Electric and Hybrid Smart Cars: Fuel efficiency gone mad »
Posted By STONERS 1 year, 2 months ago in StyleThe Smart car is not known for its speed but what it is known for is its superb fuel efficiency, which is why we thought it was very strange to hear that there is to be an Electric and Hybrid version of this small Mercedes vehicle.
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STONERS1 year, 2 months ago
"The electric version will have a 41hp electric motor, which will be able to reach speeds up to 69mph and will have a range of 70 miles."
"Charging time for the electric smart car is about 8 hours, and that will cost you about $3 in electric. Do not expect it to break any land speed records, as the electric Smart will only get from 0-60 in about 19.8 seconds. But that is not what the little car is about, it is about helping our environment by having zero emissions."
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STONERS1 year, 2 months ago
"The Hybrid Smart MHD or Micro Hybrid Drive has a starter generator, what happens is when the Hybrid Smart car comes to a complete stop or just under 5mph, the gas engine switches off and the electric motor kicks in. The emissions on the Hybrid Smart MHD are thought to be much lower than that of the Toyota Prius."
((I think they are just awesome but I wouldnt want to get into a wreck in one...))
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ZenAgain1 year, 2 months ago
Here you go- a Smart Car crashing at 70mph.
Weigh up your options.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcuimw8ql_A
The car is still in reasonable shape- hate to see your eye sockets though.
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KSUmarksman1 year, 2 months ago
it is not exactly zero emissions since most of our electricity comes from coal and natural gas.
Until we build more "green" (solar and wind) and nuclear power generation capacity, electric cars are just a gimmick rather than a realistic approach to reducing pollution.
That being said, this little clown car is a big step forward.
It will be a great test bed for superior batteries and motors. By the time we do have enough clean electricity we will be able to build electric cars the size of my Bonneville with ease.
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icelander1 year, 2 months ago
This is a rather poor argument against electric cars.
In terms of tons of CO2 per power generated, power plants are superior to gasoline engines. $3 in electricity produces a lot less CO2 emissions than $3 in gasoline.
And it's also completely feasible for almost everyone to choose their electricity provider, so I could buy one of these cars and power it with wind, solar, or biomass power, which produce very little CO2 emissions.
So electric cars would be a huge step forward in terms of CO2 emissions. If I could find a place to charge it I'd buy one in a heartbeat. I live in the city and I don't get the same parking space every time, so I can't be sure I'll be within reach of an outlet.
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BananaSlug1 year, 2 months ago
Those kind of cars would work well if they had restrictions on car size and weight in certain areas of town. It'd be great if they made certain areas that were "pedestrian/electric car only" for example, as being no-emissions is great, but it does tend to be in a car that would end up flattened in an accident with a gas guzzler. Heck, I'm waiting for the day when they refuse to renew the regestration of cars that get less than 20mpg (of course giving tax credits and the like so people can afford to buy a more eco-friendly version). If you have three cars that give no-emissions, and one exhaust-spewing antique, you'll still have problems.
The thing people don't like to talk about is the fact that our entire system of roads and living arrangements was pretty much set in time when gas was cheap and commute wasn't an issue. We're working against the very structures we live and work in, and it'll be a difficult path all the way.
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Nowalive1 year, 2 months ago
There are still some of us that do have to commute 29 miles to work because there is no public transportation to the "boonies". Public transportation is fine for urban areas, but not out here where I work.
I have a 1995 Chevy Lumina that averages 27, and a 1987 Dodge D 100 pickup that averages 21.
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assian1 year, 2 months ago
LOL, I am LAUGHING OUT LOUD, the Smart CAR is a "STUPID CAR". Mercedes should be ashamed of creating such a; I guess Automobile. The actual specification of the Stupid Car are at least 10 to 15 years old and are something that I could build in my garage in my spare time, 0 to 60 in 20 seconds and a range of just 70 miles, what a JOKE. Before a Electric car be practical Mercedes engineers should KNOWN that it must have a range of 500-600 status miles before being recharged, carry FOUR adults (at least) comfortably, be affordable as compared to gasoline cars (cheaper is better) and be safe and fun to drive. These are just SOME of the starter requirements that are necessary for successful Electric car completion. The Mercedes does not come close to solving the hybrid/electric problem as Mercedes has sunk it stake into a Hydrogen powered vehicle that will also be a JOKE. Kill the "Stupid Car" before the production cycle it is a failure.
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browntiger1 year, 2 months ago
I disagree I drive 10 miles to work, 70 miles just fine.
