Smart Fortwo electric car may miss Australia

Daimler-owned French car builder Smart wants to start selling a third-generation of an electric version of its tiny Smart Fortwo car.

It says the electric car will start sales in early 2012 and wants it to be accessible to "anyone interested in more than 30 markets worldwide".

But Mercedes-Benz Australia isn't yet charged up about the car. "We'd like to have it but, without yet having all the details, we know price will be the decider," says spokesman David McCarthy.

The highlight is the economy of running and owning the car but we have to look at the infrastructure of how and where the car is to be charged up. We'll know more at the Frankfurt (motor show) when it's launched."

Smart has sold only 134 cars year-to-date July 31, almost half of the same period in 2010. But the company is igniting interest by saying this new model will be even more fun to drive.

Europe embraced the second-generation model - which wasn't available in Australia - and owners' feedback helped create the latest model. It has a battery, supplied by Deutsche Accumotive, that for the first time allows the 55kW/130Nm electric motor to push the car past the 120km/h mark.

It sprints to 100km/h from rest in less than 13 seconds and the 17.6 kWh battery has a range of about 140km in city traffic. It can be recharged at home in eight hours or from an optional on-board charger - in conjunction with access to a quick-charge station - in less than an hour 'The Smart Fortwo has exceeded itself.'

"It has always been a pioneer of urban mobility and with the new electric drive it is once again setting standards with even more driving fun and environmental compatibility," says Smart's head, Dr Annette Winkler.

Smart is also making a bicycle. The ebike - a venture between Smart and German electric bicycle maker Grace - is going into series production and will be launched in the first half of 2012. Smart CEO Dr Annette Winkler says the 25kW ebike is a true Smart that is very practical and child's play to ride.

"Anyone can zip through town on it with or without exerting themselves depending on their fitness level and as the mood takes them. And it's even easier to find a parking space than with the Smart Fortwo."

More than 700,000 electric bicycles were sold in Europe last year. In 2018 the association association of the two-wheeler industry (ZIV) predict e-bikes will make up 15 per cent of all bicycle sales in Germany alone.

"We listened to what people wanted from a perfect city bike and then came up with some clever solutions such as the integrated USB port for smartphones or energy recuperation during braking," she says. The Smart ebike is a real high-tech product and its price of less than Euro 2900 (about $2100) in Germany will make it a very attractive option."

Mercedes-Benz Australia says it's possible the bicycle will be available in Australia but is waiting for final prices.