Feeling the squeeze

Pedal power, pint-sized and fuel efficient cars get motorists' attention
By ROGER HARRIS, harrisr@knews.com May 28, 2006

Dentist William Salmons is selling his Hummer. Retired businessman Herb Jacobs bought an ultra-small fuel-efficient import and University of Tennessee graduate student Adam Stoermer pedals a commuter bike to campus.
These are some of the ways Knoxville-area motorists are conserving fuel in the wake of rising gasoline prices.
Herb Jacobs of Knoxville says he’s used to the attention from curious onlookers like Melton Brown of Cleveland, Tenn., as he fills his tank. Brown said he thought the car "was a cute little thing." Despite its compact appearance, Jacobs says his Smart car has adequate room to be comfortable. Although popular in Europe, the car is just starting to be seen in the United States.

Read full article here.

Fusion Car Radio's Blinged-out Smart

Mercedes Smart Car , Phoenix AZ, USA

FUSION continues it's global reputation for being distinctively different, with the creation of this unique Mercedes Smart Car. Along with an attractive FUSION install, the upholstery underwent a complete re-fit. This includes green leather seats with FUSION green neon piping, and standard gauges with a custom green trim. FUSION green neon lighting was also added to the doors, tailgate crossover display window and in the seat headrests.FUSION’s Mercedes Smart Car made it's public debut at the SEMA Show, Las Vegas 2004.

Man's small vehicle is a Smart one

Source: Dallas Morning News

When Richard Riccardi zips through Collin County in his Smart car, heads turn so fast that some could get whiplash. Then the zingers start flying.
"What is it?" wise guys ask. "What's your car going to be when it grows up?" "Where's the other half of your car?"
I guess the tiny Smart car makes the Volkswagen Bug and Mini Cooper seem large.
The gas-powered, fuel-efficient vehicle is popular in Europe but rarely seen in the U.S.
Mr. Riccardi couldn't find one in Texas so he got his two-seater from a dealership in Pennsylvania.
The McKinney businessman and Fairview family man has wanted a Smart car ever since one caught his eye in Italy four years ago.
Maneuverability and parking are a snap, but the car's real advantage, he said, is the gas mileage.
Made by DaimlerChrysler and imported by Zap, it's supposed to get 45 miles per gallon. But Mr. Riccardi only got 35 mpg while running the air conditioning full-blast on his first tank last week.
Not bad compared with the 14 mpg on his other car – a Lincoln Navigator.
"It's fantastic," he said. "And you're not cramped at all."

Smart Car is a fuel efficient Vehicle

– Not a Hybrid or Electric Car it’s just small and gets 40 miles per [U.S.] gallon
May 20th, 2006
The Smart Car is now going to be sold in the USA by a company called ZAP. It is a tiny car that you may have seen in the new Pink Panther movie with Steve Martin you may also see the Smart Car in the just released, “The Da Vinci Code” movie. The car that is featured in the movies is called a ForTwo model which fits 2 passengers.
The Smart Car has been sold since 1998 throughout the world. ZAP is the company that wants to distribute the automobile in the United States. Currently they are looking to set up dealerships across the country.
The engine is in the back of the vehicle and is a 3 cylinder that is rated at 61 bhp. The Smart car will only go up to 85 mph. They claim that the reason for lowering the maximum speed will help the automobiles fuel efficiency. The gas tank holds 8.7 gallons. You can get the vehicle in automatic or manual.
The Smart Car is not a hybrid or is it an electric car; it runs on regular unleaded gasoline. Because of the size of the vehicle it is very fuel efficient. The EPA rating for the city and highway is 40 miles per gallon. This is very comparable to hybrid vehicles.
Read full article here.
Note: Only the diesel smart fortwo is currently being sold in Canada by Mercedes Benz

The new Mercedes-Benz Museum

As the inventor of the automobile, DaimlerChrysler has a responsibility to create an adequate forum for automotive history and to give a home to the unique tradition of the Mercedes-Benz brand. On a floor area of 16,500 square meters (178,000 square feet), the Mercedes-Benz Museum provides its visitors with an unforgettable experience of the brand. The central elements encompass the entire tradition of the brand with the three-pointed star – passenger cars, commercial vehicles and motor sport – thus creating a communication platform for the Mercedes-Benz brand that is unparalleled throughout the world. Imaginative, chronologically ordered presentations expound the entire “Mercedes Legend” – from the dawn of automotive history up to visions of the future. Accompanying showcase collections also elucidate the various thematic backgrounds.

Read more here.

The Mercedes-Benz Passage at Mercedes-Benz World in Stuttgart Links Tradition with the Present

A variety of attractions welcome visitors as they walk between the New Mercedes Benz Museum and the adjacent Mercedes-Benz Center Stuttgart. In the Passage they are able to enjoy a variety of catering establishments, purchase souvenirs in different shops dedicated to the brand or make use of additional services such as an ATM, postbox or public telephone.
More than 3000 products bearing the Mercedes star are available here, on a sales area totalling 697 square metres. Interesting literature and high-quality miniatures, carefully selected clothing items and useful day-to-day objects are to be found, as well as luxury watches, decorative home furnishings or small gifts for those left at home.
The Passage also gives visitors an insight into the further activities of the Mercedes Car Group: current models of the high-end Maybach, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren super-sportscar and the smart are on show to illustrate the variety of cars currently on offer.

Indian motor maker gives the go-ahead for £1,200 'people's car'

Randeep Ramesh in New DelhiSaturday May 20, 2006 The Guardian
One of India's biggest motor manufacturers announced ambitious plans yesterday to launch a cheap, small "people's car" in 2008 for about £1,200.
Tata Motors, a subsidiary of one of the country's largest conglomerates, said it would invest 10 billion rupees (£120m) in the plant near Kolkata in West Bengal. Initially the plant will employ 2,000 people.
The "people's car" has been a dream of the company's chairman, Ratan Tata, for many years. In the past, Mr Tata has talked about a vehicle that would "bridge the gap between cars and scooters" for 3 million people a year in India.
The cost of the car, a four-door, small-capacity engine vehicle, will be around 100,000 rupees (£1,200). This is less than half the price of the next cheapest car on the road in India, making it affordable for those who at present buy motorbikes.
"Families who presently all ride through the heat and dust on a two-wheeler will have an alternative in the form of a car for the first time," said Ravi Kant, managing director of Tata Motors.
There has been recent speculation that Tata is considering buying DaimlerChrysler's four-seater Smart car. Executives at Tata refused to comment on the reports.

