Tesla-powered Smart Fortwo gives rides, ignites imaginations

We already knew that Daimler was looking to Tesla for its battery know-how within the electric Smart, and evidently the two have already put together a working prototype. Our best buds over at AutoblogGreen have hosted up a video and photo gallery of a Tesla-powered Smart Fortwo which was recently spotted at a heretofore unnamed automotive show. Amazingly, the vehicle was actually outfitted with the motor and gear box (version 1.0) from an original Roadster, though the incommodious nature of the show floor made it impossible to peel out and really cause a scene. Check the read link for all the multimedia goodies.

[dank414 Posted Apr 25th 2009 4:43PM]

I'll just take the backseat and wait until these EV cars are 20k msrp and use 7000 gov't tax credit. ^^ $13k car that doesn't use gas FTW! OPAC suck my hairy balls.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 26th 2009 5:12AM]

OK lets make some peace here...

I'm European and yes, USA did wrong the last 8 years by having a border line as a president. (That hurts any country) But we cannot say we are perfect, we screwed it big time and my country is one of the worst ones. (Spain for the record)
"French" people, (usually polite by my experience), lately seem to be eager to criticize other nationalities and other countries citizens. Even Sarkozy insulted our president (I know he said the truth but...).

The first comment was sarcastic and basically non appropriate.

About the smart...well, they could change its name to...small.

[tooodles Posted Apr 25th 2009 8:25PM]

smart is a ridiculous car. small size for small size sake. there is a practical limit to how far you should shrink a vehicle before you are doing it just for show. its not like you get 50% off price for a 50% smaller car, or that its 50% more fuel efficient really.

as for crash tests. physics wins that one. it doesn't matter if the cage is rigid, you are suddenly going the other direction when even a reasonably sized family sedan smacks into you.

[bluefootedboobies Posted Apr 25th 2009 9:40PM]

You don't know what you're talking about ...

The diesel does 85mpg.

[bluefootedboobies Posted Apr 25th 2009 9:37PM]

Tesla have nothing to do with the official Smart ForTwo EV (a.k.a. ED). This must be some kind of private venture.

Zytek (a UK based company) make the motor and drivetrain for it. There are already about 300 of them being leased on a trial basis. The car will officially launch later this year or early next.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 26th 2009 12:50AM]

Tesla provided some engineering assistance with early designs for the fortwo ED (formerly EV), and collaborated with Daimler to create this engineering mule to demonstrate the vehicle's feasibility. Tesla is providing the battery packs for (at least) the first 1000 production fortwo ED vehicles.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 30th 2009 9:03AM]

From a manufacturing standpoint, this combination should be cheaper than an ic engine because an electric motor is less complex and the control methods are easier. It should also be more robust requiring less ongoing maintenance than an ic engine. I would expect them to charge a premium for the novelty of it when first introduced, but hope that eventually the real manufacturing costs bring the prices down as they did with led monitors over crt's. I drive a large vehicle for work but when i am on my own, i like something that fits like a second skin and is agile and fun to drive.