership fee is being waived.

The Seattle venture is a little bit different than the San Diego Car2go project, which just celebrated a year in operation. San Diego offers an all-electric carsharing fleet, which is getting a lot of interest in the market. The Seattle operation is offering traditional (if that word applies at all) non-electric Smart Fortwo mini-cars.

Continue reading Car2go comes to Seattle; now operating in eight North American cities

Car2go comes to Seattle; now operating in eight North American cities originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 10 Dec 2012 13:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car2gocarsharingdaimlerfortwoseattlesmarttransportation alternativesMon, 10 Dec 2012 13:48:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20396673/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20396673/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/10/car2go-seattle/20396673/article-detail.xml 20396673 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/car2go-seattle-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/car2go-seattle-628.jpg <![CDATA[Car2go lights up London with carsharing Smart Fortwos]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/04/car2go-lights-up-london-with-carsharing-smart-fortwos/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/04/car2go-lights-up-london-with-carsharing-smart-fortwos/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/04/car2go-lights-up-london-with-carsharing-smart-fortwos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

car2go london

Londoners are learning that good things come in small packages, from Kate Middleton's recently bloomed baby bump, to newly rentable Smart ForTwo vehicles on the streets of the city.

Starting today, Londoners who want to drive but not own a car can sign up for Daimler's Car2go. The free-floating carsharing service is already in operation in the 17th city worldwide and prices in London will be a bit higher than other places: 35 pence (about 56 US cents) a minute. In the US, the blue-and-white Smart Fortwo mhd coupés cost 38 cents a minute to drive. Through the end of the year, though, people can register for free online, at BOXPARK Shoreditch or Europcar stores within London. New users will also get 30 minutes of free driving.

Car2go says other cities and towns in Great Britain will get carsharing fleets soon. It's no surprise that expansion is in the works, since the current rental rate is one every four seconds, Car2go says, averaged from all locations around the world. Details on how the system work can be found below.

Continue reading Car2go lights up London with carsharing Smart Fortwos

Car2go lights up London with carsharing Smart Fortwos originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car-sharingcar2gocarsharinglondonTue, 04 Dec 2012 14:17:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20393967/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20393967/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/04/car2go-lights-up-london-with-carsharing-smart-fortwos/20393967/article-detail.xml 20393967 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/car2go-london-bridge_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/car2go-london-bridge.jpg <![CDATA[Car2go cuts long-term reservations; Miami service proves popular]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/11/11/car2go-cuts-long-term-reservations-miami-service-proves-popular/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/11/11/car2go-cuts-long-term-reservations-miami-service-proves-popular/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/11/11/car2go-cuts-long-term-reservations-miami-service-proves-popular/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Car2go Miami

Car2go seems to have discovered the equivalent of a seller's market.

The Daimler-owned car-sharing service, in an e-mail to customers, said it'll stop long-term reservation availability for its cars starting November 12. Given that the average trip in a vehicle is less than a half-hour and most reservations are made pretty close to rental time, car2go is reasoning that it's better to keep more of its cars available by making sure none of them stay out for too long.

The company made the policy change as it disclosed that Car2go Miami attracted more than 6,000 members within its first 100 days of operations, with users making more than 35,000 trips.

Car2go debuted its Miami service in late June with 240 Smart ForTwo minivehicles. Rental rates were set at 38 cents a minute and $13.99 an hour. The company raised prices at the rest of its US operations to those rates in September.

Check out Car2go's press release below.

Continue reading Car2go cuts long-term reservations; Miami service proves popular

Car2go cuts long-term reservations; Miami service proves popular originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 11 Nov 2012 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car sharingcar2gocarsharingdaimlerfortwomiamismartSun, 11 Nov 2012 08:31:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20375245/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20375245/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/11/car2go-cuts-long-term-reservations-miami-service-proves-popular/20375245/article-detail.xml 20375245 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/car2go_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/car2go.jpg <![CDATA[All-electric Smart ED might be cause of house fire in Florida [w/video] *UPDATE]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/10/all-electric-smart-ed-might-be-cause-of-house-fire-in-florida-w/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/10/all-electric-smart-ed-might-be-cause-of-house-fire-in-florida-w/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/10/all-electric-smart-ed-might-be-cause-of-house-fire-in-florida-w/#commentsFiled under: , ,

smart electric fire

Reports are still understandably sparse, but News Press is reporting that a fire at a home in a gated community in Estero, FL might have been caused by either an all-electric Smart Fortwo Electric Drive or its charging station. At the very least, the "Smart car was so badly torched that fire officials couldn't determine its make or model," the News Press writes (most likely, it was a second-gen Smart ED or a converted ForTwo). The fire ended up doing $200,000 worth of damage to a $500,000 home and there were no injuries. The local NBC affiliate has a video report of the fire, which you can watch below. One important detail in the station's report: the charger was installed by the homeowner not long before the blaze.