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Time Use Expert's 7-year Fight for Better Gas Mileage

Newswise — It took nearly seven years, but a University of Maryland time-use expert finally managed to get his answer to better fuel mileage into this country – the “Smart Car.” “I'm probably one of the first in Maryland or the DC area to own one,” says John Robinson, a sociologist and a national expert on time usage. “It’s essentially a car cut in half, but it can get up to 50 miles per gallon, seats two very comfortably and is cleverly designed. It’s a little bigger than a motorcycle, but a lot safer. I saw one in Paris in 1999 and have been trying to get one ever since.”
Ironically, U.S. regulations made it difficult to import the German/French car. “I spent hundreds of hours and made thousands of phone calls satisfying all the red tape,” he says. “It had to be retrofitted to meet various U.S. standards, including some environmental ones, even though it’s one of the cleanest cars on the road.”
Several earlier attempts to import the car failed. But Robinson says the bureaucratic kinks have been worked out, and it was shipped through a California company that retrofitted it and sent it on to a New Hampshire dealership. He drove it home to Maryland in a blinding rain storm just before Mother’s Day.
Read more here.

ZAP Reports Record 1st Quarter Sales for 2006, 141% Increase a Record Quarter Since Merger in 2002

SANTA ROSA, Calif.--May 16, 2006--Automotive technology pioneer ZAP (NYSE Arca:ZP) announced today the results of operations for the first quarter of fiscal year 2006. The Company reported a sales increase of 141 percent over sales from the first quarter of 2005 due to the recent shipments of Smart Cars Americanized for ZAP to authorized automotive dealerships, the largest such increase since ZAP merged with Voltage Vehicles and launched its automotive marketing and distribution business plan in 2002.
Net sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 were $2.9 million compared to $1.2 million in 2005. ZAP experienced an increase of $1.7 million or 141 percent primarily due to sales of the Smart Cars, electric vehicles and other consumer products.
Net loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2006 was $2.8 million as compared to a net loss of $1.6 million for the period ended March 31, 2005. The increase was primarily due to higher consulting and professional fees, as well as stock-based compensation expenses due to the adoption of SFAS 123R.

Read full article here.

Oh God! Hanks takes up the gauntlet

It’s been billed as the most anticipated movie of the year and hits Malaysian cinema screens on May 18. Megastar Tom Hanks plays the pivotal role of Dr Robert Langdon, a Harvard symbolist who finds himself in the midst of a mystery involving the Church and a secret society. Hanks divulges his impetus in taking up one of the most talked about fictional characters in cinematic history.
Question: What was the most difficult moment and what was the best moment during the shooting?
Tom Hanks: The great part is that we got to do it on such a grand scale. We did everything in this movie, from having important words being communicated in a car ­— of course we’re in a Smart Car, shooting on the Rue de Rivoli in Paris at 3 o’clock in the morning, in the middle of the Louvre as opposed to a fake bathroom or an office somewhere. That was the grandiose part of it all. We were operating on this huge, massive, very, very popular canvas that everybody knows. And if everybody knows about it, how are we going to surprise them? The challenges never go away.
Read full article here.

Just charge it: Mooresville company producing vehicles that say no to gas

12:09 PM EDT on Friday, May 12, 2006
By BOBBY SISK / 6NEWS
On Raceway Drive in Mooresville there is a shop full of surprises. In the heart of NASCAR country, Hybrid Technologies is taking cars like a Chrysler PT Cruiser and replacing the gasoline engine with an all electric one.
Richard Griffiths is the company’s driving force.
Describing the motor, he says, “This is basically 400 moving parts reduced down to about 30 parts. This truly is a plug in hybrid...on a 220 you're looking at four to five hours."
With that four to five hour charge, Griffiths says the average driver could travel 120 miles.
The power supply is 70 thin lithium batteries.
Also in the lithium powered lineup at hybrid is a Chrysler Crossfire sports coupe, a Mini Cooper and a true miniature vehicle, the European smart car.
"This (smart car) is about $35,000. The PT Cruiser is about $45,000”, Griffiths says.
Efficient yes, but more than double the price tag of a gasoline version. So who's the target buyer?
"You're someone who supports the industry. Who wants to make a statement. It is an emotional decision rather than an economical one," Griffiths says.

Read full article here.

Smart Car: Could Less be More?

By John Rawlins
May 10, 2006 - If you've ever dreamed of owning a Mercedes-Benz, but couldn't afford it, how about taking half? You can now buy three cylinders instead of 6 and two seats instead of 4. A Chester County man says it's not settling, it's smart.
Joe Stubblebine has gotten use to people staring and saying really odd things when he drives by.
It is an eye catcher, which is why Stubblebine's company JobCircle.com uses it as a rolling billboard. A mini is small, but the Smart Car is smaller. It is not a hybrid but gets 40 miles per gallon from its tiny rear mounted engine.
Smart is owned by Mercedes Benz. Despite its tiny size, Smart's reputation in its native Europe for safety.
Joe was nice enough to give us the keys so we can drive the Smart which is what we are going to do.
It fires up easily, it's roomy for two. There is no back seat. Its ride is a bit harsh making potholes something to avoid. We stopped at West Chester University. A question for co-eds: Would you give a guy a second look if he drove up in a Smart instead of say an Escalade?
(Copyright 2006 by Action News. All Rights Reserved.)
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The Green Machine vs The Radish

Rival Isetta owners John and Heinz threatened to drag race their respective British and German built cars at Saturday's season opener of the Street Classics Show and Shine Association's meet. It was great to meet up with other smart drivers Mr. Natural, smart65 (of clubsmartcar) and the Hewetsons.