Also 8 hours charge time will be a problem for me. It needs to be 30 minutes, with 10 min half charge. 69 mph is fine, but 20 sec way too slow
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cartimer11 months, 3 weeks ago
even if somebody has to travel hundreds of miles every day, now there is Aptera Hybrid that returns an 300mpg!
http://allhybridcars.blogspot.com/2007/10/uniqu...
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ZenAgain1 year, 2 months ago
So build one sunshine, mass market it and help save the whales.
Then you can upgrade from your 350Z (or as it's referred to here as a Nissan "Fairlady"). I'll even let you use my garage.
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david_nwpa1 year, 2 months ago
I saw a few of these cars in Montreal while visiting last weekend. They take about 3/4 of a regular parking space, if even that. They weigh around 500 lbs., maybe a little more. They are in a word, "cute." Sure for quick trips around town, they are reasonable, and they could be fully charged overnight. Seems sensible for in-city driving, and would reduce air pollution within the cities where smog is a persistent problem.
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earthlingerer1 year, 2 months ago
Agreed.
They are a little shaky and uncomfortable for highway driving even at 70 km per hour. I rent them every 4 months or so here in Lithuania.
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assian1 year, 2 months ago
The owners buy Electric CARS on impulse from dealers and are SUCKER'S .... . I know some people who own a Primas and it is NOT a great car but a sucker's car..... The owner's at first defened the electric car, however now after a year or less they do not...... and wish they has bought GAS.... GAS IS KING!!
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icelander1 year, 2 months ago
No, we don't want to limit you to a certain number of kids or a certain car. But what we do want is for you to pay for the damage your lifestyle is doing. If you can still afford to drive a behemoth that gets 15 mpg a mile to Wal*Mart to buy yet another flat-screen TV, go for it. But I refuse to force my kids to pay for your bad decisions.
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rlh20001 year, 2 months ago
It may look like a golf cart with headlights, but it still beats the Flintstones. I still like it better than a motorcycle with a side car (who still drives those?). Electric cars do not seem practical, but the hybrids really have a future. At least it will not pollute when sitting in a traffic jam.
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HomerJS491 year, 2 months ago
The Insight is sweet but it's a 2nd car for work commuting, bought it used. The main mobile is a Honda Civic Hybrid, it has LOADS of room. Gets less than the Insight around 45-50 mpg depending how you drive it. The Prius is nice too though I prefer the earlier sedan models. We almost bought one until the Insight showed up! You can't lose either way with a Prius or Civic Hybrid. Check out the differences here's a link:
http://www.insightcentral.net/KB/compare/prius....
Bear in mind the Honda Technology is the same in the Civic.
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amazed1 year, 2 months ago
I think the point of the headline is there is already a Mercedes Smart Car which is this tiny little thing that makes a Mini Cooper look like an SUV. It gets something like 60 -70 mpg already and is intended for city driving as opposed to lots of highway driving. Can fit into 1/2 parking space when parallel parking and stuff like that.
Why bother taking a car that is already extremely efficient and adding more high tech solutions to it? So you get 80mpg instead of 60? I would like to see the car companies REALLY focus on improving efficiency in the SUV's and the larger sedans and muscle cars -- make the hybrids work in them without sacrificing performance. Face it, Americans, for the most part are NEVER going to give up their luxury cars or SUV's or muscle cars willingly. Improving mileage from 16mg to 30 mpg would have a much bigger impact than improving 40 mpg to 55 mpg which is pretty much what Honda did.
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icelander1 year, 2 months ago
This American has never wanted a luxury car, and has even traded the relative comfort of his economy car for a motor scooter. I traded in my chance at a 3,000 square foot McMansion in the 'burbs for a 1,200 square foot townhome in the city. I traded in my weekly trip to Wal*Mart or Target for a few trips to the farmer's market and local grocer.
Not every American is wasteful and greedy. Some of us realize the consequences of our actions. Why shouldn't car companies cater to us as well as those who choose to use more than they need?
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ZenAgain1 year, 2 months ago
They have icey, here's a little runabout that can make you feel just that little bit better about yourself, while still allowing you to cruise down 5th ave with your head held high.
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006/04/lexus_u...
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amazed1 year, 2 months ago
and, btw, the 10% ethanol in gasoline is probably going to work out to be a bigger environmental disaster than the MBTE.
Have you noticed your gas mileage lately? It's really not that your car is getting older or your imagination, that 10% ethanol has, in all probability, decreased your gas mileage by 15% or more. Ethanol just does not have the potential energy of gasoline and therefore doesn't deliver the power to your engine that gasoline delivers. It's kind of like light beer. Sure, you can get just as drunk on light beer as regular beer, but you have to drink a whole lot more, so you're not saving any calories. That's what's going on with the ethanol. It will drive your car, but you need more to get the same bang. In addtion, using ethanol in gasoline is making the price of food skyrocket, which not only hurts the third world countries, on top of the rising taxes, gasoline, utilities == it's also hurting us --or at least me!