As is important to note whenever these sorts of stories pop up, gas-powered vehicles catch fire every day. And, after the initial flurry of reports, it sometimes turns out that the advanced powertrains were not to blame (see here or here). That doesn't mean anything in particular about this case, but it's worth remembering. As the local fire department spokeswoman told the News Press, "Whether it's a car or a toaster, everyone should follow the recommendations put out by the manufacturer. I can't tell you if that was the case here. We don't know."

*UPDATE: As readers here and elsewhere are pointing out, it looks like the "charger" was for the car's 12V battery and that this was a gas-powered Smart, not an EV. Until we know more, file this with all the many other ICE vehicle fires.

Continue reading All-electric Smart ED might be cause of house fire in Florida [w/video] *UPDATE

All-electric Smart ED might be cause of house fire in Florida [w/video] *UPDATE originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 07:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electric vehicleelectric vehicle fireesteroev firefirehome chargersmart edWed, 10 Oct 2012 07:29:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20345910/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20345910/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/10/all-electric-smart-ed-might-be-cause-of-house-fire-in-florida-w/20345910/article-detail.xml 20345910 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/electric-smart-home-fire_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/electric-smart-home-fire.png <![CDATA[Calgary fastest growing market for Car2go carsharing]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/04/calgary-fastest-growing-market-for-car2go-carsharing/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/04/calgary-fastest-growing-market-for-car2go-carsharing/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/04/calgary-fastest-growing-market-for-car2go-carsharing/#commentsFiled under: ,

Calgary Car2go

Daimler North America is finding there's a good deal of interest in carsharing in the Great White North. Turns out that Calgary, Alberta is the fastest-growing city so far for in the global Car2go network. Since launching on July 21, 2012, more than 15,000 people have signed up to become members and have taken more than 40,000 trips. To meet demand, car2go is adding 150 cars in Calgary, bringing the total number of Smart ForTwo cars available there 24-7 to 300. Later this month, Car2go will also expand the Calgary home area to encompass a total of 93 square kilometers. Click here for the map.

Car2go prides itself on being the world's first "free-floating" carsharing business, which has three key aspects. Members rent cars by the minute (or pay discounted rates for hourly and daily use); the cars are available on demand and can be found via a smart phone app, the car2go vehicle finder at car2go.com, by calling the customer call center or by simply locating an available car2go on the street, no reservation required; and they can be picked-up and dropped-off anywhere within the Car2go Home Area in any legal on-street parking space, including metered, non-metered and residential neighborhood parking spaces. Members do not need to drive the car back to its original location or commit to a predetermined amount of time.

Carsharing is not yet a widely used transportation alternative, but it is making forward strides. Automakers, car rental companies, peer-to-peer and the largest player Zipcar, are opening new locations. The cars may be shared, but Car2go and Zipcar certainly compete for a bigger share of this small but growing market.

Continue reading Calgary fastest growing market for Car2go carsharing

Calgary fastest growing market for Car2go carsharing originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 04 Oct 2012 07:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>albertacalgarycar sharingcar2gocarsharingsmart fortwozipcarsThu, 04 Oct 2012 07:53:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20339939/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20339939/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/10/04/calgary-fastest-growing-market-for-car2go-carsharing/20339939/article-detail.xml 20339939 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/car2go-calgary-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/car2go-calgary-628.jpg <![CDATA[Car2go raises prices for U.S. carsharing network]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/17/car2go-raises-prices-for-u-s-carsharing-network/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/17/car2go-raises-prices-for-u-s-carsharing-network/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/17/car2go-raises-prices-for-u-s-carsharing-network/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Starting today, the cost to rent a Car2go vehicle in the U.S. goes up, just a tiny bit. The carsharing prices will go from 35 cents an hour to 38, from $12.99 an hour to $13.99 and from $64.99 to $72.99 per day. These new prices are in effect in all Car2go cities in North America and still include the traditional Car2go benefits of parking, fuel, maintenance and insurance.

We asked why Car2go is raising prices now, and Car2go North America communications manager Katie Stafford said this is the first time Car2go has raised its rates "in existing Car2go cities, since we launched in North America nearly thee years ago." She continued:

The price increase comes as a result of the rising costs associated with fuel, parking, insurance, and in the case of San Diego - we have invested in building up the EV charging infrastructure so that we can keep the cars charged and ready for members to use. In all cities, new parking solutions have been created to allow members even more convenient parking options.