Smart gets charged up

An electric Smart car that can be driven 70 miles before it needs to be recharged is to begin trials in the UK. DaimlerChrysler is believed to be producing a small batch of the nippy runabouts to test their performance and customer reaction. The zero-emissions two-seater is targeted at city commuters and would be congestion charge exempt in London.
Talks have been held between the car maker and BAA about placing a small fleet of electric Smarts at a main airport for the use of passengers. The prototype of the electric Smart ForTwo was produced by Zytek, a Midlands company, with government support.
An industry source said: “Smart cars always had the potential to make great little electric vehicles because they are light, turn on a sixpence, and have the feel of a much bigger car inside.”

View source.

Mercedes Car Group: Worldwide Sales Increase by Seven Percent through April 2006

Stuttgart, Germany, May 04, 2006
The Mercedes Car Group sold 100,800 passenger cars of the Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and smart brands in April 2006 (April 2005: 105,700; minus five percent). During the first four months of 2006, deliveries of the Mercedes Car Group rose by seven percent to the record figure of 395,800 vehicles (January-April 2005: 368,600).
In April, sales at smart amounted to 9,500 vehicles. As a result, smart delivered a total of 38,500 vehicles to customers during the first four months of the year.

Source: www.daimlerchrysler.com

Missing Smart Car Found In Bush

April 27, 2006 By Azrol Azmi -- Bandar Seri Begawan - No sooner did the Borneo Bulletin hit the stands yesterday, the silver metallic colour Smart car that was reported missing in the front page was found, thanks to the goodwill of a member from the public who noticed the car stashed in the bush along Jalan Tungku.
The owner of the car, Umi, beaming with joy and happiness drove to the Bulletin with her fiancé (Aziz) to personally thank the newspaper.
She said that she received a call from a lady, a teacher at the Little Star School, who saw the stolen Smart car stashed in a thicket along Jalan Tungku near the school.
Umi added the teacher called up Aziz early yesterday morning after reading the Bulletin that provided the telephone number and informed the whereabouts of the missing car.
The teacher apparently noticed the car in the thicket for two days and began to grow suspicious until she read the news in the Bulletin.
Umi said she was glad there were no damages to the car and some of the shopping items were still inside. Only her mobile phone and keys to the car were found missing. She said the police and CID are investigating the case.

The Twike: An electric car with a difference

Give it a quick charge and you're ready to roll. Tricia Wright goes eco-friendly...
Published: 02 May 2006
The Twike may sound like a three-wheeled contraption that Jonathan Ross has bought, but this two-seater electric car is a serious proposition.
Unlike the infamous Sinclair C5, which pretty much discredited the idea of electric transport for two decades, this one is properly engineered and even has a roof. There is only one snag: the price. For most potential buyers, the initial outlay of £15,000 will stretch the bounds of eco-friendship to the very limit. Yes, you can indeed buy a Mazda MX-5, say, or a Mini Cooper convertible for that sort of money, or two of its nearest competitor the Indian-built Reva G-Wiz electric car, but the Twike is a different eco-proposition.
Low ownership costs do defray at least some of the high price You don't pay road tax, congestion charges in London, or for parking in some places. When you consider that parking can cost £40 a day in central London, this is quite a factor, says Andreas Schroeer, the man responsible for importing these quirky little German vehicles into the UK. Throw fuel into the equation and the commuter averaging 50 miles a day will save around £5,000 a year in a Twike. It costs about 20p to "fill up" a Twike, by plugging it into the mains.
Read the full story here.

Healey car to be reborn with Smart overhaul

The Times May 03, 2006
By Christine Buckley, Industrial Editor
HEALEY, one of the classic names in British sports cars, is to be revived by a consortium including David James, the Conservative Party adviser and company doctor, The Times has learnt.
The Project Kimber consortium, which tried to acquire the assets of MG Rover and then the MG brand last year, has bought the Healey name from the family of Donald Healey, the rally driver and the business’s founder, who died in 1988.
The consortium plans to start production — possibly in Coventry — of a new retro-style sports car towards the end of next year, with an annual output of up to 15,000 cars and initially employing about 200 people.
Access Capital, a venture capital group working with the consortium, is believed to have secured funding of £65 million for the first two years of the operation. Advantage West Midlands, the regional development agency, has offered £1.95 million in grant aid for the scheme, the maximum that it is able to offer, for production to be based in an old Dunlop factory in Coventry.
Read full story here.

Get your motor runnin'....

Classic car show season opens this weekend. The Street Classics Show and Shine Association's weekly event starts on Saturday May 6th from 5:00 pm to dusk at the Canadian Tire Store parking lot, 1608 The Queensway at The East Mall in Etobicoke, ON (427/QEW) . See you there!

Clever little car

28 April 2006
James Stanford
The Smart Fortwo has a rival that could be even cleverer. The Clever three-wheeler was launched in England this week, promising motorbike thrills and remarkable fuel economy.
This two-seater, top speed 100km/h, weighs 395kg.
Its chassis allows the cabin to tilt up to 45 degrees when cornering, while the rear wheels sit flat on the road.
The Clever has a 15kW single-cylinder 230cc four-stroke engine that uses compressed natural gas.
Its backers claim the vehicle will produce less than one third the emissions of a traditional family car, using the equivalent of 2.6 litres for 100km.

Read more here.
Andy: thanks for your comment and request.

JobCircle.com Brings First Smart Car to Pennsylvania

Fun and Fuel-efficient vehicle gets 40-55 miles per gallon
WEST CHESTER, Pa., May 2 /PRNewswire/ -- JobCircle.com today announced that they have acquired the first officially legal Smart car in Pennsylvania, a 2006 SMART ForTwo Coupe. It is estimated that only approximately 50-70 of legally converted Smart cars have been sold in the United States.
JobCircle.com plans to utilize the vehicle as part of an Internet marketing campaign titled "JobCircle.com: the SMART career choice!". The vehicle will be officially unveiled to the public on Thursday, May 4th, 2006, at the company's "Nurses Night at the Ballpark" event, a nursing career fair at the Citizens Bank Phillies Ballpark in Philadelphia, PA.
The Smart car, manufactured by smart GmbH, a division of DaimlerChrysler, is the most fuel-efficient gas-powered car on the road today, and is the third-most fuel-efficient vehicle in the U.S., with hybrid vehicles holding the first two spots. The Smart car gets an estimated 40-55 miles per gallon, and is powered by a 3-cylinder gas engine. The gas tank holds 8.67 gallons, and the vehicle possesses both an automatic or manual mode of operation. At only 8.2 feet long, and weighing in at just 1,588 pounds, it is the smallest vehicle on the road today. The vehicle comes with air, power windows, and driver and passenger airbags.
"There is nothing like it on the road today," says Joseph Stubblebine, president of Human Capital Solutions, the parent company of JobCircle.com. "This car attracts crowds of people because of its unique design and its extremely small size, and it is an absolute blast to drive!" JobCircle.com paid $24,900 for the vehicle.

