Electric car for sale at Sam's Club

[jhinton]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rudiger @ Oct 10 2007, 12:51 PM) [snapback]523698[/snapback]</div>

For essentially the same price, the 'much larger' (which is really saying something about the size of the ForTwo) 34/40mpg 3-door Yaris would seem to be a much better choice.

Unless Roger Penske and company can substantially lower the price or the price of gas rises exponentially, I doubt Smart is going to be much of a sales success in the US (even in congested urban areas).
[/b]

First, the electric conversion is based on the first generation Smart ForTwo not the new 2nd generation.

Second, the Smart is still several thousand less than the Yaris when similarly equipped. (Passion trim)

Third, the 2nd gen ForTwo is very spacious inside. When I test drove the car they started off with the seat all the way back. I'm 5'10" with a 32" inseam and my feet didn't touch the peddles with the seat all the way back.

Forth, the Smart is designed to achieve mid 40's mpg COMBINED for the 2008 EPA test standard. It gets an official 50 mpg on the EU combined cycle. That compares to the Yaris at 32 mpg combined on the 2008 EPA standard.

The Yaris or Prius would only be better if you need a large car.

For my full review of the Smart ForTwo see the thread "I test drove a Smart Yesterday" in Other Cars.

[SyCo]

Or one could buy the CMEC City Smart from China also called Shuanghuan Noble which is already Electric. An electric motor that is capable of pushing the pint-size two-seater along at a top speed of 34 mph. The battery range, according to CMEC, is around 62 miles. U.S. $5,260



Okay :P I know that it is old news and maybe OT. While it is not availabe in North America. But since it was supposed to be available in Europe this year (2007), who knows.

source: Edmunds InsideLine

p.s. please don't flame me I was just posting this as I thought it was related in some way. Personnaly I would not buy a Chinese car anyway .

[DaveinOlyWA]

that china commuter car, although lower top speed, it a bargain if it can be had for 5K... not holding my breath on that one though