Speaking of electric vehicles, 30 new Car2go EVs are now operational in Portland, OR and more are coming soon to Austin, TX.

The higher rates have been in effect in Washington, D.C. and Miami, FL since Car2go started in those cities. At the very least, since Car2go membership cards now work nationwide, you'll now always know how much you're paying per minute. The cost just happens to be a little more than before, in some cases.

Continue reading Car2go raises prices for U.S. carsharing network

Car2go raises prices for U.S. carsharing network originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car sharingcar2gocarsharingdaimlersmart fortwoMon, 17 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20325336/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20325336/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/09/17/car2go-raises-prices-for-u-s-carsharing-network/20325336/article-detail.xml 20325336 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/car2go-portland-oregon_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/car2go-portland-oregon.png <![CDATA[2014 Smart ForTwo prototype shows itself]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/28/2014-smart-fortwo-prototype-shows-itself/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/28/2014-smart-fortwo-prototype-shows-itself/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/28/2014-smart-fortwo-prototype-shows-itself/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

2014 Smart ForTwo prototype - front three-quarter view

From the looks of these spy shots, Daimler is hard at work on the 2014 Smart ForTwo, giving us our first look next generation of this micro car. With the partnership between Renault and Daimler finally coming to fruition, the Smart will likely share a platform with the Renault Twingo, and it will come in gasoline, diesel and electric variants.

In terms of styling, the test mule doesn't reveal much, but expect the new ForTwo to utilize some of the design cues introduced on recent concept vehicles like the 2011 ForVision Concept and the 2012 For-Us Concept. One thing we can see with this prototype is that the car appears to have gotten a little bigger with boxier proportions closer to the Scion iQ. Thanks to a bolted-on scoop on the rear part of the car's roof, we can tell that the 2014 ForTwo will continue to have its engine mounted in the rear.

For a release date, the production version of the new ForTwo appears to be heading to the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, but we wouldn't be surprised to see another ForTwo-teasing Smart concept later this year.

2014 Smart ForTwo prototype shows itself originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 16:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 smart fortwofortwosmartsmart carspy shotsTue, 28 Aug 2012 16:51:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20311154/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20311154/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/28/2014-smart-fortwo-prototype-shows-itself/20311154/article-detail.xml 20311154 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/2014-smart-fortwo-spy-photos_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/2014-smart-fortwo-spy-photos.jpg <![CDATA[Car2go opens in Miami today, but there's an unfortunate payment twist]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/28/car2go-opens-in-miami-today-but-theres-an-unfortunate-payment/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/28/car2go-opens-in-miami-today-but-theres-an-unfortunate-payment/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/28/car2go-opens-in-miami-today-but-theres-an-unfortunate-payment/#commentsFiled under: ,

Car2go Miami

The latest city to get a pack of Smart Fortwo vehicles awaiting your carsharing orders is Miami, FL, where 240 Car2go Fortwos are going into service today.

As regular readers surely know by now, Car2go's model uses "free floating" carsharing vehicles that can be rented by the minute. Instead of needing to return a vehicle to a specific place at a specific time, Car2go vehicles can be picked up from wherever they are and dropped off anywhere in the "home area." Interested drivers can find a nearby vehicle online or via smartphones. Rentals cost 38 cents a minute, with hourly rates hitting a maximum of $13.99. If you want a car for a full day, more traditional outlets will often be a better deal, since 24 hours costs $72.99. Plus sales tax, of course.

But then there's the Florida Rental Car Surcharge, which makes each rental cost an additional $2 per day. Rental car surcharges are having an unbalanced effect on car-sharing programs, and a DePaul University study (PDF) found that:

In many markets, including Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Seattle, and Tampa, one-hour carsharing reservations are taxed at well over twice the prevailing rate of sales tax. In seven of the 25 largest cities in the study's sample of 82 cities with carsharing services, taxes on one-hour reservations exceed 30%. Nationally, the average tax is 17.93% for one-hour carsharing reservations and 14.08% for 24-hour reservations. By comparison, sales taxes in cities with carsharing services average just 8.06%.


Ouch. Looks like there needs to be a better distinction drawn between car sharing and car renting.

In any case, as in other new service areas, Car2go is waiving the one-time $35 membership fee and offering 30 minutes of free driving to anyone who signs up "for a limited time." The code for the goodies is "heat." There are also two launch events with free food happening today, which you can read about in the press release below.