Read full press release here.

Brown downplays Smart car proposal

Two-seater urban Smart cars are not going to be used as hire cars for visitors anytime soon, according to Tourism Minister Ewart Brown.Even though they have been suggested as an idea by the head of Bermuda’s tourism office in London, a lack of parking spaces remains the main hurdle preventing the idea being put into operation.The idea of allowing tourists the option of renting out one of the two-seat cars, which are almost as long as they are wide, as an alternative to hiring a moped has been looked at and remains an unviable option, said Dr. Brown.It was Bermuda’s tourism department regional sales manager for the UK and Europe Thomas MacDonald who most recently raised the idea of Smart cars for hire during an interview with The Royal Gazette earlier this month in which he discussed a variety of possible initiatives to cater for European visitors.But Deputy Premier Dr. Brown said the idea had been investigated in 2000 and the difficulties identified then were still an issue. “It was not feasible at the time because of a lack of parking spaces. It did not fly then and I don’t think it is going to fly in the immediate future. It is a good idea but we have not answered the question of space,” he said.But one aspect of the tourism package that was touched upon by Mr. MacDonald in London and with which Dr. Brown concurs is for a revival of live, home-grown music and entertainment to enhance the Island’s tourism product.

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New vehicle only one metre wide designed for cities

A revolutionary new type of vehicle only one metre wide and specially designed to drive in cities is being developed by a team of European scientists.
The vehicle combines the safety of a micro-car and the manoeuvrability of a motorbike, while being more fuel-efficient and less polluting than other vehicles.

The CLEVER (Compact Low Emission Vehicle for Urban Transport) vehicle is a £1.5 million collaborative project involving nine European partners from industry and research and part of which is under development at the University of Bath’s Centre for Power Transmission and Motion Control.
The aim is to produce a stylish tilting three-wheeled vehicle that is fully enclosed and has seats for the driver and a passenger. Its strengthened frame will protect the driver in a crash and the vehicle will have a top speed of approximately 50 mph.
At just over three feet (1 metre) wide, it is 20 inches (0.5 metres) less than a micro-car, and three feet less than a medium sized conventional car. This reduced width means more efficient parking bays, and the possibility of narrower lanes for such vehicles.

Read full article here. With thanks to Peter Flanagan.

Ford Hybrid Concept Car: the Reflex

Ford's Reflex concept is a small sports car that incorporates a number of interesting features, including a diesel/electric hybrid system that captures power from solar panels on the car, as well as an interior camera — dubbed "baby cam" — that streams live video of the rear seats to the driver. Smaller than the Nissan 350Z, the Reflex's front fascia features Ford's new three-bar grille, which in this application is made of aluminum and has a matte finish. Taking a cue from high-end, exotic sports cars, the Reflex has swing-wing doors that are hinged in back. Polished-alloy wheels measure 20 inches in diameter, and the roof of the car is fitted with solar-powered fans that circulate air when the car is parked. Inside, the Reflex has two front bucket seats and a small backseat roomy enough for two children or an adult. Mesh material covers the seats, and the rear seat belts have integrated inflatable bags in the shoulder strap that deploy during a collision to disperse crash forces across the chest. For the littlest of kids, a rear-facing child safety seat is included.

DaimlerChrysler eyes takeover of Smart engine plant

STUTTGART, Germany (MarketWatch) -- German-U.S. carmaker DaimlerChrysler AG (DCX) intends to fully take over the plant that produces the engines for the Smart "forfour" model and Mitsubishi Motors Corp.'s (7211.TO) Colt model, according to an application filed for the deal.
The Federal Cartel Office published the application.
The eastern Germany-based plant, which is operated by MDC Power GmbH, is a 50-50 joint venture between DaimlerChrysler and Mitsubishi.
DaimlerChrysler has said it will stop producing the Smart forfour model and is in talks with Mitsubishi over compensation payments for canceling the partnership contract, which would otherwise have expired in 2010.
DaimlerChrysler wasn't immediately available to comment.

View source.

Happy Earth Day

Most NedCar workers join strike

21 April 2006
AMSTERDAM — Only 370 of the 1,000 people scheduled to work turned up for their shift at the only major car assembly plant in the Netherlands on Friday morning.
There was some jeering but no physical confrontations as the minority crossed the picket line at the NedCar factory in Born. The assembly lines were kept running but production levels were far lower than normal.
NedCar, the only large-scale automobile producer in the Netherlands, started in August 1991 as a joint venture between Mitsubishi, Volvo and the Dutch State. It is currently 100 percent owned by Mitsubishi.
The assembly plant's future has been called into question by DaimlerChrysler's decision to halt production of the Smart ForFour there. This leaves NedCar with production of Mitsubishi's Colt, but there are no guarantees it will get the order to build the Colt's successor.
Talks between Mitsubishi and NedCar's management have failed to generate commitments about the future, though the Japanese firm said it would allow NedCar to seek a replacement for the ForFour.
The strike is intended to pressure Mitsubishi into guaranteeing the plant's future and to backtrack on its decision to cut one shift of 1,000 people due to the cancellation of the ForFour order.

Read more here.

How smart is Smart for you?

21 April 2006
Gavin McGrath
The tiniest car Australians can buy is the Smart Fortwo. It's cute, built by Mercedes-Benz and has the kind of fuel efficiency that would have greenies and economic rationalists in cheerful agreement.
Trendy European urban dwellers love them. The Smart Fortwo is all the rage in Italy, where petrol prices are now more than $2 a litre and finding a parking spot is only slightly easier than finding an echidna.
Smart has great hopes for Australia, where about two-thirds of the population, representing nearly 13 million people, now live in the nation's state capital cities.
"People in Italy who can often afford to drive a big car on the weekend would not dare to drive it in town during the week. They buy a Smart especially for that," Smart spokesman Tony Andreevski says.
Read full article here.

