For those of you toading smart cars, 2017 is the last year for the gas version in the US and Canada. Mercedes will concentrate all their efforts on the Electric and expand its role as a gateway for the upcoming line of Mercedes electrics. It will continue to be promoted as an urban tranporter and will remain available in both the coupe and cabriolet. For at least the next couple years the gasser will be available in europe but the writing is on the wall there as well as gas units continue to drop in sales. Soooooo, if a smart gas toad is in your future there will probably be some good deals in the works. The new 453 Electric coupe and Cabriolet smart car should be widely available throughout the USA and Canada by early summer BUT...you need to dolly it or trailer it as a toad...kinda like we do. Cheers.

Like the idea of an electric toad but concerned about the range and charge stations when out in the boonies. The new Chev Bolt has a +200mi range which is would work ok. But I am concerned about a range less than 100mi. Maybe I am just addicted to gas ;-).

Rolin wrote:Like the idea of an electric toad but concerned about the range and charge stations when out in the boonies. The new Chev Bolt has a +200mi range which is would work ok. But I am concerned about a range less than 100mi. Maybe I am just addicted to gas ;-).I hear ya. Everyone has different needs. We get about 120 km of range with ours. We have never been in a range anxiety situation yet but a lot depends on what you do of course. We drive ours about 8000 to 10,000 km per year. Our other vehicle is also electric with a longer range but the smart convertible is a LOT of fun to drive. Re the charging, most charging is done at home or at the RV site but depending on where you are the charging station coverage is getting quite extensive. We are in Palm Springs for the winter and we go a couple weeks at a time without needing to charge at home. Many shopping areas have complimentary charging areas here. Ours is a 2015 but the 2017's have a little more range so probably around 135 km. They also have a 7.7 KW charger instead of our 3.3 so even though they don't have "fast charge" you can go from zero to full in under three hours at a level 2 station. Surprised they didn't put a "fast charge" CHADEMO port on them but after all they are urban transporters. Take one for a drive when they come out. Very fast, very solid and very fun to drive. Unfortunately if we ever get one we will have to replace our little trailer as they are four inches longer and four inches wider.

Found a picture of the 2017 ED 453 and the cabrio. Nice

It will be a long time before I will buy an all electric vehicle. a combo would work just fine for me. I've a 300 mile drive twice a month and until they get a 400 mile range vehicle at a decent price, no thanks.bumpy

Bumpyroad wrote:It will be a long time before I will buy an all electric vehicle. a combo would work just fine for me. I've a 300 mile drive twice a month and until they get a 400 mile range vehicle at a decent price, no thanks.bumpyYah, I hear ya. EV's are not right for everybodies lifestyle yet. Your 300 mile commute would require a 20 to 30 minute top up charge somewhere along the way and longer if it wasn't a level 3 charger. In our leaf that would require a couple or three 20 minute stops. For us that wouldn't matter as we stop for coffee or a chihuahua break anyway. In addition, not all routes are covered by level 3 CHADEMO chargers or for the Tesla bunch, superchargers yet. There are about 14000 level 2 stations out there now but only about 2000 are CHADEMO. The good news is that they are going in at about 1 or 2 per day everyday so the gaps are getting smaller. For us early adapters we have to be on the ball when we plan a trip. Having said that the vast majority of our travels are within 200 km of our house so it's not a big deal for us. Stay safe on the road. John

2017 Last year for gas smart car in USA and Canada.

22 Replies

John___Angela
Explorer
Feb 14, 2017
Rolin wrote:
Like the idea of an electric toad but concerned about the range and charge stations when out in the boonies. The new Chev Bolt has a +200mi range which is would work ok. But I am concerned about a range less than 100mi.

Maybe I am just addicted to gas ;-).

I hear ya. Everyone has different needs. We get about 120 km of range with ours. We have never been in a range anxiety situation yet but a lot depends on what you do of course. We drive ours about 8000 to 10,000 km per year. Our other vehicle is also electric with a longer range but the smart convertible is a LOT of fun to drive.

Re the charging, most charging is done at home or at the RV site but depending on where you are the charging station coverage is getting quite extensive. We are in Palm Springs for the winter and we go a couple weeks at a time without needing to charge at home. Many shopping areas have complimentary charging areas here.

Ours is a 2015 but the 2017's have a little more range so probably around 135 km. They also have a 7.7 KW charger instead of our 3.3 so even though they don't have "fast charge" you can go from zero to full in under three hours at a level 2 station. Surprised they didn't put a "fast charge" CHADEMO port on them but after all they are urban transporters.

Take one for a drive when they come out. Very fast, very solid and very fun to drive. Unfortunately if we ever get one we will have to replace our little trailer as they are four inches longer and four inches wider.
Rolin
Explorer
Feb 14, 2017
Like the idea of an electric toad but concerned about the range and charge stations when out in the boonies. The new Chev Bolt has a +200mi range which is would work ok. But I am concerned about a range less than 100mi.

Maybe I am just addicted to gas ;-).

Forum Discussion

2017 Last year for gas smart car in USA and Canada.

22 Replies

About RV Tips & Tricks

Related Content

Smart Car

canada

Canada sizzling!

Smart alternator

Crossing into Canada