Continue reading Car2go opens in Miami today, but there's an unfortunate payment twist

Car2go opens in Miami today, but there's an unfortunate payment twist originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 28 Jul 2012 08:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car sharingcar2gocarsharingmiamirental car surchargeSat, 28 Jul 2012 08:21:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20288319/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20288319/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/28/car2go-opens-in-miami-today-but-theres-an-unfortunate-payment/20288319/article-detail.xml 20288319 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/car2gomiamibeach-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/car2gomiamibeach-628.jpg <![CDATA[Portland's Car2go carsharing service starting off well, going electric soon]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/25/portlands-car2go-carsharing-service-starting-off-well-going-el/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/25/portlands-car2go-carsharing-service-starting-off-well-going-el/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/25/portlands-car2go-carsharing-service-starting-off-well-going-el/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Daimler likes to update car-sharing fans on how its Car2go projects around the world are going (see these posts about San Diego and Vancouver) and the latest positive media blast says that the new Portland Car2go network - which is made up of 250 Fortwos and, starting this week, 30 all-electric cars - gained 6,000 members in the first 100 days.

The average trip in Portland is between three and six miles, Daimler says, and and lasts between 30 to 45 minutes. So far, members of the Portlandia nation take around 4,500 trips a week. If the numbers from Vancouver are anything to base expectations on, then these counts will grow in the coming year. The "Home Area," the part of the city where the vehicles can be parked, is now also bigger. Starting today, it will be 37 square miles. See details on where it starts and stops here and get more information on Car2go here.

Continue reading Portland's Car2go carsharing service starting off well, going electric soon

Portland's Car2go carsharing service starting off well, going electric soon originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 25 Jul 2012 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car sharingcar2gocarsharingportlandportland oregonWed, 25 Jul 2012 16:04:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20285757/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20285757/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/25/portlands-car2go-carsharing-service-starting-off-well-going-el/20285757/article-detail.xml 20285757 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/car2go-portland-oregon_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/car2go-portland-oregon.png <![CDATA[Smart and BRABUS celebrate 10 years together with special edition model]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/23/smart-and-brabus-celebrate-10-years-together-with-special-editio/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/23/smart-and-brabus-celebrate-10-years-together-with-special-editio/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/23/smart-and-brabus-celebrate-10-years-together-with-special-editio/#commentsFiled under:

Smart BRABUS 10th anniversary edition

Hard to believe, but BRABUS and Smart have been building cars together for 10 years now. Worldwide, more than 50,000 customized cars have been built by the team. To celebrate, the two are producing just 100 specially-equipped cars.

The 10th Anniversary model starts with a smart fortwo BRABUS with the 102hp turbocharged engine. The car is then slathered in liquid silver paint and given titanium-look headlamp surrounds and red BRABUS logos.

Inside, passengers get heated, hand-stitched, black leather seats with 10th Anniversary logos, red trim bits and a dash badge noting the car's serial number. The car's start button is integrated into the shifter.

Read the neverending press release below for more on the 10-year history of the BRABUS and Smart partnership.

Continue reading Smart and BRABUS celebrate 10 years together with special edition model

Smart and BRABUS celebrate 10 years together with special edition model originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 23 Jul 2012 08:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>10th anniversary10th anniversary editionBrabusfortwoSmartMon, 23 Jul 2012 08:04:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20283439/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20283439/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/23/smart-and-brabus-celebrate-10-years-together-with-special-editio/20283439/article-detail.xml 20283439 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/2012-brabus-smart-10th-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/2012-brabus-smart-10th-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Vancouver Car2go one year in: 15,000 drivers, 12,000 trips a week]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/19/vancouver-car2go-one-year-in-15000-drivers-12000-trips/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/19/vancouver-car2go-one-year-in-15000-drivers-12000-trips/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/19/vancouver-car2go-one-year-in-15000-drivers-12000-trips/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Daimler's Car2go carsharing program has been in Vancouver for a year now and, aside from some hockey riot vandals to start things off, things have been quite positive. In a press release talking about Vancouver Year One, Car2go offers up the following numbers:
  • 15,000 members (up from 2,000 at the start)
  • An average of 12,000 drives a week (up from 1,500)
  • 320 cars (up from 225)
  • 70 square kilometer "home" area
  • 25 percent more Car2go-designated parking spaces
  • Three all-electric Smart Fortwo EVs (most of the Car2go cars in Vancouver burn gasoline)
Vancouver is where Car2go started in Canada (after successful launches in Europe and the U.S.), and the company now also operates in Toronto, Ontario and starts service this week in Calgary, Alberta.