Auto Matters - The End of Adventure in NY City : Jan's Blog

It looks like my trip across America by SMART car was a resounding success. With only one minor, easily corrected hiccup along the way, my SMART car performed well. It was able to do the posted speed limits - which were as high as 75 MPH. Headroom was incredible, with a good six inches of clearance above my head, and the seat was comfortable. The heating and air conditioning systems worked well and, considering the diminutive external dimensions of the car, it had an amazing amount of space inside. Normally one person doesn't take three suitcases (I brought computer equipment, camera gear and two weeks worth of clothes, in addition to leaving some space intentionally empty so that I could bring back materials from the auto show), so your luggage would probably fit without taking up so much room.
My calculated fuel economy varied somewhat during the trip, from a high of 52 MPG after a leg between California and Arizona, to a low of 34 MPG after a particularly nasty stretch of road in California that included a long climb uphill in windy conditions. My average mileage was probably in the low to mid-40 MPG range. Then there is the rock star factor. There was hardly a time when I wasn't approached by curious onlookers when I stopped. They really liked the car and were eager to learn more about it.

See blog here.

Two-seat electric cars to be built in St. Jerome

MIKE KING, The Montreal Gazette Published: Friday, April 14, 2006
Automobile manufacturing is about to return to the lower Laurentians, switching from the production of gas-guzzling muscle cars four years ago to environmentally friendly electric vehicles.
But don't expect to see any of the battery-powered Zenn minicars on Quebec streets - or elsewhere in Canada - any time soon.
Although the Zenn (Zero Emission No Noise) meets all federal highway regulations, British Columbia is the only province so far where the vehicle can be legally licensed.
The Zenn is a tiny two-seater similar to the popular Smart Car.
Feel Good Cars Corp. of Toronto has leased 40,000 square feet of extra space in the Bauer Nike Hockey Inc. skate and helmet plant in St. Jerome, 60 kilometres north of Montreal, to serve as the primary production and research and development facility for the Zenn.
"It'll take about a month to get things outfitted and ready to go," company chief executive Ian Clifford told The Gazette by phone. "We chose St. Jerome because ITAQ is there."
It was at ITAQ, the Quebec Advanced Transportation Institute, that the Zenn prototype was created. ITAQ is a government-funded agency that is intended to be a catalyst for the development of sustainable transportation technologies. Clifford said his firm paid ITAQ "close to six figures" for its consulting and engineering services.
View source.

Drivers Licence Coming short?

Winner of Smart South Africa's branded car competition

By Marchelle Hermanus
Smaller hatchback cars seem to be all the rage these days, with many fledgling drivers opting to go for these instead of the "accident-prone" bulky variety. But now a Gauteng law impacting on learner drivers is soon to be ruled as a nationwide law. Learner drivers, beware.
According to reports, the Transport Department has passed new laws, already being adhered to in Gauteng, governing the length of vehicles used in tests nationwide.
So what does this mean for those who plan on getting their drivers license any time soon? It means that if the car you plan on passing with doesn't measure three metres from bumper to bumper, you won't be allowed to take the test.
Cape Town driving instructor Nino Julius says lately many things have been happening in the traffic department that driving schools are unaware of — such as the new driver's licence laws. "As far as my knowledge is concerned, we don't know something like that happening, it's news to me," he said.

See complete story here.http://motoring.iafrica.com/215860.htm

Driving-licence laws get smart

11/04/2006 23:26 - (SA)
Eagan Williamson, Beeld
Pretoria - Learner drivers trying to get their licence in a car less than 3m long haven't a chance of passing, warns a traffic department chief.
"A pair of oversized spotlights, a towbar or a big bumper won't make a short car long enough - the learner driver just won't get a licence," is the word from Centurion licence-office chief Wouter Marais.
He was talking on Tuesday about new legislation setting a minimum length for light vehicles used for driver's licences.
"You'll fail on the spot if your vehicle isn't the required 3 m long," said Marais.
The legislation stipulates that a passenger vehicle may not be shorter than 3m and a heavy vehicle not shorter than 6m.
Marais said a specific list of vehicles which did not comply with the required 3 m had not been prepared for them yet, but the perky little Smart car, for example, would not meet the standard.
Marais suggested that prospective applicants for licences should first make sure at home that their vehicles were long enough, before they went for the test.

Read the full story here.

Members agree with Kevin's Smart idea

Cambridge Evening News
A CABBIE with a Smart idea to create Britain's smallest fleet of taxis has been given the go-ahead by supportive councillors.
K evin McCarthy has been told he can run tiny two-seater Smart cars as taxis.
Councillors on the East Cambridgeshire District Council Licensing Committee ignored offical advice and stamped their seal of approval on the scheme - the first of its kind in the UK.
Mr McCarthy, 46, questioned hundreds of passengers to see if they would use the two-seater cars as taxis after 80 per cent of his fares involved ferrying just one person around.
Smart cars are distinctive for their small size and low fuel consumption, which make them economic to run and environmentally friendly.
Mr McCarthy said: "My customers all thought it was a great idea because it would make them feel like they are doing their bit for the environment.

Read full article here.

ZAP Showcases Brazilian OBVIO !

Alcohol-Gas-Electric ''Trybrid'' Microcar at New York International Auto Show; Additional Consumer Products and Efficient Vehicles Will Also Be Featured
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 13, 2006--Automotive pioneer ZAP (NYSE Arca:ZP)(PCX:ZP) announced today that the OBVIO ! 828, a Brazilian concept car utilizing "trybrid" technology -- gasoline, electricity, and alcohol -- will be on view at the New York International Auto Show, which runs April 14-23, 2006 at The Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City.
Unlike the current gas-electric hybrids, ZAP says its "trybrid" designs run on three sources of energy: gasoline, electricity, and alcohol. ZAP has contracted with OBVIO ! for exclusive US distribution of Brazilian-made automobiles.
"The New York International Auto Show is the ideal opportunity for introducing the OBVIO ! to forward-thinking drivers, media and investors. Americans are recognizing the importance of multi-fueled, environmentally friendly, and fun vehicles. Additionally, Brazil is gaining recognition as a leader in gas-ethanol engine technologies and conserving natural resources. The OBVIO ! is a prime illustration of these concepts. Fuel-efficient vehicles are playing an increasing role on the highways and in our society. Through ZAP's automotive portal, we are pleased to offer consumers overseas vehicles, like the OBVIO !, for use in the US," remarked Steve Schneider, CEO of ZAP.

