Smart Zero Emission Driving with The Smart Ed

Businesses and organisations across the UK are using new electric smart models in one of the car industry’s biggest carbon neutral test programmes...

The new smart ed may not be on sale here yet, but Britain is currently the centre of a pioneering test programme involving the new electric-powered model. Over the next four years the electric vehicles will be operated using only ‘green energy’ – electricity generated from renewable sources. From manufacture to delivery and on to final operation, the ultimate objective has been to create a virtually carbon-free car. Where any use of fossil fuels or resulting CO2 emissions have been identified and quantified, equivalent funding is being invested in carbon offset projects in both the UK and Germany.

The smart fortwo passion is transformed into an electrically-powered vehicle by UK-based technology partner Zytek at their facility in Lichfield, Staffordshire. The British company adds the electric motor, battery pack and other modifications, but the end result is indistinguishable from a conventional smart model. Only the power socket hidden underneath the normal fuel filler flap and a dash-mounted display showing the charge level remaining, give any indication that this is a vehicle with an entirely different propulsion system.

The car has a maximum range in excess of 70 miles and can be fully charged from empty in eight hours and partially charged from 30 per cent to 80 per cent in 3.5 hours. With a top speed of 60mph (electronically limited), and acceleration from 0-30mph in 6.5 seconds – faster than its petrol equivalent – the smart ed is no slouch around town.

Powered solely by electricity, and chargeable from any three-pin socket the smart ed can achieve the equivalent of 300 mpg – that amounts to a saving of up to 80% in fuel costs over the already highly economical smart fortwo. The ed can travel up to 72 miles between charges, which typically take around 8 hours for a full charge – ideal for charging at work between your morning and evening commutes. If your journey takes you into the capital, you will find free electricity provided by some London boroughs, as well as free or discounted parking. With a top-up charge during the day, the smart ed’s daily range weighs in at 100 miles.

With that in mind, Smart are running a market trial with selected blue chip companies who are happy to meet their requirements to power the cars using only renewable energy sources. When they say zero emissions, they really mean it! Among the partners already enrolled in the trial are The Urban Splash, Islington and Coventry Councils, Foster & Partners, CarbonNeutral Company, EDF Energy and Amey.

To add to the environmental benefits of CO2-free emissions and zero noise pollution, users can point to the savings resulting from not needing to pay either vehicle excise duty or the Congestion Charge. What’s more there are Benefit in Kind tax savings as the Inland Revenue doesn’t treat electricity as ‘fuel’, while some London Boroughs will also offer smart ed models free parking and free top-up electric charge facilities.

Whilst the Smart Ed is yet to be available to the general public just yet, there are ways we as individuals can speed the process, by letting companies like Smart know that we want this technology, that we will buy this technology, and let the governmnent know that you want this technology and you want them to help people, business and manfactures employ this technology.

In their quest for greener driving, Smart have announced the introduction of a diesel engined smart fortwo – with the lowest C02 emissions on any car in the world – which will be joining the family in March 2009.


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