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2011 Smart Electric Drive: Will Fewer Dealers Cut Electric-Car Access?

 
922 views Feb 15, 2011
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2011 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive

2011 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive

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Yesterday we heard the news that Mercedes-Benz will take over Smart car distribution in the United States from Penske Automotive Group. The independent dealer network had started distributing the Smart ForTwo in 2008 with a total of 77 dealers nationwide. 

But with Mercedes-Benz only taking-over Smart car dealers who already sell other Mercedes-Benz vehicles, the number of Smart Car dealers in the U.S. could fall to just 58. 

So what does this mean for the newly launched Smart ForTwo Electric Drive, which some commentators had deemed the most widely available electric car in the U.S.?  

Will fewer dealers mean fewer customers for the all-electric Smart?

First Smart ForTwo Electric Drive with Roger Penske and Smart USA president Jill Lajdziak, Jan 2011

First Smart ForTwo Electric Drive with Roger Penske and Smart USA president Jill Lajdziak, Jan 2011

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We don’t think so. Outside of a few niche market areas like New York, Oregon and Southern California the Smart ForTwo Electric drive really doesn’t have much of a market anyway. 

Why? The answer lies in its speed, size and price

We’ve driven the 2011 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive  and loved its more instant throttle response over the gasoline version and improved braking and cornering abilities. But as we’ve pointed out several times before, the Smart ForTwo Electric Drive is only really at home in the urban jungle. 

With a top speed of just 62 mph, the Smart ForTwo Electric Drive just can’t cope with long freeway trips, nor can it hope to match the market share its faster gasoline-powered sibling has. 

At a top speed of 62 mph and with poor acceleration beyond 50 mph, anything other than a few intersections in the rush hour is likely to induce paranoid gibbering in a Smart ForTwo Electric Drive driver as large trucks, SUVs and just about every other motorist on the road bears down on the Smart ForTwo’s diminutive frame. 

brabus smart fortwo electric drive 013

brabus smart fortwo electric drive 013

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Which brings us to size. Unlike most other electric cars on the market today, the Smart ForTwo Electric features two seats, and a small luggage area. While that may be fine for inner city pizza delivery, city maintenance vehicles and childless couples, most other consumers will struggle to make regular use of its diminutive frame unless it operates as a commuting only or second car in a larger family. 

The price is the real deal-breaker. At around $28,000 there are faster, larger plug-in vehicles like the 2011 Nissan Leaf and 2011 Chevrolet Volt available for a similar price. By the end of 2011, Ford will join the race for consumers with two affordable plug-in vehicles, the 2012 Focus Electric and 2012 CMax Energi Plug-in Hybrid. 

In answer to our question, we don’t think fewer dealers will mean a reduced electric-car access. Poor design, insufficient top speed and poor advertising will. 

Let’s hope that Mercedes-Benz focuses on selling the Smart Car Electric Drive where it’s best suited: large cities with heavy congestion, imited parking and heavy pollution.





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Comments (5)

  1. MichaelThwaite avatar Michael Thwaite Posted: 2/15/2011 7:23am PST

    What I don't understand is why you'd cripple the performance. As I understand it, the difference between an EV that struggles to do 62mph and one that flies through 70+mph is a slightly larger motor, a small bump in power from the controller and the acknowledgement that the range will be sapped quickly at those higher speeds.
    None of those changes would impact the range and usability on normal driving unless the extra performance was exploited though, again, that can be mapped out at those lower speeds to maintain the status quo.
     
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  2. fb_61206378 avatar Antony Ingram Posted: 2/15/2011 11:55am PST

    Having driven the Electric Drive I'd say that it actually performs quite nicely, at least below the 50mph that Nikki mentions. It's designed as a city car and performs very well as such, so I'm unsurprised that smart have compromised on top end speed to the benefit of range. The opportunities to get anywhere near 62mph in most cities (or indeed in heavy rush-hour traffic inter-city) are few and far between.
     
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  3. By  James Killick Posted: 2/16/2011 1:12am PST

    The top speed is a function of the motor speed and final drive ratio, so at 62MPH, the motor will be at max speed. To increase this a different gear ratio is needed or a faster motor with the same gear ratio. Wuth a change to the gear ratio, more torque is required for the same straight line performance when pulling away from rest. This would require a more powerful motor. Otherwise, if the gear ratio is not changed then a faster motor with similar torque characteristics is required. This goes into the "next size up" bracket and this adds considerable expense as well as the packaging difficulties with a bigger motor.
    I work as a design Engineer for Ford and I have converted my own car to all electric. These are all considerations that are regularly considered.
    My take is that smart have chosen the set up that pleases most people for the driving type it was targeted at. I rarely go over 62 MPH and this is comfortable on main roads and motorways. Round town you want the nippiness. I would still feel vulnerable in any kind of smart on a motorway.
     
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  4. By Noel Park Posted: 2/16/2011 9:15am PST

    Nikki,
    Alas, I can only agree with your comments on the Smart. Not long for this world IMHO. It's a very bad sign when Penske bails.
     
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  5. By Rod Posted: 3/6/2011 9:23am PST

    I think that this must a joke. 62 MPH and sub 100 mile range for a car that seats two and it's diesel counterpart get around 80 MPG. Its like they don't wany fuel efficient to be sold in America. And it costs $550/month lease!!! They want us to stay on Mid=Easr oil.
     
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