Read more here.

Daimler gears up for faster growth

Wednesday, April 12, 2006; Posted: 12:30 p.m. EDT (16:30 GMT)

BERLIN, Germany (AP) -- DaimlerChrysler is poised to raise its profitability through 2006 but will continue to cut jobs as it works to reinvigorate its marquee Mercedes-Benz product lineup, chief executive Dieter Zetsche said Wednesday.

The company also will stick with struggling compact brand Smart, he said.
"We are not satisfied with last year's results," Zetsche told some 8,000 shareholders of the world's fifth-largest automaker at a Berlin convention center. "We can only safeguard the future of our company and the jobs of our workers if we achieve profitable growth."

Zetsche, making his first appearance as CEO at the annual meeting, got a much warmer reception than his predecessor Juergen Schrempp, who was greeted last year with boos amid mounting problems at Mercedes Car Group -- rising losses, a recall and problems with the Smart unit.

Read full article here.

Lithium Technology Delivers Battery for Zytek Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle Program

Source: Business Wire [Apr 04, 2006]
SYNOPSIS: These batteries can be charged by either the ICE, by regenerative breaking, or by household mains (plug-in hybrid), and will have a modest all-electric range.

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa.--April 4, 2006--Lithium Technology Corporation ("LTC") (OTC Bulletin Board:LTHU), a leading manufacturer in the rapidly emerging large format rechargeable Lithium battery market, announced today that it has delivered, through its wholly owned German subsidiary GAIA Akkumulatorenwerke GmbH in Germany, a Li-ion battery for a hybrid vehicle that is being developed by UK based automotive technology specialists Zytek Systems as part of the Energy Saving Trust's Ultra-Low Carbon Car Challenge (ULCCC).
In March 2005, Zytek was awarded grant funding from the Energy Saving Trust for the 2nd phase of their ULCCC project to develop a new high efficiency, dual mode hybrid vehicle. The vehicle is based on the new Smart forfour and will utilize a hybrid power train based on 1500cc, 3-cylinder turbo charged diesel engine coupled to 2 high-efficiency permanent-magnet electric motors.
Zytek has ordered three Li-ion batteries with output of 288 V, a capacity of 7.5 Ah (or about 2.2 kWh of energy) and with a capability to deliver 25 kW of power. These batteries can be charged by either the ICE, by regenerative breaking, or by household mains (plug-in hybrid), and will have a modest all-electric range. The first battery has been installed in the vehicle and road tests will commence shortly. The remaining two batteries will be delivered in April 2006.

Read full article here.
Read related SCOOT article here.

Spy Photos Of The Newest Smart ForTwo

Posted on April 6, 2006
Although not scheduled for release until April of 2007, spy photographer extraordinaire 'skoochyatone' has just sent us the first images of what we can expect from the newest smart fortwo.
As you can see from the photos, it appears the latest smart will remain similar in shape and size to the current model. Early rumors indicate the next smart fortwo will feature more streamlined headlights (see last photo), and despite the disguise, the spy photos appear to substantiate this fact. It also appears as though the new smart will be moving away from the three-tiered rear lights and adopting a more traditional approach, a move that most smart owners won't be losing any sleep over. View source here.

Dealership to sell Smart Car in Kirkland

The first authorized dealership in Washington to sell the DaimlerChrysler Smart Car will unveil the car in Kirkland this weekend.
The Green Car Co. dealership will sell the tiny Mercedes Smart Car, rated at 40 miles per gallon and only 8 feet long. In comparison, a Mini Cooper is 12 feet long.
The Smart Car is powered by a 61-horsepower turbocharged engine. The sticker price ranges from $26,900 for a hardtop to a $29,900 for a convertible.
The Green Car Co. is licensed by California-based Zap (NYSE: ZP) to sell American versions of the Smart Car. The car, however, does not meet regulatory requirements in several of the states, including California. Zap also will sell another fuel-efficient vehicle, its Xebra city car, later this year, according to Zap.

AutoMatters: ZAP's SMART Cars are On The Road

How easy is the SMART car to park? The results to both of these tests were made clear at our lunch stop in San Francisco. After our obligatory photo shoot of the SMART cars with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background, we made our way alongside cable cars to world famous Fisherman's Wharf. The problem is, we could only find three parking spaces and there were six SMART cars. What were we to do?
The answer was plain to see: park two cars to a space. We did and there was even room to spare. It was an amazing sight. These cars are really, really short. They passed Test 5 with flying colors and, in the process, drew a large crowd of curious onlookers. Trying to answer their many questions made our lunch break much longer than we had intended, but that was fine. The whole point of this tour is to let people know about SMART cars, and they really seem eager to learn.

Read more about Zap's smart trek from Santa Rosa, CA to New York City here.

Mitsubishi's Dutch car-making unit confirms plans to downsize

Bruce Mutsvairo
Associated Press

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - Mitsubishi Motor Corp.'s Dutch car-making unit NedCar is expected to slash "a few hundred jobs" in a reorganization aimed at cutting production costs, a spokeswoman said.
A company statement said Mitsubishi ordered its Dutch operation to downsize to one shift as it closes the assembly line for the four-seat forFour model of DaimlerChrysler AG's Smart car, keeping production only of the Mutsubishi's Colt.
Earlier Monday, workers downed tools to express concern over the plans to discontinue production of the Smart model, and threatened more labor sanctions to come.
"What action would you expect from the employees? We will continue to press ahead with strikes," workers representative Jean Wouters told Dutch Television.
Company spokeswoman Liz Tans said it was uncertain how many workers would be affected by the restructuring, but local media put the figure at about 1,000.
Tans said negotiations would continue, but "it's clear a few hundred people will lose their jobs."
"Mitsubishi Motors Corp. has requested NedCar to draft a restructuring plan for a one-shift operation, based on a current production volume of Mitsubishi Colt, in the context of intended smart forFour exit," said a NedCar statement.