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Nowalive1 year, 2 months ago
I am glad to see someone point out the REDUCTION in fuel economy with ethanol.
Additionally the government subsidizes the production of ethanol to the tune of 53 cents per gallon. You think prices are high now, imagine if you had to pay 53 cents more per gallon to achieve LOWER fuel economy and LESS power.
Ethanol also consumes more energy to produce, than the end product achieves.
The use of primarily corn to produce ethanol has caused food prices across the board to increase as well.
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KSUmarksman1 year, 2 months ago
indeed,
passing through some big cities I've found that my ability to go from 60-80mph in a heartbeat is the only thing keeping me alive and able to effectively change lanes.
city drivers are NUTSO, esecially on the interstates
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Natureboy1 year, 2 months ago
Meanwhile, cars which already get as much as 90 mpg (like the VW Lupo 3L) are being blocked from import into the US by our helpful government. When the Loremo, a 170 mpg ultra-cool vehicle that can run on biodiesel, comes out in 2009 it will likely also be blocked from import into the US.
http://www.loremo.com/index_en.php
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Natureboy1 year, 2 months ago
Volkswagon built a freeway-worthy, tandem two-seater that would do 70 mph and got over 240 mpg on diesel. Premiered the prototype in 2003. Said they could produce 'em for less than thirty grand.
They never took them into production. "No interest."
http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars/top-vw-1-lite...
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amazed1 year, 2 months ago
I don't know what her actual mileage is, but my sister has a 2002 (or so) VW Jetta Diesel -- and she drove from Southern Connecticut to Cape Cod and back -- twice and around the Cape all on one tank of diesel.
She seems to also be missing most of the electrical problems that have plagued Jettas (and VW's) for years.
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Nowalive1 year, 2 months ago
There was no interest because no one wants to drive a canoe. People still prefer side by side seating not tandem. Tandem seating is fine in fighter jets, but too much of a distraction for young drivers who would be looking at thier passenger in the rearview, rather than looking at the road.
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KSUmarksman1 year, 2 months ago
lol
ahhhh...pilot to navigator..what is out exit number...over
keep your eyes out for Migs, uh I mean cop cars
: )
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Nowalive1 year, 2 months ago
I have seen the Smart Car up close. They do get excellent mileage, but they are still not considered roadworthy is some regions because of thier construction. The version I saw being tested averaged 70 mpg and would top out at 70 mph. The lack of quick acceleration is the major issue with this car. A Prius will run it over coming off the line.
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Harbeas1 year, 2 months ago
Until you can mass produce an electric car at a reasonable price that can go hundreds of miles before recharging and can pull something behind it, and carry more than 2 passengers, Americans will not beat a path to buy these cars. While electric cars are better environmentally, they are not the answer. We need an entirely new method of propulsion for our transportation needs. Instead of the government mandating mpg ( which is forcing the auto industry to spend billions of dollars on something the buyers won't buy)provide grants to the auto industry to discover new propulsion methods.
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Nowalive1 year, 2 months ago
I have the solution to this problem though.
Eliminate ALL the "boutique blends" of gas out there(33). Make one grade (every car can run on 93, but not every car can run on 87), one blend. Mass produce it at EVERY refinery. Lower overhead for the refiners equals lower cost.
Eliminate ethanol. Ethanol has achieved negative results so far. Food prices, gas prices would come back down.
Invest in coal to oil refining, new refineries (we haven't built a new refinery in 32 years), bring ALL existing refineries back on line (some have been sitting idle for years), increase domestic drilling, build more nuclear plants, wind farms, solar fields.
Post a $250M dollar prize to the first AMERICAN auto maker, inventor, university, engineer that produces a midsized vehicle (about the size of my Lumina) to achieve 100 mpg or more.
Perfect the electric car batteries. It sucks having to recharge for 12 hours after only driving for 3 hours
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scabbio1 year, 2 months ago
i really have to disagree, the idea would be to eliminate all harmful emissions altogether. that is the only suitable solution.
the cleanest and most efficient engine ever built was the shuttle engine, a hyrdrogen powerplant. the only two byproducts of this engine are heat and water.
BMW has already debuted a production Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine. all we need are more windmills, hydro, geo-thermal and nuclear power plants.
all of them combined could eliminate emissions and give us the freedom to enjoy the HICE without kiling our environment.
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vor1 year, 2 months ago
This cars are terrific for Europe with its tight streets and tiny parking spaces. Not so sure Americans would ever adopt anything so practical. We would rather have our gas guzzling SUV's than make our small contribution to the ecology.
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