Continue reading Vancouver Car2go one year in: 15,000 drivers, 12,000 trips a week

Vancouver Car2go one year in: 15,000 drivers, 12,000 trips a week originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car sharingcar2gocar2go canadacar2go vancouvercarsharingvancouverThu, 19 Jul 2012 18:07:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20281568/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20281568/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/19/vancouver-car2go-one-year-in-15000-drivers-12000-trips/20281568/article-detail.xml 20281568 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/car2govancouver_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2012/03/car2govancouver.jpg <![CDATA[Smart bringing electric scooter to U.S. in 2014, will be part of Car2go]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/06/25/smart-bringing-electric-scooter-to-u-s-in-2014-will-be-part-of/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/06/25/smart-bringing-electric-scooter-to-u-s-in-2014-will-be-part-of/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/06/25/smart-bringing-electric-scooter-to-u-s-in-2014-will-be-part-of/#commentsFiled under: , ,



In a blink-and-you'd-miss-it announcement during an event in Berlin, the head of marketing and sales for Smart, Martin Hülder, told us that the third model in the Smart e-Mobility range - after the Smart ForTwo Electric Drive and eBike - will be the Smart electric scooter (or "smart scooter"). To be fair, the original announcement happened in mid-May at a shindig in Davos, Switzerland, but Daimler had some new news for us in Berlin.

The stylish two-wheeler was first shown at the 2010 Paris Motor Show but was whisked into limbo from there, presumably to end up a no-go along with several previous ideas from the traditionally cash-burning company. Instead, the scooter has gotten the green light and the United States is a key market for it.

To rehash the features of the silent plug-in runabout, a 48-volt lithium-ion battery pack stored down low behind your feet supplies juice to a 4-kW (i.e. 5.4 horsepower) wheel-hub electric motor at the rear wheel. Top speed is listed at 45 km/h or 28 mph - a choice by Smart that allows the scooter to be driven on streets in many countries before one has a driver's license.

Continue reading Smart bringing electric scooter to U.S. in 2014, will be part of Car2go

Smart bringing electric scooter to U.S. in 2014, will be part of Car2go originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 08:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car2goelectricescooterparisparis motor showscootersmartsmart electric scootersmart scooterMon, 25 Jun 2012 08:07:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20264989/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20264989/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/25/smart-bringing-electric-scooter-to-u-s-in-2014-will-be-part-of/20264989/article-detail.xml 20264989 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/escooter-lead-image_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/06/escooter-lead-image.jpg <![CDATA[Car2go suspends operation in Lyon, France because of name conflict with Car' Go]]>http://green.autoblog.com/2012/06/20/car2go-suspends-operation-in-lyon-france-because-of-name-confli/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/06/20/car2go-suspends-operation-in-lyon-france-because-of-name-confli/http://green.autoblog.com/2012/06/20/car2go-suspends-operation-in-lyon-france-because-of-name-confli/#commentsFiled under: , ,



What's in a name? In Lyon, France, it can mean the difference between Daimler running its Car2go car-sharing service and taking a little break.

Despite a report that Car2go has "stopped immediately and that the customers will be fully refunded" in Lyon, Daimler is currently "suspending" its Car2go service in Lyon because of the long-standing Car' Go vehicle rental service. You can see a hokey Car' Go video (in French) below.

Juliane Mühling, corporate communications manager for Car2go, told AutoblogGreen that the suspension will last for an "indefinite period of time" while the two sides, Car' Go and Car2go France SAS, work through the court process. "The French court ruled that the name sounds too similar to another company name and that this could cause confusion," she said. "We respect the decision but do not understand the reasons given, and will therefore examine all legal options to regain the right to use the globally recognized brand name car2go in France. The court decision does not impact any other car2go locations."

For now, Mühling said, Car2go will repay members' registration fee, even though they have been supportive on Facebook.

Continue reading Car2go suspends operation in Lyon, France because of name conflict with Car' Go

Car2go suspends operation in Lyon, France because of name conflict with Car' Go originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 08:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car gocar sharingcar-sharingcar2gocourt casefrancelyonlyon franceWed, 20 Jun 2012 08:03:00 EST http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20259353/article-comments.xml http://green.autoblog.com/feed/20259353/article-comments.html http://green.autoblog.com/feed/2012/06/20/car2go-suspends-operation-in-lyon-france-because-of-name-confli/20259353/article-detail.xml 20259353 http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/car2go_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/car2go.jpg -1 2