Read full story here.

Smart Cars to ZAP Across America

Rally Around Smarter Cars
On April 4 an eclectic group of men and women ages 22 to 66 will journey across the United States of America with the aim of reaching the New York International Auto Show, celebrating Earth Day, and returning home, all to raise awareness about advanced technology vehicles. The Smart Car Americanized for ZAP -- the most fuel-efficient all-gas turbo in the country -- has received the regulatory green light through its registered importer to allow for the distribution of the Smart ForTwo Coupe and Cabriolet in the USA. We are now commencing auto sales through authorized and licensed ZAP dealers throughout the country while seeking a select group of dealers to expand its business plan marketing micro-cars.

ZAP with us at:http://www.zapworld.com/blog

Why Smart was not so smart in North America

The little car should have been the brand of the new millennium

National Post
John LeBlanc, CanWest News Service
Published: Friday, March 31, 2006

At the peak of its success in Europe, chic and fashionable Smart cars cluttered crowded European city streets. This early success eventually led to Smart fielding a three-car lineup consisting of the iconic two-passenger fortwo that's been selling in Canada since the 2005 model year, the funky and fun fortwo-based roadster and the four- passenger forfour. And even more Smarts were on the horizon. A ruggedly styled SUV version of the forfour dubbed the formore was planned as a Trojan horse for Smart into the American market.
Despite becoming an icon of European city living, the Smart brand has run at a financial loss for its owners at DaimlerChrysler since its inception in 1998.
Knowing this, it comes as no surprise that after months of speculation as to the ultimate fate of the business and its products, DaimlerChrysler has made the decision that the money-losing brand will live to fight another day; it will just have fewer arrows in its quiver.

Read full article here.

Smart Car Helps Township 'Go Green'

Langley Times
By Natasha Jones Times Reporter
Mar 31 2006

When it comes to fleet vehicles, size matters — to the environment and taxpayers. That’s why Langley Township has bought a Smart car for its bylaw enforcement department. With a pre-tax price of $21,000, the Smart car, made by Daimler Chrysler, is one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles available. It operates on biodiesel, which is derived from natural oils such as soybean oil, and blended with petroleum-based diesel. The price is $7,000 less than the Township would pay to replace more traditional vehicles used in its fleet, and will save almost $4,000 a year in fuel costs.

Photo: Langley Township chief bylaw enforcement officer Bill Storie stands
next to a new Smart car that the Township has bought for his department. The car
is one of several elements in a Township plan to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. The municipality will be releasing a greenhouse gas emissions plan
next month.

Read full story here.
[I am not sure about the biodiesel bit. I will make enquiries]

Focusing on the smart fortwo

• New smart fortwo to be launched in 2007
• Cancellation of production of smart forfour intended, subject to negotiations with
• Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) and other partners
• Sustainable profitability confirmed

Stuttgart, Germany, March 25, 2006

DaimlerChrysler AG is planning to focus on the smart fortwo to ensure the long-term sustainability of its smart brand. Thus, the profitability of smart will be confirmed, with positive results expected from 2007 onward.
The planned measures for a further enhancement of the business modell of smart include the following items:

• The clear focus on the smart fortwo;
• the intention to cancel production of the smart forfour;
• the manifestation of smart and especially the smart fortwo as a long-term and important part of DaimlerChrysler’s product portfolio;

as well as the complete integration of smart into the Mercedes organization.
Overall, these measures are likely to result in a headcount reduction of 300 employees at smart in Böblingen.
The smart forfour is produced by MMC through its wholly-owned subsidiary Netherlands Car B.V. (Nedcar) in Born, Netherlands. The cancellation of the forfour production is still subject to negotiations to be carried out with MMC and all other partners.
The measures described above are still subject to approval by both the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board of DaimlerChrysler AG. The cost for DaimlerChrysler related to these measures are estimated to be in the magnitude of approximately EUR 1 billion.

Source www.daimlerchyrsler.com

Mitsubishi to seek compensation from DCX for SMART ForFour cancellation

Source: www.autoblog.com
Posted Mar 30th 2006 5:34PM by Joel Arellano

Following DaimlerChrysler's announcement that it will be stopping production of the SMART ForFour sedan, partner Mitsubishi Motors Corp. has stated it will end production at the company's Netherlands plant as well. The Japanese automaker still plans to manufacturer engines for DCX's SMART two-seaters.Both companies have not yet determined when will be the last day of production. The Nihon Keizai Shimbun states, though, that Mitsubishi will be seeking financial compensation for DCX's abrupt termination of their partnership in the ForFour.[Source: Nihon Keizai Shimbun via AFX News Limited via Forbes]

Mitsubishi Motors to stop making DaimlerChrysler's Smart minivehicles - report

TOKYO (AFX) - Mitsubishi Motors Corp has decided to end production of DaimlerChrysler AG's Smart minivehicles in Europe, following the German partner's move to restructure that business, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported without citing sources. The cancellation may also prompt Mitsubishi Motors to overhaul its European operations, the business daily said. The Japanese carmaker still plans to supply DaimlerChrysler with engines for the next-generation Smart two-seater. Mitsubishi Motors now makes about 40,000 four-seater Smarts a year at wholly owned subsidiary Netherlands Car BV under an original equipment manufacturer contract that is effective through 2010. The newspaper said Mitsubishi Motors will seek financial compensation from the German firm, and both companies still need to determine when to halt production.

View source.

Ice block may have fallen from plane toilet

ICE believed to have come from an aircraft's toilet as it flew over Great Glen hit a woman's car on Saturday.
Stephanie Cole (25), a trainee driving instructor, returned home after a day in Harborough with her mum to find blocks of ice across her drive. It had hit the bonnet of her black Smart Car, causing about £700 damage and shattering on the gravel drive and the road. She said: "We had just been to Harborough and came back to see ice everywhere. I just thought 'what the hell has happened,' thinking there had been a snowball fight or something, but there was no snow on the ground." Neighbours came over and said there had been a loud bang. The only way they could describe it was it was like a water balloon falling and exploding on the ground." Stephanie called the nearest airport and Harborough police, who logged the call but said there wasn't a lot they could do. The ice is believed to have fallen from a plane thousands of feet up in the air and plummeted at a tremendous pace.
A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority said ice-falls from aircraft such as this are rare and usually cause little or no damage to property – however they are all considered seriously. Leaks from toilet systems can occur if there is a fault on the seal at the point where the hose from the collection vehicle connects with the aircraft. A small leak at high altitude will form ice because of the very low outside temperature. As the aircraft descends at the end of its journey, the temperature rises and the ice can detach and fall to the ground.

ZAP Rides Smart Car Sales to Record Month

Last Few Weeks Validates ZAP's Business Model
SANTA ROSA, Calif., March 28 -- Automotive pioneer ZAP (PCX: ZP; NYSE Arca: ZP) announced today that its initial sales in various model year Smart Cars have exceeded $2.3 million, which would result in record monthly auto sales since ZAP launched its automotive marketing.
"The purpose of this announcement is to let the world know that we are executing on our business plan," said ZAP CEO Steve Schneider. "This is just the beginning. We look forward to the rapid ramp up to fulfill the demand for these wonderful micro cars".
Recently, ZAP and its partners announced that 2005 model year Smart Cars are being delivered and sold to dealers in: Nevada, Arizona, Florida, Washington, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. ZAP is establishing a nation-wide dealer network that specializes in smaller, more fuel-efficient gas systems, electric cars, hydrogen, fuel cell, alcohol, hybrid, trybrid and other innovative power systems.

View source here.

DaimlerChrysler to Spend EU1 Bln More to Fix Smart (Update5)

March 25 (Bloomberg) -- DaimlerChrysler AG, seeking to end losses at its Smart division, plans to scrap a four-seater model, integrate the small-car unit and eliminate 300 jobs in Germany, spending 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion).
DaimlerChrysler will focus on the two-seater ForTwo and cut about 40 percent of the workforce at Boeblingen, Germany, near Stuttgart, the company said in a faxed release today. The cuts are in administration, sales and research and development.
``The focus on one model will help us further reduce fixed costs and material costs, which will make sure that we reach and sustain profitability at Smart,'' Marc Binder, a DaimlerChrysler spokesman, said in a telephone interview today.
The moves show that DaimlerChrysler Chief Executive Officer Dieter Zetsche plans to keep the unit that never reached its target of selling 200,000 vehicles a year, defying some investors who wanted the company to sell the division. The world's fifth-largest carmaker in January hired Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to gauge interest from potential buyers.

Photo by Lucy, with thanks to B-J L.

Read full article here.

DaimlerChrysler to Focus on Two Door Smart Car Model

March 25, 2006 8:45 p.m. EST
Lynda Fisher - All Headline News Staff Writer
Frankfurt, Germany (AHN) - DaimlerChrysler has announced it will scrap its four door Smart car and shift its focus to the two-door model in an overhaul that will cost the company $1.20 billion and 300 jobs.
The move was announced Saturday, however, terms of the deal were still subject to negotiations with Mitsubishi Motors Corp, which makes the ForFour car at a plant in the Netherlands, according to the Associated Press.
The deal also needed approval from the supervisory board at Daimler.
"DaimlerChrysler AG is planning to focus on the Smart Fortwo to ensure the long-term sustainability of its Smart brand. Thus, the profitability of Smart will be confirmed, with positive results expected from 2007 onward," a statement read.
A new version of the two-seat model will premier next year.

View source.

G-Wiz is the greenest car in Britain....

Exclusively available from GoinGreen, the G-Wiz is 100% emission free and a dramatic breakthrough in the fight against city air pollution and global warming. The world's best selling electric car, it consumes just one quarter the energy of a similar size petrol car;is the most energy efficient car on the road (according to the Energy Saving Trust);is carbon neutral (we carbon balance the manufacturing, shipping and first 16,000 miles driving); is the only 4 seater car to receive an 'A' eco-label, the cleanest classification possible from the Department of Transport; and when charged with 'green' electricity from renewable sources is a completely sustainable car.
G-Wiz is fully automatic, with large doors for easy entry/exit and high seats for superior visibility. Its lightweight steering and the smallest turning radius of any car, make it exceptionally easy to manoeuvre and park. And because it's only 2.6m long, it fits snugly in to parking spaces which are too small for other cars. G-Wiz has nippy acceleration, a top speed of 40 mph (enough for urban driving conditions and speed limits) and a range of up to 40 miles, depending upon the temperature, driving conditions and your driving style. As the average journey anywhere across the whole of the UK is only 8 miles, and in London it is less than 4 miles, this is sufficient for daily urban use.

GoinGreen announces smart LPG range

23rd March 2006: We are proud to announce the launch of new and used smart LPG fortwo (2 seater, 84 mph, 60 mpg combined cycle) and forfour (4 seater, 103 mph, 60 mpg combined cycle) in the pulse, pure and passion models and also the LPG conversion of your existing smart to dual-fuel. LPG is less than half the price of petrol, particulate emissions are 90% lower and CO2 emissions around 20% to 40% lower than for similar size small cars. The LPG smarts are also exempt from the London Congestion charge.

View source

Railways and Main Streets tour, Part Four

The debate on the merits of electric vs gas powered engines goes back to the dawn of the automobile age. We recently visited the local history museum in St Marys, ON where we asked to be taken out to the "barn" to see their 1902 Baker electric car. The Baker Motor Vehicle Co, of Cleveland, Ohio (later Baker, Rauch & Lang Co) manufactured various models between 1899 and 1916.
These relatively clean, quiet and easy to drive vehicles were marketed as city cars for women drivers. They could reputedly cruise a distance of 50 miles (80 km) when fully charged and reach a top speed of 25 mph (40 km/h). In 1915 Baker merged his company with Rauch & Lang, a distinguished Cleveland carriage manufacturer that had entered the electric vehicle business. By that time, the gasoline powered automobile had achieved dominance in the industry, and a few years later the new company stopped producing automobiles and focused on making electric vehicles for industrial purposes. In 1977, Baker was acquired by Linde AG of Germany and a new American company, called Baker Material Handling Corporation was formed. In 1999 it became the Linde Lift Truck Corporation, of Summerville, South Carolina, and today it is part of an international firm that designs and manufactures industrial trucks and hydraulics.